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"If I cannot sway the Gods above, then I will stir up the underworld!" The great Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) spoke these words in 'Interpretation of Dreams.' Freud argued that religion derives from the unconscious and that human sexual impulses were closely related to religion.

Sigmund Freud offers the strongest argument against religion, claiming that religion was both a creation of the human mind and a obsessional neurosis. Religion partly developed from Animism. Animism is when the disorderly nature of the world is attributed to the behaviour spirits, and that this could be controlled by particular rituals. Religion is simply a continuation of this process, religious ceremonies such as the Eucharist, or perhaps more simply praying are examples of this. Religion similar to Animism offers an explanation for certain events and the origin of the world. This is why Freud considers religion an obsessional neurosis, it is an example of when the mind does not see the world for what it really is.

Religion also arose from the feelings towards our human father as a child the father figure is all powerful, and all knowing in our eyes. As we grow older we see our human father for a normal human being, and the mind feels a compulsion to transfer our feelings of fear, love and of worship to an imaginary father whom is called God. Freud referred to this as "the infantile helplessness of mankind."

Therefore Freud believed that religion was simply a case of wish fulfilment, that satisfied human psychological needs; exorcising the terrors of nature, making amends for the terrible suffering many experience in the world and to reconcile us with cruelty in the face of death. Put more simply religion simply represents the deepest desires of mankind- protection from a hostile world. As children need protection and the love of the parents, particularly the defence of the alpha male (father), adults also crave for this protection.

Freud made the connection between the behaviour of his neurotic patients and the obsessive behaviour associated with religion, certain parallels can be drawn; a compulsion to perform certain actions, inventing of strict rules to hide from insecurity, neurotics often cannot face the truth, if a certain action cannot be performed this can lead to a troubled conscious, acts of penance ate necessary for a peaceful mind. Religion is therefore the "universal neurosis of mankind" which must be overcome to put man on the right path.

Aside from science now offering an alternative for the origin of the universe to a God, it cannot offer the promises religion makes (guidance, protection, eternal life.) Science cannot promise anything but it does offer us the truth.

Learn more about this author, Ben Craig.
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