Do desamparo à ilusão : a origem psicanalíticade Deus na metapsicologia freudiana

Abstract

The aim of this study is to substantiate Freud's argument that supports the idea that, since religion is a neurosis, the idea of God – to be overcome – is an illusion created by human beings in their quest to assuage their feeling of helplessness. The research question raised is answered throughout the three chapters of this dissertation, dealing with (1) the concept of helplessness, (2) the origin of the idea of God and, (3) Freud's proposal about religion as a neurosis to be overcome through an education to reality. By extending his psychoanalytic theory beyond personal analysis, Freud places cultural issues under the sieve of the interpretation of his science. Then, it finds the historical genesis of religion and belief in god in the myth of the primitive horde, previously presented by C. Darwin's evolutionism, in the totemic hypothesis and in the founding taboos of civilizations, in the theorization of the Oedipus Complex and in the inherited sense of guilt by culture. Finally, the author analyzes the religious phenomenon from the point of view of neurosis and proposes a world without God, considering the ethical difficulties involved in this choice and evaluates that it will be very beneficial to humanity to replace belief in religion with belief in science.