Teaching Freud [Paperback]

As one of the first theorists to explore the unconscious fantasies, fears, and desires underlying religious ideas and practices, Freud con be considered one of the grandparents of the field of Religious Studies. Yet his legacy is deeply contested. How can Freud be taught in a climate of critique and controversy? The fourteen contributors to this volume, all recognized scholars of religion and psychoanalysis, describe how they address Freud's contested legacy; they teach the debates. They go on to describe their courses on Freud and religion, their innovative pedagogical practices, and the creative ways they work with resistance.

This book will prompt teachers of theology to reflect on the ways by which they might help their students engage Freud as a preacher of the mystery of human life. --Teaching Theology and Religion

The writing is remarkably engaging, reflecting the suthor's engagement with both their subjects and their students. Teachers planning courses on psychoanalytic theory will find the volume to be an invaluable aid. In addition, theorists in several fields will appreciate the depth of insight conveyed by accomplished scholars who have spent decades thinking about what Freud means in both their lives and their work. --Religious Studies Review

Diane Jonte-Paceis Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development at Santa Clara University. She serves as chair of the Editorial Board of theReligious Studies Reviewand is the author ofSpeaking the Unspeakable: Religion, Misogyny, and the UncannyMother in Freud's Cultural Texts.