Lesson 1: The Influence of Religion

Visit the Library of Congress and access the Exhibition titled Sigmund Freud: Conflict & Culture, Section 1, Formative Years. Read about Freud's early years, in particular the section title "Religion and the 'Godless Jew'," a phrase Freud used to define himself.

Freud was born into a Jewish family, but his father, Jacob, rejected his Orthodox faith and became a "freethinker." Hunt (1993) suggests that Jacob did this in the hope that he and his family would be assimilated into Vienna's Gentile society. When considering the significance of this choice, it is important to note that Jews were considered to be social outcasts in Europe at this time (see Lesson 2: Oppression and Anti-semitism in Vienna).

Freud always considered himself to be a Jew, although he did not belong to a Jewish congregation. He maintained a lifelong membership in B'nai B'rith, a Jewish service organization.
Later in his life, Freud wrote about the attraction he felt to Judaism. Visit Judaic Treasures of theLibrary of Congress:Sigmund Freud on the Jewish Virtual Library website, and read the letter Freud wrote to his lodge brothers on the celebration of his 70th. birthday.

"For Freud, religion was a primitive attempt to deal with the frightening realities of the world and the impossibility of satisfying our fundamental desires. Religion, in his view, was a response to that fear and longing. Love for and fear of the father found symbolic expression, he thought,in the major religious traditions." (Source: Sigmund Freud: Conflict & Culture, Section 3: From the Individual to Society)

Following the death of his daughter Sophie, Freud became increasingly focused on death. Being "Godless," Freud could neither blame God for this loss, nor could he be comforted by the thought of an afterlife. Ironically, a Yahrzeit booklet of Hebrew and German prayers was found in Freud's papers after his death. Continue to read Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress:Sigmund Freud for more on the Yahrzeit booklet.

For more information on Jewish Religion and Culture, visit My Jewish Learning: Judaism 101 .