One of Freud's close friends, a student of psychoanalysis, was protestant minister Oskar Pfister. In October of 1927, 71 years old, fighting a long, painful battle against cancer of the mouth (too many of those cigars!) Freud wrote Pfister that he was about to publish a book that dealt with "my absolutely negative attitude toward religion, in every form and dilution". He added that he had delayed coming out with the book for some time out of consideration for Pfister's feelings, but now could no longer hold back. In this little book Freud would take his lifelong war against "lies, against bland surfaces, against taking wishes for realities" to what he viewed as the ultimate lie, the ultimate fantasy, the ultimate illusion, religion (Gay, p.525).
Freud viewed it as his project to "demolish religion with psychoanalytic weapons". As a child of the enlightenment, he saw history as the story of the great clash (Great Controversy?) between science (reason) and religion (superstition). The Future of an Illusion is Freud's most concentrated salvo in this war. Because of its importance we will read all of it.
Come to class having read The Future of an Illusion, (about 37 pages) and prepared to respond to the following questions.
The Future of an Illusion (FR: pp. 685-722)
1. Why does Freud feel that "every civilization must be built up
on coercion and renunciation of instinct"? How does he characterize "the
masses?" Do you agree with these statements? Can you think of a psychologist
who would disagree?
2. The principle task of civilization is to defend us against what? How does religion aid this task? In what does religion have its prototypical origin? Explain how religion makes helplessness, death, suffering and injustice tolerable.
3. Freud asserts that "civilization creates religious ideas". How would he respond to the Adventist's argument that Christian ideas have been accepted for hundreds of years by some of our wisest ancestors, that they are the product of divine revelation (the Bible and EGW), and that humans should not question too closely the mind of God? What do you make of Freud's response?
4. To what does Freud attribute the power of religious ideas? How does Freud define an "illusion", and differentiate it from an "error"?
5. Carefully explain why Freud feels that "civilization runs a greater risk" by continuing to base its moral code on religion than if it gives religion up.
6. To what must humans admit in order to truly "grow up" and become "educated to reality"?
7. What is Freud's God? How does he respond to the charge that his god may be the result of an illusion also? In the end, according to Freud, what is the true illusion?
8. Briefly critique Freud's analysis of religion. Is there any merit in it? What are its weakest points? Is it appropriate, or even safe, to study this material in a Christian classroom?