Freud’s Pastor

Oscar Pfister's relationship with Sigmund Freud was an intriguing and complex one, characterized by both admiration and disagreement. Pfister, a Swiss pastor became fascinated with Freud's groundbreaking theories on the human mind and subconscious. Their interactions and correspondence, which spanned the course of 30 years, shaped the early development of psychoanalytic theory and its integration with religious beliefs.

In the book Psychoanalysis and Faith, which is a compilation of that correspondences between Freud and Pfister, we get a glimpse of how faith was a part of psychoanalysis. Freud writes to Pastor Pfister:

In itself psycho-analysis is neither religious nor non-religious, 
but an impartial tool which both priest and layman can use in 
the service of the sufferer. I am very much struck by the fact that 
it never occurred to me how extraordinarily helpful the psycho- 
analytic method might be in pastoral work, but that is surely 
accounted for by the remoteness from me, as a wicked pagan, of 
the whole system of ideas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

While grieving his daughter, Sophie’s, death (who died from Spanish Flu in 1912) Freud writes to Pastor Pfister:

That afternoon we received the news that our sweet Sophie in Hamburg had been snatched away by influential pneumonia, snatched away in the midst of a glowing health, from a full and active life as a competent mother and loving wife, all in four or five days, as though she had never existed. Although we have been worried about her for a couple of days, we had nevertheless been hopeful; it is so difficult to judge from a distance. And this distance must remain distance, we were not able to travel at once, as we had intended, after the first alarming news; there was no train, not even for an emergency. The undisguised brutality of our time is weighing heavily upon us. Tomorrow she is being cremated, our poor Sunday Child! Our daughter Mathilde and her husband are leaving for Hamburg the day after tomorrow, thanks to an unexpected connection with an Entente train; at least our son-in-law was not alone; two of our sons who were in Berlin are already with him, and our friend Eitingon has gone with them.

Despite their mutual respect, however, Pfister and Freud had fundamental disagreements. One significant point of contention was religion itself. Freud, famously known for his views on religion as wish fulfillment and illusion, found it challenging to grasp Pfister's commitment to both psychoanalysis and Christianity. In turn, Pfister believed that religion had a valid place in understanding the human psyche and emphasized the importance of spiritual experiences.
Their differing perspectives became more pronounced when they debated the role of sexuality in religious experience. While Freud viewed sexual repression as a source of neurosis and believed that religious rituals served as a substitute for repressed sexual desires, Pfister argued that religion provided a way to channel and transform sexual energy into a higher spiritual state. This clash highlighted the contrasting views of the two men, with Pfister seeing sexuality as an essential part of human nature, whereas Freud saw it primarily as a source of conflict and repression.

Despite these differences, Pfister remained dedicated to Freud's groundbreaking theories. He saw the value in Freud's approach to psychoanalysis and the therapeutic benefits it could bring to individuals suffering from mental health issues. Additionally, Pfister admired Freud's pioneering efforts in challenging societal taboos and stigmas surrounding mental health, paving the way for a more open discourse on psychological well-being.
Their relationship extended beyond professional interactions, with Pfister inviting Freud to visit him in Switzerland. Their meeting was marked by intellectual discussions and conversations on the human condition, as well as walks in the serene Swiss countryside. These personal encounters allowed for a deeper understanding of each other's viewpoints and fostered a sense of mutual appreciation.