Critical Analysis Of Sigmund Freud's Beliefs On Religion

This essay’s goal is to provide a critical analysis and definition of Sigmund Freud 's beliefs on religion. After thoroughly going through his theory on theology, I will then point out strengths and weaknesses in his beliefs and ultimately, make a decision on if I agree or disagree with his conclusions. In "Future of an Illusion”, religion is seen as imaginary. Although Abrahamic religions were a constant influence in his life. Freud, was an atheist and believed that religion is just a coping mechanism of civilization that can lead to harm. He finds the human race looking up to God as a fatherly figure whom we are terrified off, and whom we look up for protection at the same time. Freud believed religion was result of civilization’s creation.

Freud had many followers that used the concept psychoanalysis to make its mark into the practicing of psychology. The definition of psychoanalysis can be defined as discovering the roles and importance of the unconscious (feelings, thoughts, and urges that cannot be easily accessed in the conscious) mind and how it determines behavior and illnesses. Psychology mainly branched in the conscious part of the mind. Sigmund Freud was the first to develop the very idea of looking into yourself and finding patterns that lead to a bigger picture. Ahead of his time there were many that found his studies ridiculous, that the very idea of someone having mental and physical problems that had their origin in the human psyche was unrealistic. Freud did not listen and continued to study this phenomenon in his patients, and has major contributions in a variety of disciplines. Truly, this was probably the first place Freud got his idea that religion was actually a neuroses of the mind. Many of his patients proved that the mind was a powerful tool, and created neuroses that related to religion and it isn’t hard to see that their rituals on the outside would seem similar to religious