Keeping An Open Mind

This past week, we have explored the ideas of four theorists. These theorists included James Frazer, Emile Durkheim, Sigmund Freud, and Karl Marx. Each theorist had a different outlook on religion. Here is a more in depth look at each theorist and their beliefs.

James Frazer (1854-1941) was a religious theorist who believed that religion was the power that comes from inside the internal person. His field of study included comparative anthropology with sources of mythology and Greek writings. He believed in sympathetic magic where nature works on sympathies or influences. He said, “when nature fails, the primitive peoples made every effort they could to understand the world and change it.” (Pg 34) He suggested that science follows the failure of religion. I was open to the theories Frazer suggested about the contrasts and similarities of magic and religion. It was interesting how he distinguished between the two. When most people’s outlooks are concrete and unwilling to explore possibilities he tried to understand an alternate way.

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) was sociologist who believed that God, an ultimate reality, is essentially the group or the clan. There will always be a unified group with a unified system of beliefs and practices. He was interested in sources of community ideas and the realm of the mind. He said, “ Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, things apart and forbidden.” (Pg 99) The totemic principle is the hidden force worshipped by the clan. I think there is always the possibility of change.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was a psychologist who was mostly involved with the field of psychoanalysis. Freud ultimately did not believe in religion. His personal stance is a complete rejection of religious belief. He said, “ They are erroneous, they are superstitions.” (Pg 65) Freud believes that religion is a universe of obsession neurosis; that neurotic people believe in religion and normal people follow science. He thinks that God is an illusion, or an image projected from the self to satisfy a deep need or overcome our guilt. I think someone who is agnostic or atheist is a very pessimistic person. Freud can definitely be described as a weird thinker but I like that he looks outside the box and he finds new and strange outlooks on things.

Karl Marx (1818-1883) was an economic philosopher. He believed there was a higher class and a lower class; the proletariat and the bourgeoisie respectively. He thought the psychical was always better than the ideal. We have creativity and beauty, we can grow and change, but Marx says we have rejected all of that and instead, have projected it in a God figure. He says, “ Religion is pure illusion.” (Pg 138) and, “ the sigh of the oppressed creature.” (Pg 141) He believes the oppressed creature clings to religion as their hope. I think Marx was very close-minded in the fact that he tried to put everything into the economic standpoint of life. However, compared to Freud who was calling people crazy, Marx explained why we are the way we are.

As a Catholic, many of the theorists we have gone over completely go against my views of religion as a whole. I have been brought up to believe God and his only son are my saviors; they make up everything about my rituals and beliefs. To hear theories about God not existing or that a belief in a God is “crazy” is a tough challenge to comprehend, however, I need to keep an open mind about other world religions and beliefs.