8 - Revisions and Applications

Summary

Our presentation of the important theoretical advances that have marked the psychoanalytic theory of religion after Freud has given us an appreciation of the differences between the classic-reductive, adaptive, and transformational approaches. Combined with our earlier emphasis on the need to include reflexive and dialogical dimensions, we can now proceed to illustrate the application of that formulaic shift. To that end, we will present two case histories, one Western (St. Augustine) and the other Eastern (Sri Ramakrishna). Our respective analyses will differ in that they are designed to illustrate different aspects of the workings of a reflexive, dialogical, inclusive psychoanalytic approach. That said, our analyses and conclusions with regard to the two cases will not be mutually exclusive and the lessons learned can be carried forward.