Freud on Death: Religion as Escapism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldLKq5U4N1s

created by FreudianFreud on 19/01/2020 at 15:26 UTC

1624 upvotes, 21 top-level comments (showing 21)

Comments

Comment by FreudianFreud at 19/01/2020 at 15:27 UTC

244 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Abstract:

This video explains how Freud regarded religion as escapism. The video explains how the fear of death led humans to humanise nature in order to control death, and how the first gods were created by humanising nature. Religion was a psychological protection against the cruelty of nature. The video further explains what Freud thought of science as a substitute for religion.

Comment by [deleted] at 19/01/2020 at 17:41 UTC

45 upvotes, 5 direct replies

Interesting, but I don’t think Freud’s interpretation works with the historical records and books of the Hebrew scripture. If you read Job, it certainly seemed like Job didn’t believe in an after life. He was seeking death, and wished he was never born. The idea of humanizing nature is true in some sense, but Job isn’t saying “look at all this, it’s ok because death isn’t the end” but rather “God is goodness and suffering, and his glorification will always come, and he is the cause of everything physical” regardless of an afterlife.

You can point to other scripture that shows an afterlife, sure. But clearly some of the authors were wrestling with the idea of God and no afterlife.

Comment by [deleted] at 19/01/2020 at 17:17 UTC

49 upvotes, 5 direct replies

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Comment by 3x1llium at 19/01/2020 at 20:53 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Very interesting. I've always thought that afterlife in religion was just used as leverage to keep people from doing evil in a time where there was no police or department of "justice".

Comment by [deleted] at 19/01/2020 at 18:30 UTC

9 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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Comment by [deleted] at 19/01/2020 at 20:05 UTC

10 upvotes, 3 direct replies

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Comment by [deleted] at 19/01/2020 at 18:05 UTC

18 upvotes, 3 direct replies

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Comment by bombadil1564 at 19/01/2020 at 20:47 UTC

9 upvotes, 2 direct replies

I don't think Freud understood religion very well. For example, look at Kali, goddess of destruction, in Hinduism. Nothing escapist about that.

I do think there are certain flavors of Christianity that I would equate with escapism (i'd imagine you could find similar flavors in many religions). But Freud didn't say that, afaik.

Comment by [deleted] at 19/01/2020 at 23:38 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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Comment by [deleted] at 19/01/2020 at 19:32 UTC

2 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Anyone know what that thumbnail is?

Comment by Earthmonkey4elements at 20/01/2020 at 17:00 UTC*

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I've always said I understand WHY humans believe in a God; but I don't understand HOW. It hit me the other day that humans who believe in religion are ignoring the how (and that's okay). Humans are fully self aware creatures, and if you think too deeply about life and death it's terrifying. Humans need to tell themselves something to get through the day, and if that something is religion, I don't want to take it away from them. If that's the thing they need to survive...they won't let you anyway, no matter what you say or prove to them.

The rest of us use fact based information like science and biology to make it through the day. We think about the biological set of circumstances that lead us to grow on this little blue speck... it's amazing! So no matter how bad we might be feeling, we know we're very lucky to be on this planet and to be aware of it.

Comment by dyingmilk at 19/01/2020 at 23:27 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Someone ELI5?

Comment by Taniks-Caesar at 20/01/2020 at 05:08 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

No post of substance to the conversation going on. Nothing I can say that hasn’t been said yet.

I must say, this is one of the most civil debate subreddits there is, in case you haven’t noticed.

Comment by niranjun at 21/01/2020 at 09:18 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Does anyone know who the thumbnail artwork is by?

Comment by BernardJOrtcutt at 20/01/2020 at 11:11 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

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Comment by teardropdiaries at 20/01/2020 at 12:27 UTC

1 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Who cares if it’s escapism or not. If some find solace in an unverifiable afterlife, power to them. The world is full of suffering and anything to ease the pain is a positive in my eyes. Freuds machoism is apparent.I know how reddit works so let me nip it in the butt and say “I don’t think religion is all positive” but the topic at hand I believe is positive. Especially in today’s world that’s filled with depression and anxiety. It gives people hope. If someone holds the belief of an afterlife and their not pushing their beliefs on other people, let them have it. :)

Comment by thunderking45 at 20/01/2020 at 00:27 UTC

-1 upvotes, 2 direct replies

I cannot speak for other religion. I can speak for Christianity though. It's funny I just had this discussion 2 days ago.

Anyway, for us Christians, life after death didn't came out of thin air. We didn't invented it. Some people witnessed that the dead can come back to life. And this dead person that came back to life told us about Heaven and Hell. After he came back from the death, he ascended into the sky. Before he left, he said he will come back to "raise us all from the death".

Now, for us Christians, this is something that we hope for: to be resurrected on the last day and return to our Creator.