Acquisition Quote by Sigmund Freud
![“Religion is an attempt to get control over the sensory world, in which we are placed, by means of the wish-world which we have developed inside us as a result of biological and psychological necessities. [...] If one attempts to assign to religion its place in man's evolution, it seems not so much…” quote by Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/59b/sigmund-freud-360_acquisition_religion-is-an-attempt-to-get-control-ov_272243.jpg)
“Religion is an attempt to get control over the sensory world, in which we are placed, by means of the wish-world which we have developed inside us as a result of biological and psychological necessities. [...] If one attempts to assign to religion its place in man's evolution, it seems not so much to be a lasting acquisition, as a parallel to the neurosis which the civilized individual must pass through on his way from childhood to maturity.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Future of an Illusion, 1927
Freud sees religion as a psychological coping mechanism that mirrors neurosis, helping individuals manage sensory reality through imagined constructs.
In simple terms: Religion is a mental tool to cope with reality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize religion’s psychological roots.
Themes
psychology
religion
evolution
coping
neurosis
Mood
analytical
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- Therapy sessions
- anthropological research
- personal reflection
- education
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Freud's theory
cultural development
psychic structures
Questions to Reflect On
- How does religion shape personal identity?
- Can secular coping replace religious frameworks?
A Different Perspective
Religion may also provide community support and moral guidance, not just neurosis.
![“[Religion is] the attempt to be in harmony with an unseen order of things.” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ad/william-james-228_grace_religion-is-the-attempt-to-be-in-harmony_2751119.jpg)
![“No one suffers so much as he [the genius] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a certain sense, it is certainly only "by suffering" that a man knows. If compassion is not itself clear, abstractly conceivable or visibly symbolic knowledge, it is, at any rate…” quote by Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bec/otto-weininger-11319_acquisition_no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius_20597.jpg)
