God in the Hour: Religious Faith in Psychoanalytic Treatment

The following is a discussion of the issue of religious faith on the part of the analyst, in terms of how it comes to bear on the psychological treatment of patients who have faith and some who do not. A consideration, and refutation, of Freud's position on religion and his belief in a supreme being as an illusion will be conducted, along with subsequent analytic thinking on this matter. The author's personal experience will be described, and how he is affirmed and sometimes challenged by the various clinical situations in which he finds himself. There will be an application of psychological theory, clinical practice, and theological guide-points.