Sigmund Freud argued that religion, and especially Christianity, makes society less happy rather than more fulfilled. In works such as The Future of an Illusion and Civilization and Its Discontents, Freud claimed that religion is an illusion created to comfort humans in a frightening world, but that this comfort comes at a psychological cost. Christianity, he believed, encourages guilt, represses natural desires and keeps people emotionally immature. He predicted that religion would die out as more people were educated and embraced science, and that this would be a step forward for society.  However, in later writings – influenced no doubt by the rise of totalitarianism – Freud began to acknowledge the importance of religion in helping people to cope with uncertainty and unanswered questions, as well as in keeping uneducated people away from crime and immorality. Despite this, in the 1990s and early 2000s critics such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens developed similar arguments, claiming that Christianity is a harmful, irrational and divisive force in society and that society would be happier without it. Overall, Freud was largely right to claim that society would be happier without Christianity, because religious belief often increases guilt, conflict and intellectual dependence, although Christianity does have some positive influence on society and may need to be replaced with something in due course.

One key reason Freud believed society would be happier without Christianity is that it creates unnecessary guilt and psychological suffering. In Civilization and Its Discontents, Freud argues that religion strengthens the superego, the part of the mind that judges and punishes the self. Christianity teaches ideas such as sin, judgement and eternal punishment, which can make people feel constantly guilty for natural thoughts and desires. Freud famously described religion as “a universal obsessional neurosis,” suggesting it traps believers in childish patterns of fear and dependence. This view is supported by Richard Dawkins, who argues that religion teaches people to feel guilty for things like sexuality, which should be a normal part of human life. When people are told they are sinful by nature, this can damage self-esteem and happiness. By contrast, a secular society encourages people to take responsibility for their actions without fear of divine punishment. This supports Freud’s claim that removing Christianity could reduce anxiety and make people psychologically healthier, strengthening the argument that society would be happier without it.

A second reason supporting Freud’s view is that Christianity can limit intellectual freedom and encourage irrational thinking. In The Future of an Illusion, Freud argues that religion survives by discouraging questioning and critical thought, especially in childhood. He believed religious beliefs are accepted because they are taught early and protected from criticism. Christopher Hitchens echoes this idea, arguing that religion “poisons everything” by replacing evidence with faith and discouraging independent thinking. Dawkins similarly claims that Christianity is “anti-intellectual”, promotes belief without proof, which conflicts with science and reason. This can slow social progress and create fear of new ideas, such as evolution or advances in medicine. A society that values rational enquiry and open debate is more likely to solve problems effectively and promote happiness. From this perspective, Christianity may prevent people from thinking freely and living authentically, while a non-religious society could encourage curiosity, honesty and shared human understanding. This again supports Freud’s argument that society would be better off without Christianity.

However, critics argue that Freud underestimated the positive role Christianity can play in society. Jürgen Habermas, a secular philosopher, accepts that religion is not literally true but argues that it still contains valuable moral insights. He suggests that in our increasingly secular society we have “an awareness of what is missing” in terms of religion. Christian ideas such as human dignity, equality and care for the vulnerable shaped modern human rights. Without Christianity, society has lost an important moral language that promoted social cooperation and long-term action on issues such as climate-change, leaving society fragmented, individuals isolated and hopeless and politics paralysed. Similarly, Charles Taylor argues that modern secular society has not made people clearly happier. In A Secular Age, he claims that while people have more freedom, they also experience greater anxiety, loneliness and loss of meaning. Linda Woodhead also challenges Freud by pointing out that many people actively choose religion because it gives them identity, community and purpose. These thinkers suggest that removing Christianity might create a moral and emotional gap rather than greater happiness.  However and despite these challenges, Freud’s argument remains convincing when comparing the harms and benefits of Christianity. While Habermas and Taylor are right that religion has shaped moral values, these values can exist without belief in God. Ideas such as compassion and justice do not require Christianity to survive. Linda Woodhead’s point that religion gives meaning may be true for some individuals, but Freud would argue that this meaning is based on illusion rather than reality. A society built on honest acceptance of human limits, rather than comforting beliefs, is more mature and stable. Furthermore, history shows that Christianity has often been linked to intolerance, conflict and control, particularly over sexuality and gender. Even if Christianity can offer comfort, the psychological cost of guilt, fear and repression remains high. Overall, the progress of secular societies suggests that people can flourish without religious belief, supporting Freud’s original claim.

In conclusion, Freud was largely right to argue that society would be happier without Christianity. His analysis shows how Christian belief can increase guilt, repress natural desires and discourage critical thinking. The support of modern critics like Dawkins and Hitchens strengthens this case by highlighting the ongoing conflict between religion and reason. Although thinkers such as Habermas, Taylor and Woodhead raise important points about meaning and morality, these do not outweigh the psychological and social harms identified by Freud. The strongest reason for Freud’s view is that happiness is better achieved through rational understanding and emotional maturity than through religious illusion. Therefore, society should continue to move towards secular ways of finding meaning, responsibility and wellbeing without reliance on Christianity.