Hermeneutics and the Psychoanalysis of ReligionThis book is a philosophical study of the Freudian psychoanalysis of religion from a hermeneutical perspective. Drawing on the work of Paul Ricoeur, the twentieth-century French phenomenologist, the author offers a sustained and rigorous reflection on Freud's critique of Christian religion and raises the pertinent question of whether psychoanalysis should be conceived of as a form of hermeneutics. To this end, the author details the often acrimonious debates and discussions that took place between Ricoeur and Jacques Lacan, as well as drawing on the work of Slavoj Zizek on this intriguing subject, with Lacan and Zizek resisting any attempt to interpret psychoanalysis along the lines of hermeneutics. Having brought Ricoeur's reflections to bear on both Freud and Lacan, the author next engages with the Thomist metaphysical tradition. He deals especially with Aquinas' famous five arguments for the existence of God, the relevance of which becomes apparent in the last chapter when the author sheds a Lacanian light on Thomas' mystical experience. The author argues that the 'real' God - the God of Thomas' experience - pertains to the (Lacanian) order of the Real. The book concludes with a précis on the beauty of belief. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 33 |
CHAPTER THREE | 61 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 83 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 111 |
CHAPTER | 121 |
CHAPTER SEVEN | 137 |
CHAPTER EIGHT | 149 |
CHAPTER NINE | 161 |
CHAPTER | 205 |
| 217 | |
| 241 | |
Common terms and phrases
absolute knowledge according to Freud according to Ricoeur analogy analysis Aquinas archaeology argue argument asserts atheistic beauty believe chapter childhood Christ Christian concept consciousness consolation cosmological argument critic critique of religion culture death Descartes desire Devil dialectic divine eschatology ethical evil existence faith Feuerbach Freud Freud and Philosophy Freud writes Freud's critique Freud's interpretation Freudian Freudian psychoanalysis God's herme hermeneutics hope human ibid illusion infantile instinct kerygma Küng Lacan Lacanian meaning metaphysical miracles moral Moses and Monotheism murder nature neurotic neutics notion obsessional neurosis Oedipus complex original Paul Ricoeur person phenomenology philosopher Philp primal father projection proof psychoanalysis psychoanalysis of religion psychology question quote Ricoeur Real reality relation religious experience repressed reveals Ricoeur puts Ricoeur writes sacred scientific signifier superego symbols teleological argument teleology theology theory things Thomas tion Totem and Taboo truth as cause unconscious understand universe Weltanschauung words Žižek