Carl Jung and Religion

8/10/2019 Carl Jung and Religion

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Carl Jung and Psychology

James A. Van Slyke


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+ Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Swiss Psychiatrist

FatherProtestant Minister MotherInterested in Spirituality

Part of Freuds original analytic group

Later parted ways with Freud over

differences Freud did not like Jungs preoccupation with

Religion

Caused a psychotic breakdown for Jung


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+ Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Analysis of dreams, practicing

psychoanalytic psychologist

Also studied the unconscious, but

suggested a different personality

structure

Strongly influenced by Christianity, butalso Eastern religions

Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism

Interested in integrating opposing

forces

Yin and Yang


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+Jungs Psychology

EgoConscious aspect of the person

Unconscious

Similar to Freuds Unconscious is primary force in thought and behavior

Libidopsychic instinctual energy

Not necessarily sexual or aggressive

Principle of the opposites Structures of the psyche are antithetical pairs

Light vs. Dark

Principle of entropy - Psyche seeks out balance


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+Jungs Psychology

Personal Unconscious

Each person has an individualized unconscious

Suppressed, forgotten memories, traumas, etc.

Collective Unconscious

Predates individual unconscious

Repository of religious, spiritual, and mythological symbols and

experiences

Universal structure across different cultures Cultural and Religious stories and narratives return to common

themes


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+Jungs Psychology

Archetypes

Primary structures of the collective unconscious

Similar to platonic forms

Jungs description

conceptual matrixes or patterns behind all our religious and

mythological concepts, and indeed, our thinking processes in

general.


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+Jungs Psychology

Archetypes

Patterns of instinctual behavior that are manifested according to

the current cultural context, yet a priori

Can only be partially known and grasped For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall

see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even

as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:11-13


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+Jungs psychology

Archetypes

Paired opposites that must be integrated into the personality

Animafeminine part of the self

Animusmasculine part of the self

Light vs. Dark

ShadowDark side of the personality

Negative aspects of the self must be integrated into the whole

Religious symbols and rituals allow us to deal with the unconscious


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+Jung and Religion

Concerned about secularization and scientism (reductionism)

Religion is an important aspect of being human (Religious Self)

Helps to harmonize conscious and unconscious states

Secularization leads to a rootless existence

Religion is the best avenue to the unconscious

Individuation

Primary means for spiritual growth

Reuniting unconscious material with consciousness to achievewholeness


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+Jung and Religion

Religious Symbols

Allow us to look at the unconscious

Shield us from direct contact

Offer new knowledge

Compensate for what is missing

Empower the transformation

Bridge conscious and unconscious to lead toward wholeness

Must be experienced rather than understood


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+Jung and Religion

Mandala

Art piece

Draws one toward the center

Spirituality should draw one towardthe center

Self and God archetype

Religion and psychology cannot be

separated; intrinsic to each other

Transcendent function of personality

Acceptance of shadow and other

unconscious material

Leads to inner healing


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+Archetypes & Star Wars

Characters, Situations and Symbols in stories

HeroLuke Skywalker

Reflects youthfulness

Usually called to a quest or mission

Represents the ego

Tries to overcome tensions in the unconscious

Wise Old man (Mentor)Obi Wan and Yoda

Teaches the hero the nature of the psyche

Helps them toward maturity


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+Joseph Campbell

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949)

The Masks of God (1969)

Myths and stories continually return to common themes Myths (religious or otherwise) ways in which cultures transmit

values and mores

Religions are the masks that reflect the same fundamental

transcendent truths


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+Joseph Campbell

Monomyth

Departure

Call to Adventure

Refusal

Supernatural Aid

Initiation

The Road of many Trials

Temptation

Confront the evil inside (Shadow or Father)

Reach the goal

Return to share what you have learned


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+Archetypes & Star Wars

Symbols

The Force

Dark SideThe Shadow

Luke must overcome and learn to control the shadow

Integrate into his own conscious

Movement from Denial to Acceptance

Religions often have similar structure

Struggle with dark side

Sin

Evil

Religious heroes overcome evil with the help of God


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+Jung & Christianity

How do we understand the relationship between, religion,

mythology and Christ?

Exclusivistthere is no truth outside of the Christian faith

Inclusivist

C.S. LewisChristianity is the only true myth

Different religions mirror the transcendent in different ways, but

Christ is the closest to God

Universalism

All religions approximate the transcendent to a different degree

Carl Jung and Religion

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