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Jung & the Christian Way
A personal interpretation of the thinking of Carl Jung for Christians. Christopher Bryant shows that the search for oneness with God's will and for true fulfilment are different aspects of the same quest.
- GenresPsychology
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 28, 2025
This work is an attempt to link Jung's teachings to Christian growth.
In my view it doesn't adequately portray the essence of Jung's teachings, although to be fair the author does indicate in his Introduction that he is not really qualified to do so.
One point that does come through quite well is the correspondence between Individuation and sanctification (although he does not use the latter term). I also like the way Bryant refers to sin, not as some guilt-ridden negative aspect of our nature but simply as our not doing what our inner nature needs us to do. I am in a religious denomination that does not agree with the concept of sin as such, but I can identify with there being sin in the way Bryant describes it here.
Jung believed that spiritual experience was more important than belief. In fact, he did not really view belief itself as of any importance at all but viewed experience as of vital importance. Bryant does not agree with the complete negation of belief and his own view is that experience and belief should be in balance, but he does accept Jung's point that too few Christians seek experiential Christianity.
In summary, in this work Christopher Bryant encourages us to bring Jung's concepts into our spiritual life, integrating the various archetypes into our understanding in an individuation process which becomes a significant part of our spiritual growth. Despite the inadequacy I have already indicated I found this book stimulating and a good reminder of the value Jung's teachings can bring to one's spiritual growth.
In my view it doesn't adequately portray the essence of Jung's teachings, although to be fair the author does indicate in his Introduction that he is not really qualified to do so.
One point that does come through quite well is the correspondence between Individuation and sanctification (although he does not use the latter term). I also like the way Bryant refers to sin, not as some guilt-ridden negative aspect of our nature but simply as our not doing what our inner nature needs us to do. I am in a religious denomination that does not agree with the concept of sin as such, but I can identify with there being sin in the way Bryant describes it here.
Jung believed that spiritual experience was more important than belief. In fact, he did not really view belief itself as of any importance at all but viewed experience as of vital importance. Bryant does not agree with the complete negation of belief and his own view is that experience and belief should be in balance, but he does accept Jung's point that too few Christians seek experiential Christianity.
In summary, in this work Christopher Bryant encourages us to bring Jung's concepts into our spiritual life, integrating the various archetypes into our understanding in an individuation process which becomes a significant part of our spiritual growth. Despite the inadequacy I have already indicated I found this book stimulating and a good reminder of the value Jung's teachings can bring to one's spiritual growth.
August 29, 2018
Good overview of Jung's approach and theories of human behavior, psychological growth, and the basis of finding meaning and purpose in life. The author provides not only a description of Jung's basic theories, but provides a comparison of the Christian teaching on sanctification -- becoming whole as one transformed by the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Jung's theories dovetail well with Christian teachings on development. Jung was certainly religion-friendly. Given the traditional role of religion which encourages believers to contemplate the transcendent, and also to recognize that there is a power working within them to transform them into the image of Christ, much like the elements of self which can make a person whole are hidden in the unconscious and need to be connected to and released, one wonders how people who completely reject the role of faith and the transcendent spirit in their lives will move on to wholeness, based on their own resources. The book provides a challenge to completely secularized methods of finding wholeness and health.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews