Religion and Lust or, The Psychical Correlation of Religious Emotion and Sexual Desire

This early twentieth‑century study treats religion and desire as intertwined forces, approached through a physio‑psychical lens that stresses observation and systematic reasoning. The author, a medical doctor with a background in natural philosophy, frames his argument as a scientific investigation, aiming to trace how sensual impressions give rise to the first notions of the supernatural.

The text begins with an exploration of how natural phenomena seed religious feeling, then moves to a detailed look at “phallic worship” as a bridge between sacred rites and sexual symbolism. Subsequent chapters examine the direct psychical correlation between religious emotion and sexual desire, while later essays dig into related topics such as virginity, gender roles, and even the social impact of female suffrage. A thorough bibliography and extensive footnotes round out the work, offering listeners a well‑documented glimpse into an era’s attempt to map the mind’s most profound urges.