The Future of an Illusion

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis of religion's effects on civilization is the culmination of a lifelong thought pattern. He portrays religion as a set of false beliefs based on human desires. According to Freud, religion manifests as a God-like father figure to a helpless child, whose survival is dependent on delusional beliefs for independence, security, and incentives for good behavior. In this illuminating book, Freud declares that religion and science are mortal enemies. He proclaims that human instincts are destructive and must be restrained to maintain an orderly society. He concludes that civilization can only be redeemed through new constructions of existence and ideas motivated by science.