Poetics of reconcilement: Psychoanalysis and dilemmas of faith.

Abstract

The article offers an original and comprehensive review of the history of psychoanalytic attitudes toward faith and a religious worldview. It begins with a systematic examination of Freud's approach to religion and faith, demonstrating that contrary to the common understanding of his attitude as one of radical atheism, Freud displayed ambivalence on this issue. After Freud's death, psychoanalysis as a discipline seems to have effected a split: Whereas the psychoanalytic establishment adopted and reinforced the antireligious stance, a small number of prominent analytic thinkers nurtured the possibility of integrating faith into their practice. Since the beginning of the 21st century, changes in social and cultural trends, encouraging spiritual attitudes, will be shown to have permeated into the psychoanalytic mainstream.

Psychological Assessment Involving Spirituality With Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

“…Additionally, many experts were concerned about the potentially private nature of the information being addressed in these assessments. This has been mentioned by researchers as a reason for shying away from spiritual/religious topics in psychology in the past (Butts & Guttierrez, 2018;Giordano, et al, 2016;Lev, 2018). However, additional research has offered recommendations on how to develop skill in navigating these kinds of sensitive conversations (Gladding & Crockett, 2019;Hull, Suarez, & Hartman, 2016).…”

“…There has also been an increasing interest in including spiritual assessments in therapeutic settings, specifically within the field of psychology (Lev, 2018). For example, Division 36 of the American Psychological Association (APA) is dedicated to research and clinical application of spirituality and religion in the field of psychology (American Psychological Association, 2012;Piedmont, 2013).…”