This course will engage C.G. Jung’s thoughts on the interconnectedness of psychoanalytic treatment and religious practices, a central theme in his work. Readings will be drawn from Jung’s writings on psychology and religion: West and East. We will follow the trajectory in Jung’s thought regarding religion by following his work sequentially, dating from his graduate student days, just before the turn of the twentieth century, through letters written in 1961, the last year of his life.
The purpose of this course is to develop a deeper understanding of Jung’s hypothesis that the human psyche is religious by nature. While the material in this course is intended for application in daily life, clinicians may wish to apply some of Jung’s insights into their own psychotherapeutic practice. Participants will be introduced to theological language and the religious background that informed Jung so that they will:
- Be better prepared to engage Jung’s theories that point to the archetypal dimension of religious practices
- Become more familiar with Eastern and Western religious symbol systems
- Be able to apply a religious (in Jung’s sense) lens to the understanding of human nature
