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Antoine Vergote

April 15, 2024

Antoine Vergote (8 December 1921 – 10 October 2013), also known as Antoon Vergote, was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher, psychologist and psychoanalyst. He was an Emeritus Professor at the Catholic University of Leuven. His extensive publications span multiple disciplines including psychoanalysis, hermeneutics, philosophical anthropology, linguistics, theology, cultural anthropology, and phenomenology.[1]

Vergote has been acclaimed "the most eminent figure in the field of the psychology of religion"[2] and "a key figure" in European intellectual movements during the 20th century.[3]: 6 

Early life edit

Antoine Vergote was born on 8 December 1921, in the Belgian city of Courtray in the Flemish province of West Flanders.[4] After receiving his graduate degrees from the University of Louvain in 1954, he continued his education in Paris where he studied with Levi-Strauss, attended the lectures of Merleau-Ponty, and completed his analytic training under the direction of Jacques Lacan.[4]

Psychoanalysis and religion edit

Vergote was a former student of the French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan and played an important role introducing psychoanalysis to the University of Leuven. He was the founder, along with Jacques Schotte and Alphonse de Waelhens, of the Belgian School of psychoanalysis. He has published many articles and books on the relationship between psychoanalysis and faith.[5][6] He has attempted to refute those who view religion as a neurosis by showing that the tools of psychoanalysis can be used to elicit an experience of compassion and sensitivity capable of revealing truth and of giving meaning to human history as reflected in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.[7][8]

Vergote's interest in psychoanalysis evolved from his philosophical background. In 1958 Vergote had already published an article on the question of why philosophers should be interested in Freudian psychoanalysis, especially those interested in Husserl's phenomenology.[9] This phenomenology would be a returning point of reference throughout his writings.[10]: 216 

One of Vergote's best known studies, Guilt and Desire (Dette et désir), is concerned with the two main neuroses, hysteria and obsessional neurosis in relation to religion, and analysed from a Freudian-Lacanian perspective. Vergote rejects Freud's view of religion as a collective neurosis, as well as his genetic explanation of religion. The core of Vergote's critique of Freud's Totem and Taboo is the problem of how obedience to the Law (interiorised in the superego) and guilt can emerge in a primitive society without Law or faith. In Vergote's view, writes H. Westerlink, the obedience and guilt can only be established by a Law. In other words, culture cannot originate from guilt, because, vice versa, guilt presupposes culture.[10]: 246  Vergote's "marvellous and classic"[3]: 8  study includes an in-depth treatise of several catholic mystics such as Teresa of Ávila.

Psychology and religion edit

Vergote has written extensively on the subject of the psychology of religion, as distinct from his psychoanalytic perspective.[11][12][13] Vergote views religion as a cultural reality or phenomenon and defines it as "the entirety of the linguistic expressions, emotions, actions and signs that refer to a supernatural being or supernatural beings".[14] In characterising this viewpoint of religion, Vergote pays tribute to Clifford Geertz. Vergote focuses primarily on Christianity because, he writes, it is the dominant religion of our (Western) culture and the majority of psychological studies to date relate to Christian populations.[15] However, he also acknowledges that if one wishes to study religion from the psychological point of view, one must then speak about unbelief or atheism. "Unbelief, insofar as it is not a pure absence of religious questions or interests, is equally a response to the question addressed to humankind by religion".[16]

Although he is a religious man himself, Vergote's aim is not to defend any form of religion.[3]: 7 

Works edit

French edit

  • La psychanalyse, science de l'homme (Charles Dessart, 1970)
  • Psychologie religieuse (Charles Dessart, 1971)
  • Interprétation du langage religieux (éd. du Seuil, 1974)
  • Dette et désir (éd. du Seuil, 1978)
  • Religion, foi incroyance (Liège, 1983)
  • La psychanalyse à l'épreuve de la sublimation (éd. du Cerf, 1997)
  • Modernité et christianisme (éd. du Cerf, 1999)
  • Humanité de l'homme, divinité de Dieu (2007)
  • La psychanalyse devant la schizophrénie (éd. du Cerf, 2011)

English edit

  • Religious Man: Psychological Study of Religious Attitudes (Gill & Macmillan, 1969).
  • Parental Figures and the Representation of God: A Psychological and Cross-Cultural Study (Walter de Gruyter, 1978)
  • Guilt and desire. Religious Attitudes and Their Pathological Derivations (New Haven, 1987). (Dette et désir. Deux axes chrétiens et la dérive pathologique).
  • Religion, Belief and Unbelief. A Psychological Study (Leuven University Press, 1996). ISBN 90-6186-751-7 (Religion, foi, incroyance. Étude psychologique)
  • Psychoanalysis, Phenomenological Anthropology and Religion (Leuven / Amsterdam /Atlanta 1998).

Appreciation edit

Vergote has been acclaimed "the most eminent figure in the field of the psychology of religion" whose "deep understanding of the psychodynamics analysis of the religious attitude was supported not only by his vast knowledge of philosophical and theological anthropology (Vergote, 1974), but also by the vast and refined empirical analysis which he himself conducted".[2] In the view of Professor Jacob Belzen (University of Amsterdam), Vergote is "a key figure" in European intellectual movements during the 20th century.[3]

His influence on both the psychology of religion, and in philosophy, in the Netherlands has been profound due to publications and translations into Dutch and due to the fact that some of his students pursued academic careers in Leuven or the Netherlands. In this respect, Vergote has been called the "godfather of the second major 'school' in the Dutch speaking psychology of religion".[10]: 213 

In 1998, Vergote was made an honorary member of the Italian Society of the Psychology of Religion (Società Italiana di Psicologia della Religione).[17]

References edit

  1. ^ Lecuit, Jean-Baptiste (2007) L'anthropologie théologique à la lumière de la psychanalyse : La contribution majeure d'Antoine Vergote. Les Éditions du CERF.
  2. ^ a b Aletti, M. (2012) My Concern with Psychology of Religion: Defending Psychology, Respecting Religion. In, Jacob A. Belzen, Psychology of Religion: Autobiographical Accounts, p.23. Springer ISBN 978-1-4614-1601-2.
  3. ^ a b c d Belzen, J.A. (2012) A real psychology of a real religion: Antoine Vergote turning 90 years of age. In, Psicologia Della Religione - news. Convegno SIPR 2012 "Religione, spiritualità e cura di sé".
  4. ^ a b Biographie d’Antoine Vergote. Théologie & psychanalyse.
  5. ^ Vergote, A. (1990) Explorations de L'Espace Theologique. Peeters.
  6. ^ Vergote, A. (1997) La psychanalyse à l'épreuve de la sublimation. Éditions du Cerf.
  7. ^ Vergote, A. (1978) Dette et désir: Deux axes chrétiens et la dérive pathologique. Éditions du Seuil.
  8. ^ Vergote, A. (2011) La psychanalyse devant la schizophrénie. Les Éditions du CERF.
  9. ^ Vergote, A. (1958) L'intérêt philosophique de la psychanalyse freudienne. Archives de philosophie, Vol.1, No. 21, pp.26-59.
  10. ^ Vergote, A. (1969) Religious Man: Psychological Study of Religious Attitudes. Gill & Macmillan.
  11. ^ Vergote, A. (1971) Psychologie religieuse. Charles Dessart.
  12. ^ Vergote, A. and Tamayo, A.(1978) Parental Figures and the Representation of God: A Psychological and Cross-Cultural Study. Walter de Gruyter.
  13. ^ Vergote, A. (1996) Religion, Belief and Unbelief. A Psychological Study. Leuven University Press (p.16).
  14. ^ Vergote, A. (1999) Modernité et Christianisme. Les Éditions du CERF.
  15. ^ Vergote, A. (1996) Ibid, p.38.
  16. ^ Stickler, G. (1999) Profilo di Antoine Vergote[permanent dead link]. In M. Aletti & G. Rossi (Eds.), Ricerca di sé e trascendenza. Approcci psicologici all'identità religiosa in una società pluralistica (pp. 17-23). Torino: Centro Scientifico Editore.

External links edit

  • Informations sur la vie et l'œuvre d'Antoine Vergote
  • Livre portant sur l'œuvre d'Antoine Vergote
  • Texte d'Antoine Vergote sur le site de l'École belge de psychanalyse


April 15, 2024
antoine, vergote, december, 1921, october, 2013, also, known, antoon, vergote, belgian, roman, catholic, priest, theologian, philosopher, psychologist, psychoanalyst, emeritus, professor, catholic, university, leuven, extensive, publications, span, multiple, d. Antoine Vergote 8 December 1921 10 October 2013 also known as Antoon Vergote was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest theologian philosopher psychologist and psychoanalyst He was an Emeritus Professor at the Catholic University of Leuven His extensive publications span multiple disciplines including psychoanalysis hermeneutics philosophical anthropology linguistics theology cultural anthropology and phenomenology 1 Vergote has been acclaimed the most eminent figure in the field of the psychology of religion 2 and a key figure in European intellectual movements during the 20th century 3 6 Contents 1 Early life 2 Psychoanalysis and religion 3 Psychology and religion 4 Works 4 1 French 4 2 English 5 Appreciation 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editAntoine Vergote was born on 8 December 1921 in the Belgian city of Courtray in the Flemish province of West Flanders 4 After receiving his graduate degrees from the University of Louvain in 1954 he continued his education in Paris where he studied with Levi Strauss attended the lectures of Merleau Ponty and completed his analytic training under the direction of Jacques Lacan 4 Psychoanalysis and religion editVergote was a former student of the French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan and played an important role introducing psychoanalysis to the University of Leuven He was the founder along with Jacques Schotte and Alphonse de Waelhens of the Belgian School of psychoanalysis He has published many articles and books on the relationship between psychoanalysis and faith 5 6 He has attempted to refute those who view religion as a neurosis by showing that the tools of psychoanalysis can be used to elicit an experience of compassion and sensitivity capable of revealing truth and of giving meaning to human history as reflected in the life of Jesus of Nazareth 7 8 Vergote s interest in psychoanalysis evolved from his philosophical background In 1958 Vergote had already published an article on the question of why philosophers should be interested in Freudian psychoanalysis especially those interested in Husserl s phenomenology 9 This phenomenology would be a returning point of reference throughout his writings 10 216 One of Vergote s best known studies Guilt and Desire Dette et desir is concerned with the two main neuroses hysteria and obsessional neurosis in relation to religion and analysed from a Freudian Lacanian perspective Vergote rejects Freud s view of religion as a collective neurosis as well as his genetic explanation of religion The core of Vergote s critique of Freud s Totem and Taboo is the problem of how obedience to the Law interiorised in the superego and guilt can emerge in a primitive society without Law or faith In Vergote s view writes H Westerlink the obedience and guilt can only be established by a Law In other words culture cannot originate from guilt because vice versa guilt presupposes culture 10 246 Vergote s marvellous and classic 3 8 study includes an in depth treatise of several catholic mystics such as Teresa of Avila Psychology and religion editVergote has written extensively on the subject of the psychology of religion as distinct from his psychoanalytic perspective 11 12 13 Vergote views religion as a cultural reality or phenomenon and defines it as the entirety of the linguistic expressions emotions actions and signs that refer to a supernatural being or supernatural beings 14 In characterising this viewpoint of religion Vergote pays tribute to Clifford Geertz Vergote focuses primarily on Christianity because he writes it is the dominant religion of our Western culture and the majority of psychological studies to date relate to Christian populations 15 However he also acknowledges that if one wishes to study religion from the psychological point of view one must then speak about unbelief or atheism Unbelief insofar as it is not a pure absence of religious questions or interests is equally a response to the question addressed to humankind by religion 16 Although he is a religious man himself Vergote s aim is not to defend any form of religion 3 7 Works editFrench edit La psychanalyse science de l homme Charles Dessart 1970 Psychologie religieuse Charles Dessart 1971 Interpretation du langage religieux ed du Seuil 1974 Dette et desir ed du Seuil 1978 Religion foi incroyance Liege 1983 La psychanalyse a l epreuve de la sublimation ed du Cerf 1997 Modernite et christianisme ed du Cerf 1999 Humanite de l homme divinite de Dieu 2007 La psychanalyse devant la schizophrenie ed du Cerf 2011 English edit Religious Man Psychological Study of Religious Attitudes Gill amp Macmillan 1969 Parental Figures and the Representation of God A Psychological and Cross Cultural Study Walter de Gruyter 1978 Guilt and desire Religious Attitudes and Their Pathological Derivations New Haven 1987 Dette et desir Deux axes chretiens et la derive pathologique Religion Belief and Unbelief A Psychological Study Leuven University Press 1996 ISBN 90 6186 751 7 Religion foi incroyance Etude psychologique Psychoanalysis Phenomenological Anthropology and Religion Leuven Amsterdam Atlanta 1998 Appreciation editVergote has been acclaimed the most eminent figure in the field of the psychology of religion whose deep understanding of the psychodynamics analysis of the religious attitude was supported not only by his vast knowledge of philosophical and theological anthropology Vergote 1974 but also by the vast and refined empirical analysis which he himself conducted 2 In the view of Professor Jacob Belzen University of Amsterdam Vergote is a key figure in European intellectual movements during the 20th century 3 His influence on both the psychology of religion and in philosophy in the Netherlands has been profound due to publications and translations into Dutch and due to the fact that some of his students pursued academic careers in Leuven or the Netherlands In this respect Vergote has been called the godfather of the second major school in the Dutch speaking psychology of religion 10 213 In 1998 Vergote was made an honorary member of the Italian Society of the Psychology of Religion Societa Italiana di Psicologia della Religione 17 References edit Lecuit Jean Baptiste 2007 L anthropologie theologique a la lumiere de la psychanalyse La contribution majeure d Antoine Vergote Les Editions du CERF a b Aletti M 2012 My Concern with Psychology of Religion Defending Psychology Respecting Religion In Jacob A Belzen Psychology of Religion Autobiographical Accounts p 23 Springer ISBN 978 1 4614 1601 2 a b c d Belzen J A 2012 A real psychology of a real religion Antoine Vergote turning 90 years of age In Psicologia Della Religione news Convegno SIPR 2012 Religione spiritualita e cura di se a b Biographie d Antoine Vergote Theologie amp psychanalyse Vergote A 1990 Explorations de L Espace Theologique Peeters Vergote A 1997 La psychanalyse a l epreuve de la sublimation Editions du Cerf Vergote A 1978 Dette et desir Deux axes chretiens et la derive pathologique Editions du Seuil Vergote A 2011 La psychanalyse devant la schizophrenie Les Editions du CERF Vergote A 1958 L interet philosophique de la psychanalyse freudienne Archives de philosophie Vol 1 No 21 pp 26 59 a b c Westerink H 2009 Controversy and Challenge The Reception of Sigmund Freud s Psychoanalysis in German and Dutch speaking Theology and Religious Studies Freud und Seine Rezeption Lit Verlag ISBN 978 3 643 50029 8 Vergote A 1969 Religious Man Psychological Study of Religious Attitudes Gill amp Macmillan Vergote A 1971 Psychologie religieuse Charles Dessart Vergote A and Tamayo A 1978 Parental Figures and the Representation of God A Psychological and Cross Cultural Study Walter de Gruyter Vergote A 1996 Religion Belief and Unbelief A Psychological Study Leuven University Press p 16 Vergote A 1999 Modernite et Christianisme Les Editions du CERF Vergote A 1996 Ibid p 38 Stickler G 1999 Profilo di Antoine Vergote permanent dead link In M Aletti amp G Rossi Eds Ricerca di se e trascendenza Approcci psicologici all identita religiosa in una societa pluralistica pp 17 23 Torino Centro Scientifico Editore External links editInformations sur la vie et l œuvre d Antoine Vergote Livre portant sur l œuvre d Antoine Vergote Texte d Antoine Vergote sur le site de l Ecole belge de psychanalyse Center for Psychology of Religion Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antoine Vergote amp oldid 1157589017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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