Sigmund Freud photographed by Max Halberstadt

• MIKE Bor (Of miracle and mystery, September 28) says Freudians see authoritarian religion, meaning Islam and Christianity, and authoritarian politics, meaning Nazis and Communists, as interlinked.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Pope Pius XI condemned the Nazi movement, and the Roman Catholic Church was persecuted in Germany and all countries it conquered as a result.

About 1,000 priests died in Dachau concentration camp alone. Popes from Leo XIII in the 19th century onwards have condemned Communism.

Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx both predicted the end of religion, to be replaced by their teachings.

Freud said that his psychology would replace religion; now most psychologists have abandoned Freud in favour of other schools.

Far from predicting the rise of totalitarianism, Freud had to bring in a separate “Thanatos” drive, which he copied from Sabina Spielrein to explain it.

Marx said that in his workers’ paradise religion, “the opiate of the people”, would no longer be needed.

In fact religion grew in all Communist countries as people looked for hope and comfort in the tyrannies they were suffering under.

Now Communism has collapsed and religion remains.

KEIRAN PROFFER, NW5