Sacred Psychoanalysis - etheses Repository - University of ...

Contemporary psychoanalysis is a complex and multi-faceted term that contextualizes the
emergence of religion and spirituality, therefore the opening question focused on the
meaning of this term. All but one interviewee mentioned Freud and other psychoanalysts
mentioned included Klein, Bion, Winnicott and Jung. 392 Taken together they offer a
collective understanding of contemporary psychoanalysis and psychoanalysts. A
subsequent question focused on the meaning of the terms ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality’ and the
emergence of these in contemporary psychoanalysis. 393
Theme 1: Psychoanalysis - Freud then and now 394
The word psychoanalysis was rarely used without reference to Freud. Freud is viewed as a
genius whose ideas are still valuable as the quality of his writings offers continuing
discovery and being ‘deeply immersed’ (AN 58) in Freud is regarded as essential. While
‘old Freudian’ (JB 575) ideas have been superseded, clinically they are still of value when
held alongside newer relational concepts. The ongoing appeal of Freud is such that Phillips
is editing new translations of his work 395 as Freud is seen as contemporary then and now.
Despite greatness one of Freud’s limitations was that he ‘could have disciples, he couldn’t
have colleagues’ (JJ 1041), reference to a psychoanalytic dynasty of the analysands of
Freud, Sigmund and Anna. Part of that dynastic inheritance is Freud’s antipathy to, as well
as Freud’s fascination with, religion. ‘Bion … always wondered why Freud never
392
Controversially while Jung is a very important figure in the history of psychoanalysis the IPA does not
view him as a psychoanalyst.
393
The value of asking such an open question in a semi-structured interview is that it can preclude prepared
answers (Kvale 1996; Kvale and Brinkmann 2009).
394
Freud, Anna Freud, Freudian, Freudianism - 78 references, 3 for Anna Freud.
395
These translations are being done by authors chosen for their literary, linguistic and translation skills. They
are not psychoanalysts and Phillips’ editorial vision is to obtain a literary meaning from a text that avoids
psychoanalytic and theoretical complications. This series is published by Penguin Books.
246