Faith of the Fatherless

Paul Vitz's "Faith of the Fatherless" delves into the psychological roots of atheism, focusing on the impact of absent or dysfunctional fathers.

Vitz examines the lives of prominent atheists like Nietzsche, Marx, Sartre, and Freud, suggesting a correlation between their childhood experiences and their rejection of faith.

The book explores how early relational trauma can shape an individual's worldview and influence their belief systems.

Vitz argues that a lack of secure attachment to a father figure can lead to a distorted image of God, contributing to the development of atheism.

His work challenges simplistic explanations of atheism and offers a nuanced understanding of its psychological underpinnings.