Freud: Freud views religion as a relationship, a relationship that

closely resembles the relationship between father and son. He states

that as children we fear our father and yet feel protected by him. Freud
believes religion imposes this same relationship between man and the
divine/gods. When we are no longer children we are still in need of
feeling of protected by one that also makes us fearful.
Freud refers many times to mans helplessness especially when
compared to the forces of nature. He believes that because of this
helplessness one feels together with the longing for a father he
confides in the gods and consequently religion. Through these gods,
Freud explains their tasks. These tasks are to exorcize the terrors of
nature, reconcile men to the cruelty of fate and compensate them for
the sufferings imposed on them. Freud believed that because man
felt life was intolerable they would need to attach to ideas and values
religion. The recurring theme is the idea of helplessness and the need
to overcome it as a child and as an adult, thus creating the need for
religious beliefs. Freuds views differs from Ottos beliefs in the sense
that Otto describes an emotional aspect of the relationship between
man and God where Freud views the relationship as one that comforts
man.
Durkheim: Durkheim has an interesting viewpoint on religion. He
writes about religion being similar to a state of equilibrium between
man and the divine. It is a relationship that depends on the other and
creates a balance. He writes that man ultimately makes his gods or
endures them but in return the gods endure man. He explains this
viewpoint in more depth when he explains the ritual of sacrifice. A
sacrificial ceremony is of equal importance of the two elements. It is
a process of communication in which a trade off occurs. The sacrifice
is typically done to pay respect and honor the gods while in turn
receiving something favorable from them. This act solidifies
Durkheims belief that it is because the gods depend on mans
thoughts that he can believe that his help is effective.
Otto: Otto uses the term creature-consciousness or creaturefeeling when describing the relationship between man and god in
religion. He believes in this intricate sense of dependence man has on
the almighty. He believes man feels a sense of nothingness. It is
similar to Freuds discussion of religion because there is an innate
sense of fear of god but yet there is an overwhelming dependence
upon them that cannot be easily explained. Otto explains the depths
of the relationship man makes with god and how emotions of trust,
love, sympathy, and piety frames man and there is an underlying

understanding that man is but dust and ashes against the majesty of
the gods. He suggests that these relations cause the annihilation of
self which contributes to his view of religion. His views differ from
those of Durkheim because the relationship Otto explains places more
power among the gods whereas Durkheim views the relationship as
one that is evenly distributed and equally important.