As darkness descended upon Europe, C.G. Jung traveled to the United States in 1937 to give the annual Terry Lectures at Yale University. The three lectures were published the following year and are known today as Psychology and Religion (CW 11, pars. 1-168). Although written nearly ninety years ago, Jung’s insights, wisdom, and vision are perhaps all the more relevant and important today.
Over four sessions, we’ll take a deep dive into this invaluable text. We’ll explore the centrality of religious experience in Jung’s understanding of the psyche and discuss what Jung means by “the numinous” (numinosum). We’ll discuss Jung’s critique and affirmation of religious communities (specifically Catholic and Protestant), and we’ll give special attention to his warning against the dangers of religiously rooted authoritarianism and extremism. Although there are undoubtedly toxic expressions of religion, a healthy religious experience can support, enhance, and guide the individuation process.
Tuesdays, May 27th, June 3rd, 10th, and 17th, 2025 @ 7:30PM