Freud On Religion
Abstract
Freud’s attitude to religion is well expressed in two sentences near the end of his study of Leonardo da Vinci: Psycho-analysis has made us aware of the intimate connexion between the father-complex and the belief in God, and has taught us that the personal God is psychologically nothing other than a magnified father; it shows us every day how young people can lose their religious faith as soon as the father’s authority collapses. We thus recognize the root of religious need as lying in the parental complex. 1
Fields of Study & Subjects
Psychoanalysis and Social Critique
Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Religion
Spirituality
and Psychology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 75–89
- Publication date
- 12 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter