You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
Title: A moment of surprise – Moses at the burning bush: Theological and psychoanalytical considerations
In the story of »Moses at the burning bush« (Ex 3,1-15), one of the foundational stories of the Hebrew Bible and the monotheistic tradition in general, an eminent moment of surprise is explored. A special encounter takes place between Moses, who has been chosen as a prophet, and God, who reveals himself for the first time under unique circumstances as one who exists and coexists in dialogue with man. Through a detailed exegesis, and in particular an analysis of the revelation of the name (»I will be as I will be.«), I intend to show that this God is fundamentally different from the polytheistic gods and is not available to humanity. In a second step, this idea is linked to the history of Freud and psychoanalysis, as well as to the unavailability of the unconscious. In order for psychoanalysis to enter the »promised land of psychiatry« and to dispel the suspicion that it was a »Jewish science«, Freud was prepared to sacrifice key elements in his exchange with Jung. Only gradually was he able to reaffirm his Jewish origins and the roots of psychoanalysis in the Jewish tradition by rediscovering the figure of Moses. Based on the pericope of the thorn bush, one could now say that the psychoanalyst not only has to assume the function of »legislator« (Loch, 1974) and be responsible for establishing and maintaining the general conditions and rules to which he or she is also subject. In addition, he or she must also ensure that manipulation and »knowledge« do not limit or make impossible the availability of the unconscious and the unknowable. The psychoanalyst is, as it were, tasked with occupying a position that facilitates an experience that is not predictable and reveals itself only in a moment of surprise.
The full text is available in German.