Religion as an illusion - The Oedipus Complex Flashcards
Why did Freud believe religion is an illusion?
Because of the Oedipus complex
What does Freud believe about libido (sexual desire)?
It is the most basic instinct and most capable of causing psychological problems
“roots for the need…”
“for religion are in the parental complex.”
Freud
Where is the libido in a new born child?
In the mouth. The mother satisfies this by breast feeding them
Where does the libido transfer at about age 2 or 3?
The child’s sexual organs
What happens to the child when the libido transfers?
Still wants the mother to satisfy their libido, but in the child’s mind his mother won’t do this because she is satisfying the fathers libido.
The two conflicting feelings the child builds up towards their father
- they respect him because he is the head of the family
- they are full of anger and Hate
It is these feelings that get repressed into the unconscious mind
When does Freud then argue that belief in God arises?
When we get flash backs of the Oedipus complex from our unconscious mind in later life
What do we confuse our flash backs with?
We confuse these flash backs with a God type figure and project our strong feelings towards our father onto a god type figure.
What is God then always seen as, because we confuse him with a father figure?
- a male figure
- seen as powerful
- God is to be feared.
What is an illustration, according to Freud, that a person has successfully dealt with these repressed memories?
They no longer believe in (the illusion of God).
