Biology 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. But it cannot achieve its end. Its doctrines carry with them the stamp of the times in which they originated, the ignorant childhood days of the human race. Its consolations deserve no trust. Experience teaches us that the world is not a nursery. The ethical commands, to which religion seeks to lend its weight, require some other foundations instead, for human society cannot do without them, and it is dangerous to link up obedience to them with religious belief. 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, Sigmund Freud, 1927
Freud argues religion is a psychological coping mechanism rooted in childhood, unable to provide lasting moral foundations, and should be replaced by secular ethics.
In simple terms: Religion is a childhood coping tool, not a lasting moral guide.
Key Takeaway
Seek secular, rational ethics.
Themes
psychology
religion
ethics
development
maturity
Mood
critical
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- public policy
- personal moral development
- community building
Key Concepts
psychoanalysis
cultural evolution
secular humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can societies thrive without religious moral frameworks?
- How do secular ethics gain authority?
A Different Perspective
Religion may still offer social cohesion for some, limiting its critique.
![“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] 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)
