Now available from Ignatius Press:
Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism
by Dr. Paul C Vitz
In this updated, expanded edition, starting with Freud's "projection theory" of religion - that belief in God is merely a product of man's desire for security - Professor Vitz argues that psychoanalysis actually provides a more satisfying explanation for atheism. Disappointment in one's earthly father, whether through death, absence, or mistreatment, frequently leads to a rejection of God.
A biographical survey of influential atheists of the past four centuries shows that this "defective father hypothesis" provides a consistent explanation of the "intense atheism" of these thinkers. A survey of the leading defenders of Christianity over the same period confirms the hypothesis, finding few defective fathers. Vitz concludes with an intriguing comparison of male and female atheists and a consideration of other psychological factors that can contribute to atheism.
Professor Vitz does not argue that atheism is psychologically determined. Each man, whatever his experiences, ultimately chooses to accept God or reject him. Yet the cavalier attribution of religious faith to irrational, psychological needs is so prevalent that an exposition of the psychological factors predisposing one to atheism is necessary.
Paul C. Vitz, is Professor/Senior Scholar at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, Arlington, Va. and a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at New York University. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan and his Ph. D at Stanford University. He was an atheist until his late 30s. Professor Vitz is the author/editor of a variety of books including: The Self: Beyond the Postmodern Crisis, Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship, Sigmund Freud's Christian Unconscious, Censorship: Evidence of Bias in Our Children's Textbooks and numerous articles in professional and popular journals.
Praise for Faith of the Fatherless:
"Vitz offers a radical new thesis about the psychological origins of
atheism. By studying the lives of numerous famous atheists, from the
old atheists Nietzsche, Sartre, and Freud to the new atheists Hitchens,
Dawkins, and Dennet, Vitz discovers a startling common pattern: atheism
arises in people with dead, absent, or abusive fathers. By contrast,
prominent defenders of religious belief-including Blaise Pascal, John
Henry Newman, and G.K. Chesterton-were blessed with attentive, loving
and caring fathers. Vitz's provocative book raises important questions
about psychology, religious belief, and the importance of fathers."
- Christopher Kaczor, Author, The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church
"Quite simply, Paul Vitz's Faith of the Fatherless is a minor
classic, a book that should be on the short list of all those who want
to understand, in the deepest terms, the ill effects caused by the
failures of fatherhood. Faith of the Fatherless should function
as a gateway book to research in all fields examining our current,
highly-secularized culture, a culture marked deeply by both unbelief and
hostility toward the family and especially fatherhood."
- Benjamin Wiker, Author, Architects of the Culture of Death
"In deploying Freudian theory against atheism itself, Paul Vitz has
proven beyond a doubt what's missing from secular accounts of
secularization: namely, actual human beings. His thesis is intellectual
jujutsu of the first order, as anyone reading this timely revisiting
will appreciate in full."
- Mary Eberstadt, Author, The Loser Letters and Adam and Eve after the Pill
"Paul C. Vitz has republished one of the most profound books in the emperical psychology of religion, Faith of the Fatherless,
now with additional data. Here he skillfully demonstrates objective
analogies between the family experiences of articulate atheists and
their pronouncements concerning the family of God. Of course, since
there is "nothing" more personal than God-and our beliefs and
relationships to God-our capacities for personal relationship matter
tremendously in the formation of our divine beliefs. Everything is
interconnected, we know. However, Prof. Vitz's engaging style makes his
demonstration of these objective analogies especially memorable and
useful for understanding unbelief and ourselves."
- Paul de Vries, PhD, President, NY Divinity School
"The reasons for belief in God and unbelief are complex and varied and
hotly disputed. Paul Vitz makes a striking contribution to the current
debate with an elegant and thoroughly plausible explanation for much
atheism that turns the traditional Freudian critique of religion on its
head. Relying on the biographies of well-known modern atheists, he finds
significant evidence that negative childhood experiences with regard to
one's father can severely compromise one's capacity to believe in God.
Whatever one's beliefs, there is much to ponder in this well-written and
well-researched book."
- Eric L. Johnson, PhD, Director, Society for Christian Psychology
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