Was Carl Jung a mystic?

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Was Carl Jung a mystic?

1eschator83
Bewerkt: nov 19, 2021, 8:56 pm

Dr Jung made his living as a writer, speaker, and psychiatrist, but almost his every word seemed to be of the unconscious, the psychic, the occult, or the mystic, with frequent effort to reconcile these with the religious, transcendent, or the phenomenological.
I'd be happy to discuss this in a new group, or in my post in the book discussion group.
I'm a bit fuzzy about mysticism, Spiritualism, and New Age concepts, but I've always felt that most religions attempted to bring hope to people through their efforts to seek the truth of our lives and universe. Admittedly, some religions also seem too interested in power and control, but that may be almost inescapable human nature we must resist and defeat.
There were mystery religions before the ministry of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and more arose in His Name. I'll admit I'm unlikely to contribute to that discussion, I am curious and would follow the group, as well as one on the New Age or other Spiritualism. Please comment and see Memories, Dreams, and Reflections by Aniela Jaffe in the Book Discussion Group.

2sashame
nov 17, 2021, 10:26 pm

to answer the title--yes, absolutely. simply see Jung's experience with writing The Red Book: Liber Novus

and psychiatry has never been so distant from the unconscious, psychic, occult or mystic. if anything it could be said to be seriously indebted to the practice of mysticism from the outset. in The System of Professions andrew abbott discusses how psychiatrists gradually "took over" the responsibility for helping people with personal problems in america, displacing the traditional role of the clergy

indeed, many religious traditions from puritanism to salafism to brahmanical hinduism and confucianism and tibetan buddhism have gotten themselves involved in the machinery of statecraft and the apparatus of state violence; a king and a facist alike love nothing more than effective propaganda, and among mystics there have always been conformist right-hand-path types willing to perform that duty. but likewise many traditions from the anabaptists to the yellow turban taoists to the jodo shinshu ikko ikki to the sikh federation have also inspired peasants and workers to rise up and fight for their autonomy. and there r of course the many traditions that lie between or outside of those two extremes.

the relationship bw modes of mystical xp and structures of political economy is a personal fascination of mine, but unfortunately has not attracted much scholarship outside of the particular relationship bw protestantism, fuedalism, and capitalism (in e.g. the works of Max Weber or more modern work like Pursuit of the Millenium)

i have been looking for some sort of work on the papal suppression of catholic mystics in the high medieval ages, but have not found anything quite so specifically comparative

awhile back i went around LT groups trying to gauge interest in a mysticism discussion group, but very few ppl responded :'(

3eschator83
dec 24, 2021, 2:04 pm

I admit great curiosity about many aspects of mysticism, but also great concern that it seems to me Jesus was primarily focused on the Search for and revelation of Truth, which we hope to find in religion, philosophy, and science, even if we don't have much hope today in education, politics, law, and even history.
It was once clear that the Divine Trinity used signs and mystical symbols to help Jesus and His Apostles demonstrate Divine Power, but many modern teachers who claim to be Christian or other religions tend to minimize or even deny Divine Power and Revelation in our time. This is damaging our Churches.
I wish you success in your search, and a Merry and safe Christmas, and will try to come back more frequently to continue conversation.

4March-Hare
jan 13, 2022, 8:54 pm

I’m intrigued. I will try to give it a read.