Three Ideological Traditions and the Psychology of Religion

This commentary on Heimbrock's essay on psychoanalytic understandings of religion notes that Freud thought religion was of inestimable worth to individual and collective development. Although psychoanalytic views of religion can never be irrefutably correct, they refute rationalistic reductions of religion. It should also be noted that, although psychoanalysis tended to emphasize unhealthy religion, there is a need for contemporary psychoanalysts to investigate healthy religion. Applications of these ideas to the South African situation are considered.