On the Freudian equation of religious ritual with collective infantilism

Abstract

Freud's wrItIngs on Religion centre on two themes. The first is the genesis of religious belief which is explained at the level of the individual in terms of the theory of wish fulfilment. The second is religious ritual which is explained at the social level as an expression of collective infantilism. The aim of this article, is to examine only this second theme, although it is dependent upon the first. ; N/A