Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Isaac versus Oedipus: an alternative view.

Kalman J Kaplan1

  • 1Wayne State University, USA.

The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis
|February 25, 2003
PubMed
Summary

This study contrasts the Oedipus and Isaac legends, finding their differences reflect Athenian and Jerusalemic worldviews. It proposes the Akedah as a Biblical alternative to the Oedipus Complex, forming the basis for a unique psychology.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Biblical Job Against Zeno the Stoic: Living Purposively Versus Dying for Meaning.

Journal of religion and health·2022
Same author

Eating and Drinking Narratives in Biblical-Rabbinic Versus Graeco-Roman Writings.

Journal of religion and health·2021
Same author

Social Status and Suicidal Activity Among Psychiatric Patients: Moderating Effects of Gender, Race and Psychiatric Diagnosis.

Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·2018
Same author

The Twenty-Year Trajectory of Suicidal Activity Among Post-Hospital Psychiatric Men and Women with Mood Disorders and Schizophrenia.

Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·2016
Same author

Are there gender-specific risk factors for suicidal activity among patients with schizophrenia and depression?

Suicide & life-threatening behavior·2012
Same author

Hopelessness, temperament, anger and interpersonal relationships in Holocaust (Shoah) survivors' grandchildren.

Journal of religion and health·2009

Area of Science:

  • Comparative Mythology
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies

Background:

  • Max Sugar (2002) identified shared themes (filicide, patricide, guilt, punishment, expiation) in the Oedipus and Isaac legends.
  • Sugar noted Oedipus's tragic outcome versus Isaac's hopeful narrative.

Discussion:

  • This article posits that the divergence from tragedy to hopefulness is rooted in fundamental differences between the Oedipus and Isaac legends.
  • These differences are argued to mirror the contrasting life philosophies originating from Athens and Jerusalem.

Key Insights:

  • The Akedah (binding of Isaac) is presented as a Biblical counterpoint to the Oedipus Complex, not merely an extension.
  • This framework suggests the foundation for a distinct Biblical psychology and psychotherapy.

Outlook:

  • Further exploration into the Akedah's implications for psychological theory and therapeutic practices is warranted.
  • Investigating the broader impact of Athenian versus Jerusalemic worldviews on human psychology and narrative.

Related Experiment Videos