The Religious Approach to Psyche (original) (raw)

What is religion? Most of us encounter this question at some point during our lives. Sooner or later, we are exposed to influence from institutions and the people around us, nudging us to worship and to belong. Or perhaps we have an experience of the extraordinary—an experience of “being,” of something so profound that it does not fit to the paradigm we have acquired thus far. The mundane is transcended by a confrontation with the supernatural. Such experiences can change our minds and open our consciousness to a quest for meaning, for the right way to live, so our lives are not wasted any longer in the face of “it.” Since the first spark of consciousness shone in the darkness hundreds of thousands of years ago humans began to teach each other and practice rituals designed to get closer to, to reconnect with the mystery of the transcendent. We call this endeavor religion. Only in the past few hundred years has the very idea of religion become a subject of exploration. Psychologists dared to shine a light on the question of religion, perhaps to keep it alive after they reckoned that mystery is not to be reached, but paths to it could be explored. Can we understand religion without understanding the object of religion? Can we practice religion and receive its vital message without adhering to dogma? Can religion be a source of freedom rather than becoming a trap like the tower of Babel where religion, like language, divides us and ultimately leads us away from the common goals of humanity? Is there a way of being “religious” without becoming “religious?” C. G. Jung devoted his whole life to showing us that it is possible to analyze the question of religion in a nontheological way by using the lens of psychology instead. Jung surveyed a broad landscape of religious traditions, especially the teachings of alchemy, Gnosticism, and others that were not concerned with creed but sought to mediate deeper knowledge of the psyche. Jung’s work is a well of knowledge that yields unique insights and tools when it comes to religious seeking. However, his work is elaborate, complex, and not so intellectually accessible to everyone. There have been innumerable books written by Jung’s followers attempting to “translate” his teachings into a language that not only better suits the needs of modern society but also aspires to bring new elements to bridge the gaps and connect the dots between his ideas.