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Object Relations Theory, Mothering, and Religion: Toward a Feminist Psychology of Religion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2014

Diane Jonte-Pace*
Affiliation:
University of Santa Clara

Abstract

Although psychoanalytic object relations theory has been acclaimed for its ability to revitalize the psychological understanding of religion, the implicit sensitivity of object relations theory to feminist concerns has not been recognized. This paper suggests that object relations theory shares with feminist thought three central foci: relationality, mature dependency, and a revaluing of the mother-infant relationship. Through this coincidence of concern object relations theory can move toward a feminist psychology of religion which avoids not only Freud's reductionism toward religion, but also his patricentrism. The psychological antecedents of religious experience, ritual, and the image of God are examined from the object relational perspective, and are located in the maternal-infant matrix. It is suggested that this linkage of culture and mother offers a radical challenge to the psychoanalytic perspective.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The College Theology Society 1987

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References

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2 Some recent feminist literature has attempted to rethink or reclaim Freud's problematic view of the feminine. Juliet Mitchell shows that Freud's project was to describe the phallocentric psyche in a patriarchal culture, arguing that Freud's work is valuable to feminism because of its power to elucidate the way patriarchy structures masculinity and femininity. Judith Van Herik shows the deep structural homologies between, on the one hand, Freud's view of religion, wish fulfillment, and femininity; and on the other hand, his view of intellect, renunciation, and masculinity. Significant though these works are, they will not be central to my argument here. See Van Herik, Judith, Freud on Femininity and Faith (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1982);Google Scholar and Mitchell, Juliet, Psychoanalysis and Feminism (New York: Random House, 1974).Google Scholar

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