Dark Religion: Fundamentalism From The Perspective of Jungian Psychology

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Jungian analysts Vlado Šolc and George Didier set out to explore the psychological dynamics and causes of religious fundamentalism and fanaticism. The book offers an in-depth-psychological analysis of what happens when a person becomes possessed by the unconscious energies of the Self.  The book also reveals that spirituality is an inherent dimension and one of the most essential human needs. It only becomes “dark” when it ignores, or separates itself from its own vital roots. 

Listen to Vlado Šolc on the Underground Antics Podcast

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Click Here to Read an Interview with Vladislav Solc for Vesmir Magazine in Czech Republic

Description

Jungian analysts Vlado Šolc and George J. Didier set out to explore the psychological dynamics and causes of religious fundamentalism and fanaticism. The book offers an in-depth-psychological analysis of what happens when a person becomes possessed by the unconscious energies of the Self

Dark Religion also reveals that spirituality is an inherent dimension of human life and one of its most essential needs. It only becomes “dark” when it denies, ignores, or separates itself from its vital roots.

The authors coin the term “dark religion” to describe all forms of fanatical, radical and extreme religions. Their study shows how dark religion leads to profound conflicts on both the personal and cultural level—including terrorism and wars.

Dark Religion surveys the vast contemporary cultural and religious landscapes. All the while discovering the emergent forms of spiritual praxis in light of postmodernism and the rise of fundamentalism in the new millennium.

“A careful and thoughtful psychological reflection on one of the burning issues of our times—radical fundamentalism. Šolc and Didier offer both trenchant analysis and potential solutions for this central dilemma of postmodernity.”

Murray Stein, Ph.D., author of Outside, Inside and All Around

Table of Contents

Foreword v

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Chapter I Religion: A Depth Psychology Perspective 1

Functions of Religion 3

Religious Extremism is Potentially Dangerous 4

The Numinosum and the Development of Religion 5

Psyche is Real 8

Questions 10

Chapter II The Emergent Dispensation and Third Millennium Spirituality 15

The Task of the Postmodern World 16

Spiritual But Not Religious 18

Spirituality and Its Commercialization 19

Fundamentalism Across All Disciplines 21

Religion As The Fabric of Human Life 23

Chapter III Archetypal Processes and Phenomena of Religion in Jungian Theory 27

Religio 27

The Numinosum 33

Creed 45

Relatonship Between Creed and Ritual 54

Spirituality 66

Chapter IV The Emerging Psychological Dispensation 87

The Reality of The Psyche 89

Spirit of The Depths 91

Soul: The Sacred Space Shared Between Religion and Depth Psychology 94

Relationship to Soul 96

God and Soul 97

Jung’s Experience of Soul 99

Soul and Sexuality: The Gateway to The Self 102

The Language of The Soul 107

A Psychospiritual Dispensation 108

Psyche and Religion 111

The Evoluton of Religion and The Psychological Dispensation 112

The Religious Dispensation 115

Fear Of One’s Self 122

Continuing Incarnation 128

Complexio Oppositorum 129

Chapter V Analytcal Psychology and the Dynamics of Extreme Religion 135

Delineation of the Concept of Strong Religion in Jungian Psychology 135

Concept of One-Sidedness In Jungian Psychology 141

The Inferior Function: A Typological Aspect of Extreme Religion 161

Possession and Inflation 174

Family Complexes and the Development of Religious Extremism 185

Jung’s Take on Privato Boni Doctrine 217

Chapter VI The Phenomenology of the Extreme Religion 225

Fundamentalism Project: An Analytical Perspective 225

Chapter VII Theocalypsis and Theonemesis 283

Theocalypsis 283

Theonemesis: The Consequence of possession by the Self 328

Chapter VIII The Process of Change 359

Epilogue: Psychological parallels of Odysseus’ Mythical Journey 382

A Postscript: Personal Journey and Experience Of the New (Psychological) Dispensation 385

The Conclusion and Summary 397

Bibliography 407

Index 423

About the Authors 439

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1 review for Dark Religion: Fundamentalism From The Perspective of Jungian Psychology

  1. dlukovich

    As a newbie depth psychology PhD, I find Dark Religion to be a uniquely comprehensive presentation of Jungian theory on religion and individuation. Dense academic language is brought to life through examples of relatable lived experiences, and the authors offer a conscious and respectful examination of the conditions and circumstances in which an unhealthy relationship with religion forms, often leading to stunted development of one’s personality and morality. Rather than being left with a feeling of diminishment or dismissal of religion, this book reinforces the need to respect the religious/spiritual instinct that seems to be part of what it means to be human. The void left as traditional religious traditions are unable to remain relevant to more and more people is unfortunately aggressively filled by fundamentalist and radical forms of religion that effectively calm the real fears of many. Finding a religion of one’s own for those, like me, who identify as spiritual but not religious, may as Edinger predicts, eventually emerge in the collective as a new God-image. I feel dread at how long this may take given current events. While the authors offer individuation and Jungian analysis as a framework for consciously coming into relationship with the personal and collective unconscious, this framework needs to be made accessible NOW, and not just through a therapy relationship.

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