Sigmund Freud's POOR Argument for Atheism | Psychoanalysis & Religion

[ThoughtsonThinking]

If you enjoyed the video make sure to like, comment & subscribe

[clascm]

In Civilization and its Discontents, Freud actually provides an explanation for nontheistic religions such as Buddhism. He argues that religiosity is a universal feeling of being one with the world, that is of making no difference between the ego and the outside world (which is the purpose of Buddhism and other religions). And religiosity is a rest of the first state of human life, when the baby does not make any difference between itself and the outside world. The split slowly comes after experiencing frustration, contradiction between desires and the outside world such as the maternal breast not always being available for feeding.

[mendi]

Freud's argument is one of the strongest in my opinion

[theilluminatingsocrates]

Are you kidding?
He himself asserts that religion and god cannot be proven or disproven.

[rlsxsever]

1 - not an instance of genetic fallacy. freud pointing out that the mental processes that emerged in humanity's evolutionary course led humanity to believe in gods, spirits and magic comes along with the implicit argument that all those things are incompatible with a reasoned, scientific approach to the natural world, i.e. he is clear in saying that all those things are inexistent and then sets out to explain why, in light of his theory of human individual and social development, those false ideas came to be taken as if they were real, even in the absence of compelling evidence. freud also underlines that illusion and error are not the same thing. it could be the case that a person who believes in something that comes to be true believed in that something for the wrong reasons. knowledge, as it is commonly defined, is belief that is simultaneously true and justified. if i believe that democracy is the best form of government only by virtue of being born in a democratic society and being taught so, my belief is illusory, however true it could be

2 - it is true that freud's potrayal of religion as illusory is not imediately applicable to all religions, since not all religions are based on a single all-powerful god, or even in a pantheon of gods. there are animistic religions with no gods whatsoever. buddhism is a little more complex to put into a category, because while belief in gods and spirits is not essencial in buddhism, it is not foreclosed either. also, buddha's and boddhisattva's many different incarnations are the object of some sort of pious devotion in many forms of buddhism, including theravada. however, if we examine freud's critique more carefully, he is also concerned with the illusory means of controlling nature that the religious and magical worldview offers. buddhism, for instance, can be a very esoteric version of this, if we think about that b.s. about tibetan monks who levitate through meditation, or the portrayals of bhudda that turn him into a miracleman. on the other hand, freud's definition of religion as a system of social control is more easily applied to most, if not all organized religions

despite the gigantic shortcomings of psychoanalytic theory, freud's portrayal of religions and the reasons for human beings to developing them and believing in their mystical worldview pretty much hits the spot

[onkarvigy]

Ancestral worship is the most common form of religion that existed in primitive societies, which still continues (in my own culture). It is no accident that the oldest signs of worship were found as the burial sites of our ancestors. So Freud was not far.off in his proposition for such primitive religions. Buddhism is a comparatively recent religion that evolved through dialectical dynamics. Using it to refute Freud, in my opinion, goes out of context.

[Danielsan]

I think you're right that Freud's analysis of religion doesn't actually consider religions like Theravada Buddhism. Do you know what Freud thought of ancient Greeks, such as the Greek atomist, Democritus? Theravada Buddhists also have an ancient atomism as part of their religious beliefs. Rather than a soul being responsible for our cycles of rebirths, Theravada Buddhists believe that all sentient beings consist of physical and mental atomic events. Therefore, it is the atoms involved in our lives and experiences rather than souls. If Freud considered Democritus to be a champion of reason for his atomism, then it seems like Theravada Buddhists could at least receive some respect for their atomism as well.

[sinyuv]

I wish I could learn how you expanded as a channel. Good content, notwithstanding

[AveratisArmada]

Using Buddhism as a way to say Freud's argument is wrong is ironic since Buddhism is a religion in name only. Clearly he was talking about theism, and if you point out that Buddhism is atheistic, you haven't proven him wrong. You're only entangled in linguistic categories instead of looking at the thing in itself. Buddhists seek guidance through philosophical thinking and ethical living without looking up to supernatural father figures, nonetheless the Buddha is already a sort of father figure. It was brought from the supernatural to the natural.

[alvaroxex]

It's normal for religious people to get defensive. Chill out.

[BlissfulPsyche]

Atheist: a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of god or gods. Freud is NOT an atheist.

[shot]

just popping in to say i enjoyed this video, keep it up bro. you have a soothing and pleasing voice too, no homo. reminds me of "the school of life"s narrator.

[kezyay]

Is there a book you would recommend that argues for atheism?

[frederickanderson]

A half truth is more deceiving than a full lie.

[marisrissa]

Jesus is the Savior!!! Repent of (turn away from) your sins and follow Jesus that you may be given grace by the Creator of the world and have eternal life🧡🍁🍂