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'''The Future of an Illusion''' (written [[1927]]) by [[Sigmund Freud]] is a book that describes his interpretation of religion's origins, development, [[psychoanalysis]], and its future.
==Religion as an illusion==
Freud describes religion as an illusion, wishes that are the "fulfillments of the oldest, strongest, and most urgent wishes of mankind" (Ch. 6 pg. 30). To differentiate between an illusion and an error, he lists scientific beliefs such as "''[[Aristotle]]'s belief that vermin are developed out of dung''" as errors, but "''the assertion made by certain nationalists that the [[Indo-Europeans|Indo-Germanic]] race is the only one capable of civilization''" is an illusion, simply because of the wishing involved. Put forth more explicitly, "''what is characteristic of illusions is that they are derived from human wishes''." (pg. 31) He adds, however, that, "Illusions need not necessarily be false." (p.39) He gives the example of a middle-class girl having the illusion that a prince will marry her. While this is unlikely, it is not impossible. The fact that it is grounded in her wishes is what makes it an illusion.
*[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/ownwords/future1.html The future of an illusion]
[[Category:Sigmund Freud]]
[[Category:Works]]
