Between mystical experience and delusion: An encounter of Psychoanalysis with the Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

The present article aims to clarify, through the perspectives of psychoanalysis and the philosophy of religion, a differentiation between mystical experience and religious delusion. To achieve this, we will delve into classical psychoanalytic authors, drawing on clinical cases and correlating them with philosophy to find broader answers to our inquiries. We will employ a conceptual analysis for this purpose. According to psychoanalysis, mystical experience can be seen as a product of unconscious desires and fantasies that seek to satisfy deep psychological needs or as an attempt to encounter the absolute and transcendence, which manifests in the psychic structure of the individual. However, these experiences can also be delusional manifestations that need careful differentiation between healthy, hysterical, or psychotic experiences. In philosophy, there is a quest for a broader understanding of religious and mystical language, emphasizing its unique nature and the challenge of communicating these experiences beyond the limitations of language. This involves questioning false beliefs and exploring possible true beliefs regarding the subject.