oa Signalement: Het Theologisch-Psychiatrisch Gezelschap, 1945-1953

The article deals briefly with the history of an almost forgotten Theological-Psychiatric Association (1945-1953), one of the rare places in those days where theologians and psychiatrists discussed problems of common interest. An unknown and until now unedited paper which H.C. Rümke read in the Association is presented and the report of the discussion about it.

In his paper Rümke gives a short overview of the relation between demonological and scientific explanations in psychopathology. Psychiatric approaches that regard the inner life of the patient can also regard religion. He briefly discusses the theme ‘religion and transference’. The discussion deals with themes like: religious honesty and religious appeal, differences between the perspective of a theologian and a psychiatrist, the conception of man and health, psychoanalysis and religion, and others.