The supernatural is a term that encases all that cannot be explained by either the laws of nature or simply things beyond what is considered ‘natural’. Now, of course, this cannot be discussed without noting religion. Religion itself may possibly be defined as ‘a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.” Within religion, there are multifarious aspects that relate to the belief in the supernatural or a supernatural being. Although following a religion does not necessarily mean you will have the belief in the supernatural (and vice versa), they are without a doubt connected. Many scholars have specific perspectives on both topics due to a certain few individuals that have theorized these beliefs. Sigmund Freud and Emile Durkheim will be the two prime examples discussed on their view of the supernatural and religion and how they came to think this way.
Emile Durkheim was an incredibly prominent French sociologist in the late 19th to early 20th century. His focus was on sociology though he thought about religion throughout his life. Initially, his view was that religion was unnecessary to human society, yet, he then understands that religion was crucial to the social aspect of society. Durkheim viewed religion as- “a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden- beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.” His perspective on religion appears to be that it is a fundamental concept to humanity. With his definition in mind, according to Durkheim, there are three elements to any religion- sacred objects, a set of beliefs and practices, and the existence of a moral community. Durkheim’s primal focus was the social aspect of religion and continuously emphasized this throughout his works. Durkheim believes that religion is produced and becomes authentic through moments of “collective effervescence” (also referring to collective phenomena). There are the times when individuals come together, creating a society, to perform a ritual- religious to be exact. Due to these individuals simultaneously doing the same actions and thoughts, this then unifies the group of individuals and therefore release what can be called ‘electricity’. Thus, participants all have a collective emotional excitement, possibly considered to be a phenomenon. “This impersonal, extra-individual force, which is a core element of religion, transports the individuals into a new, ideal realm, lifts them up outside of themselves, and makes them feel as if they are in contact with an extraordinary energy.” Durkheim, throughout all of this, tends to avoid referencing God or the supernatural, attempting to be somewhat neutral on those topics. Since his view was overall on the social aspect where minds were influenced due to the interactions and rituals, his perspective on the supernatural is quite ambiguous. What is claimed to be supernatural, he views as “the very idea of the "supernatural" logically presupposes its contrary — the idea of a "natural order of things" or "natural law" — to which the supernatural event or entity is presumably a dramatic exception; but the idea of natural law, Durkheim again suggested, is a still more recent conception than that of the distinction between religious and physical forces.” Though the supernatural is not explicitly discussed through his works, it is reasonable to assume that because of an individual’s ability to believe in a religion through the interactions within the society, the supernatural is also a part of that belief.
Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis whom always stressed there were three parts to our mind: the id, the ego and the superego. These are constantly “at war” and depending on each person’s childhood, a specific one may dominate. Freud’s position on religion, however, was definitely opposed to that of Durkheim’s. From his publishing, ‘Civilization and its Discontents (1930)’, he states "The whole thing is so patently infantile, so foreign to reality, that to anyone with a friendly attitude to humanity it is painful to think that the majority of mortals will never be able to rise above this view of life." From this, Freud clearly believes religion is more of a childish concept which is taken from one of the many theories Freud had. In ‘Moses and Monotheism (1939)’ Freud believes that religion is the return of the repressed which is in relation to any childhood trauma. Religion would be a way for the individual to cope with the return of the certain trauma whereby they wish for a higher ‘father’ figure. However, this is not Freud’s only position on religion. He also theorised that religion is a universally controlled ritual to cause the individuals to believe they are the cause of misfortunes that are imaginary. It could also be related to the Oedipus complex where religion aids in working through the trauma caused by their childhood which is similar to the return of the repressed. Religion may also be a reaction to being in a state of infantile helplessness where it protects all from misfortune- more specifically death- therefore feeding into narcissism which means it causes individuals to believe they are that makes the universe go around. On another note, he also theorizes that it is a mass delusion where in people are deluding their own wishful euphoric reality. Though he has many theories on religion, he mainly implies that religion is a result of neurosis, however, this is not said in a negative manner but rather stating a human condition. What this entails is that religion is a way for an adult to cope with childhood trauma, bringing them a reality where their misfortune is not their own fault but from a ‘higher being’. According to Freud, religious ideas do not have a spiritual nor a supernatural origin. In relation to the supernatural, though Freud may be considered a ‘sceptic’, he was no stranger to paranormal phenomena. His theory of repression again applies to the supernatural, or in his case the occult phenomena. Unfortunately, though he personally delved into the investigation of the supernatural or paranormal, his publications focused on the mental side which is the repression of trauma.
Both individuals had set perspectives on religion and the supernatural, though seemingly different there were definite similarities. Both believed that religion was something that occurred due to the mind, one due to society whereas the other was due to experience. Durkheim believed in the continuously united rituals causing the connections of each individual to believe in the same thing due to emotional excitement. Due to this excitement, they believe the cause for it is not the unity within this religious community but the cause of a higher being that they were able to achieve due to their rituals. On the contrary, Freud believes it is all within one’s mind due to neurosis which is caused by repressed memories from childhood (generally traumatic) where they emotionally wish for a powerful figure to protect them, much like a parent. He theorises that the individuals who participate in religious belief are unconsciously believing that it fabricates a reality for them away from misfortune to feed into their id, ego, and superego so that one may dominate as they ascend into adulthood. Clearly, both are understanding that religion is important to humans though both believe that religion did not appear from the presence of a higher being but rather from one’s mind or experience. Their approach to the supernatural, however, is similar in the sense that if one is able to believe in religion, one should also believe in the supernatural. If one is able to believe in a God or simply a higher being which is outside of nature’s laws then they are able to believe in the supernatural. They do not state whether it is real, however.
To further understand the perspectives of Durkheim and Freud within the supernatural and religion, a particular case study has been chosen to be discussed. The possession of Elizabeth Knapp was widely known and went from October 30, 1671, until January 12, 1672. The young girl was all but sixteen at the time and what intrigued many about this case was the documentation of this case. Samuel Willard was a preacher who was the author that documented this case. “one Elizabeth Knap (October1671,) was taken after a very strange manner; sometimes weeping, sometimes laughing, sometimes roaring, with violent Agitations, crying out Money! Money! Her Tongue would be for many Hours together drawn like a Semicircle, up to the Roof of her mouth; so that no Fingers apply’d unto it, could remove it. Six Men were scarce able to hold her in some of her Fits; but she would skip about the House yelling and howling, and looking hideously.” An important factor within this was that Elizabeth Knapp was a servant and many theorised that she acted this out so as to not be a servant anymore but a well-known member of the society. Durkheim, applying his theory of societal impact, would explain that rather than a demon being the cause for this ‘possession’, it would be more so her acting out due to how she felt within the society. The way Durkheim would interpret the supernatural aspect to this is Knapp’s way to rebel against the ritualistic manner of religion and because it is the only way she knew how. The societal actions were not having the same effect on her as it would the others. Willard was known for his sermons about obedience to God and eternal damnation which may have caused Knapp to act out. This then leads to Freud’s theory of childhood trauma or simply repressed memories/emotions. From Freud’s perspective, her distaste for her status as a servant and the restrictions that came with the head of her household being a preacher may have impacted her mind in a negative way. Her conscious wished to escape her reality but because Willard was incredibly religious, she would have wished to do the opposite which was the Devil possessing her. Both would theorise this supernatural occurrence to be another mental thing over physical, although some things Knapp did were unexplainable to a certain extent.
In light of the evidence, it is clear that religion and the supernatural are connected however one is not required to believe in both even though both concepts hold similar elements. If one is able to believe in a fabricated reality created by a higher being, one should be able to believe in the occurrences outside of nature’s laws. Though Freud and Durkheim held differing views on religion and the supernatural, they were both simultaneously relating concepts to the mind of an individual. It was the ways of influence to the mind and how it worked that was truly divergent. Both holding opposing views yet were both incredibly influential on future scholars’ perspectives about religion and the supernatural and will continue to be for generations.