Conspiracy theories have been gradually occupying larger domains of cultural and political life. This presentation will take a symbolic perspective and offer a non-dismissive understanding of the reasons for strong adherence to conspiracy theories. Solc uses the term “dark religion” to describe all forms of fanatical, radical and extreme religions. His research shows how dark religion leads to profound conflicts on both the personal and cultural level—including terrorism and wars. surveys the vast contemporary cultural and religious landscapes. In this program he will discuss different psychological phenomena and dynamics underlying religious extremism and fundamentalism; show how the Self influences the way one holds onto a radical creed; introduce some mythological and clinical parallels, and explore our own feelings when confronted with Dark religion.

Participants will learn:

The psychological phenomena and dynamics underlying dark religion and conspiracism.
The definition of the ego and the Self as used in Jungian theory.
How the Self, namely non-credible representations of numinous energies, influences the way ego holds onto the dark religion & conspiracy theories.
What constitutes that adherence to be considered excessive, unhealthy.
What are mythological and clinical parallels of the phenomena.
How to identify the difference between spirituality and Dark religion.
Where conspiracism and creed overlap.
The basic idea of numinosum in Jungian psychology.
The phenomena of identification, inflation, possession, and split-off.