THE BIG QUESTIONS

OK, I talked a lot today to lay out a Freudian interpretation of the underlying Oedipal issues in the Adam and Eve story as well as in the basic images and ideas in Christianity related to Jesus and Mary, oh yes, and God.

Now it’s your turn.  Please share your reaction to all of this.   Does it make you think about these stories in a new light?   Is there any validity to this kind of approach in your opinion?   At the very least, you all should be a lot more aware of the various ways that father - son issues are expressed in these stories.

If you are totally unpersuaded, that’s fine, too.  But please explain what part of this interpretation doesn’t make sense to you.   Are you will to admit the possibility of unconscious themes in religious stories?   Does it make you uncomfortable to talk about sexuality and aggression in relationship to Adam, Eve, Jesus, and Mary?  Is there another way to intepret the psychological meaning of these stories?

Please leave your reactions to Chocolat here

What is your reaction to the film “Ponette.”   Do you think it shows that religion is a good thing or bad thing for children dealing with grief?

Please leave any comments or questions about Freudian psychoanalysis here.

Please leave your comments about “The Chosen” here.

Feel free to comment on any aspect of these week’s readings.   Since there are many people with Catholic backgrounds in the class, I’d like to ask whether you see any difference between sitings of Bigfoot and sitings of the Virgin Mary, or are these both examples of the same psychological phenomenon?

Please leave comments and/or questions about general issues related to psychology of religion.

Please leave your comments about Whale Rider here.

Please leave any thoughts about Ferngully that you didn’t have a chance to mention in class.