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Summary: Freud on Religion
Review: Reading Freud is always refreshing -- not only is he a good writer, but he also has many deep psychological insights. In his 71 page text, "The Future of an Illusion," he tackles the subject of religion. A livelong atheist, Freud argues that religion is derived from a child-like sense of helplessness in the world. Its purpose, he says, is to explain the sometimes-unfathomable world, to provide societal order, and to give comfort and happiness (particularly for the "the masses" and the poor, uneducated and oppressed). Although Freud wants to reshape civilization's relationship with religion, he also recognizes that widespread atheism could undermine societal stability. Overall, this is a good, quick read -- perfect for those interested in religion/atheism, psychology and the intersection between the two.
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Summary: Freud did not understand religious experience
Review: This is one of the weakest of Freud's works. It is an infantile effort to infantilize Mankind , and make us all irrational fools. Freud does not see the possibility of true religious Revelation. He does not understand that the idea of God is beyond human comprehension even his own . He does not know the limits of his own rationality. He too as some other Amazon reviewer has written does not know the dimension of religious awe, of fear and trembling.
I would make one more very personal point. Our need for G-d is in my mind not a proof of God's non-existence but rather a proof of God's necessity. Our love of God is not a proof of our weakness but rather a proof of our capacity to show gratitude to all the Goodness in our lives and in the world that we have been given.
Freud came from a world and time which thought God could be rationalized away. That world is in some sense gone. But human beings of this generation and the next and all generations will always need G-d. For we are small and here now and God is beyond us all, including great geniuses like Freud.
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Summary: Stinks
Review: This was not a good book to read in Prison. When released I had to wonder why all Freud followers had beards, they think Freud is the Father Psychology and copy him.
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Summary: One has a hard time disagreeing with anything in this book
Review: You find yourself nodding your head over and over while reading this book.Freud's position is powerfully and persuasively argued. Once in a while during this read, he said something or other which made me balk briefly, but mostly it is a thoroughly enjoyable and insightful book. I first encountered this book through another. A christian apologist quoted Freud out of context from this book and masterfully used ad hominem and strawman arguments against atheists in general and Freud specifically and pretended as if he had decidedly dispatched Freud the pervert, Freud the junkie, Freud the atheist. After reading "The Future of an Illusion", I realized that this christian apologist HAD to misrepresent Freud, had he presented Freud's views honestly, he would have not stood a chance. A great book. I will reread it soon.
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