The legacy of Lou Andreas Salomé and Donald Winnicott

The legacy of Lou Andreas Salomé and Donald Winnicott as a psychoanalytical contribution to theological research. Some considerations

Mario Aletti – Catholic University and Theological Faculty – Milan

Abstract:

Starting from the legacy of Lou Andreas Salomé and Donald Winnicott, this contribution aims to overcome the problem of the truth of theological affirmations (“beliefs”) maintaining that the psychological value of religion is just in “believing”. Lou Andreas Salomé thought that narcissism is an early experience of “oneness with the universe”. According to her, man tries all his life, to regain such a state of well-being via creative experiences such as art, love, and religion. As far as religion is concerned, Salomé articulates a clear distinction between a “creative” and a “sedentary” believer, since the “creative” believer – in a certain way – calls into being his God. Winnicott considers religion of the individual to be an illusory transitional phenomenon; as a child with his mother, a believer creates the God he finds. The contribution focus on the theoretical paths opened by Salomé and Winnicott. Since Salomé’s “creative” believer’s religious faith encompasses doubt and Winnicott states that, in conclusion, the psychological value of believing is “believing in anything at all”, believers and psychologists of religion become aware of the never ending metaphoricity of religious language and, consequently, of the necessity of religious pluralism.

Keywords:

Lou Salomé, Winnicott, psychoanalysis, theology

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