The Illness That We Are: A Jungian Critique of Christianity

Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts #17

by John P. Dourley

Book by Dourley, John P.

Genres: Psychology, Religion, Philosophy, Christianity, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1984

Reviews

[Arthur George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent work that explains both how Jung thought that Christianity (mainly early Christianity) and its myth is aligned with the human psyche but how later organized Christianity departed from that and became sterile, ceasing to answer to people's psychological and spiritual needs. According to Jung's depth psychology, Christianity and the psyche are rooted in the same source, so that the religion and depth psychology should be allies. Depth psychology need not be a threat to or opponent to Christianity; the latter just needs to be revitalized so as to again proceed from the continuous human experience of soul rather than from ecclesiastical pronouncements about one-time revelations from afar.

[Ed Wojniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting "insider's" (the author is a Catholic priest and analyst) review of Jung's objections to Christian theology. Dourley (and Jung) take seriously Scripture's own idea that "we look through a glass darkly." That, is, religious expressions of probably all kinds contain elements of the shadow which can then be projected onto God.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The insights of this book regarding the exteriority of Christianity (and its need to turn inward to find God) were spot on. Knocked it down a star for readability: I had to read every sentence twice in order to grasp its meaning. But it was worth it because the meaning was so valuable.

[Jon Ungerland]

a must in the world of jungian analysis of religion. Dourley (a catholic priest) gives provocatie insight into the deficiencies and promise of western christianity.