Men, religion, and melancholia
Subtitle: James, Otto, Jung, and Erikson
By: Donald Capps.
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New Haven
Language: eng
Number of pages: 235
Subjects: Psychology, Religious.; Psychologists of religion -- Psychology.; Psychologists of religion -- Religious life.; Melancholy.; Mothers and sons.; Boys -- Religious life.; Boys -- Psychology.; Men -- Religious life.; Men -- Psychology.
Description: It is not by coincidence that the key figures in the psychology of religion - William James, Rudolf Otto, Carl Jung, and Erik Erikson - each fought a lifelong battle with melancholia, argues Donald Capps in this engrossing book. These four men experienced similar traumas in early childhood: each perceived a loss of mother's unconditional love. In the deep melancholy that resulted, they turned to religion. Capps contends that the main impetus for men to become religious lies in such melancholia, and that these four authors were typical, although their losses were especially severe because of complicating personal circumstances. Offering a new way of viewing the major classics in the psychology of religion, Capps explores the psychological origins of these authors' own religious visions through a sensitive examination of their writings.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 221-225) and index.