Document Type Thesis Author Name Jensen, Walter Call Number BL 9999.J46x at Western Michigan University's Waldo Library Copyright Office Record TXu 1-120-279 Title Religion and Mother Right:
Erich Fromm's Application of Johann Bachofen's TheoryDegree M.A. Department Comparative Religion Advisors Rudolf J. Siebert, Committee Chair Frank Gross, Committee Member Brian C. Wilson, Committee Member Allen Zagarell, Committee Member Keywords mother right father right religion erich fromm johann j. bachofen freud sociology of religion philosophy of science psychology of religion social psychology social character socialism fascism Date of Defense 04-04-2003 Availability A double-sided manuscript copy can be purchased from the author for $35.00, plus shipping. Abstract
RELIGION AND MOTHER RIGHT:
ERICH FROMM'S APPLICATION OF JOHANN BACHOFEN'S THEORY
Walter Jensen, M.A.
Western Michigan University, 2003
Erich Fromm offers several theories, derived from his analysis of society, which have the potential to greatly contribute to the field of comparative religion. After offering several new definitions geared for the academic study of religion, this treatise will examine the application of Fromm's social-psychological theory concerning the guerrilla warfare between the sexes reflected in religion. I maintain that in order to fully comprehend any religious structure, this conflict needs to be identified and understood. Failure to do so will only offer a partial explanation, generate even more ideology, and not produce any lasting results. The purpose of this thesis is threefold: (1) to explore Fromm's understanding of Mother Right; (2) to see how Fromm applies Mother Right to the religious inter-action between the sexes; and (3) to lay some groundwork for my dissertation on Fromm's 'critical theory of religion,' a theory that has not been fully explored yet. I am convinced that one of the key substructures of Fromm's 'critical theory of religion' is his understanding and application of Mother Right, an element that appears to be present throughout all of his work.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii
INTRODUCTION................................................... 1
1. CHRISTIAN DOGMA.............................................18
Fromm's Introduction........................................18
Social-Psychological Analysis...............................19
Categories of Dogma.........................................20
Man Becomes God.............................................21
God Becomes Man.............................................22
Mother-God and Her Infant Son...............................23
Full Circle.................................................23
2. BACHOFEN'S LIFE.............................................25
Bachofen's Background.......................................25
Road Scholar................................................26
Roman Law...................................................27
Visit to Rome...............................................27
Inheritance.................................................28
Marriage and Family.........................................29
Domestic Circle.............................................29
Professional Life...........................................30
3. BACHOFEN'S MINOR WORKS AND MOTHER RIGHT.....................31
Mortuary Symbolism..........................................32
Orientalism.................................................32
Four Additional Facts.......................................33
Origin of a Thesis..........................................34
Three Questions.............................................35
Social Elements.............................................36
Matriliny...................................................38
Preference for Female Children..............................39
Maternal Inheritance........................................40
Churches, Sects, and Cults..................................41
Hetaerism...................................................42
Order of Development........................................43
Innovation..................................................43
Bases of Hetaerism and Mother Right.........................43
Functioning Mother Right....................................44
Shifts in Power.............................................45
Five Stages.................................................46
Theory and Facts............................................47
Verifiable Evidence.........................................47
4. BACHOFEN'S THEORY OF RELIGION...............................49
Religion....................................................49
At Odds.....................................................50
Definition..................................................50
Myth........................................................51
Symbol......................................................52
Creative Force..............................................53
5. FROMM'S UNDERSTANDING OF BRIFFAULT..........................54
Social Psychology...........................................54
Briffault's Theory Concerning the Development of Monogamy...55
Evolution of Religion and Morality..........................56
Five Structures.............................................56
Sense of Individuality, the Moon, and Magic.................57
Woman's Role................................................58
Briffault's Theory Concerning the Evolution of Morality.....59
6. THE MALE CREATION...........................................61
The Babylonian Myth of Creation.............................62
Babylonian Types of Creation................................63
Two Biblical Accounts of Creation...........................63
Struggle for Power..........................................64
Victory of Male Religion....................................66
Man's Fantastic Feat........................................67
Comparisons.................................................67
The Fall....................................................68
Naming the Divine...........................................69
First Punishment............................................71
Final Analysis..............................................72
7. MOTHER RIGHT AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY..........................74
The Focus...................................................74
Fascism.....................................................75
Adopted By Both.............................................77
Four Elements...............................................78
Specific Trait of Matriarchy................................78
Moral Outlook...............................................80
Passive Surrender to Nature.................................80
Recognition of Natural and Biological Values................81
Sex Differences.............................................82
No Change...................................................82
Inequality..................................................84
The Fence...................................................84
Socialist Theoreticians.....................................86
Contradictions..............................................86
Women in Control............................................87
Radical Feminism............................................88
Earthly Happiness...........................................89
Sexual Restrictions.........................................90
Patricentric and Matricentric Complexes.....................92
Complexes in Religion.......................................93
Catholicism.................................................94
Protestantism...............................................95
Cycle.......................................................95
8. BACHOFEN'S DISCOVERY........................................97
The Connection and Contributions............................97
Bachofen's Theory...........................................98
Philosophy of History.......................................99
Motherly and Fatherly Love.................................100
Bachofen and Campbell......................................102
Similarity of Method.......................................103
Bachofen's Methodology.....................................104
Commonalities of Bachofen and Freud........................106
The Social Filter and Freud................................106
Key Differences............................................108
The Future Directions of Bachofen's Work...................109
9. EMBRACING MOTHER RIGHT.....................................111
A Place in Time............................................111
The Beginning of the End...................................112
Changes....................................................113
Bachofen and Morgan........................................114
Seven Changes..............................................114
Failure of Authority.......................................115
Social-Psychological Change................................116
Neomatriarchalism..........................................116
Correcting Freud...........................................117
Theoretical Consideration..................................118
10. CONCLUSION................................................120
BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................................122
Files Not available in any electronic or digital format on the World Wide Web.
If you have found this page by using a search engine, please click this line to return to the main index. Otherwise, please use the links on the left side of the page.