ABSTRACT
Since the time of Anna Freud, the religious landscape of late-twentieth-century advanced industrial society has changed considerably. A central theme in the writings of Freud on religion is the key role of early childhood experience. The reality of unconscious mental processes is a fundamental proposition of psychoanalysis. Religious conversion is sometimes perceived as an either/or event, so to speak: either one is converted and becomes a believer, or one remains a non-believer. The psychoanalytic exploration of the infantile origins of religion, far from disenchanting religion, issues a challenge also to theologians to be more adventurous in their thinking. A key characteristic of many of the new brands of self-realization is the emphasis of not a few on meditative techniques, from transcendental meditation to yoga, and from Buddhism to Christian mysticism. Religious symbol systems are essentially attempts to find sources of meaning and consolation, and as such act as homes for our deepest wishes.
