C. G. Jung and Hans Urs von Balthasar: God and evil - A critical comparison (Research in Analytical Psychology and Jungian Studies)

This book brings together the work of Carl Gustav Jung and Hans Urs von Balthasar, two of the most creative thinkers in psychology and theology in the twentieth century, to critically compare their ideas on the perennial question of God’s involvement with evil. In later life Jung embarked on a project relating to Christianity, with psychotherapeutic and theological intentions, forming his collection of essays, __Symbolik des Geistes,__ in which God and evil was a major theme. Balthasar gave significant attention to Jung’s psychology in his own theological trilogy, but opposed the approach to God and evil that Jung presented. In this book Les Oglesby provides a thorough examination of convergences and divergences in Jung and Balthasar’s thinking, their different approaches to the origins and reality of evil, as well as their alternative theological orientations. The book culminates with a study of each man’s understanding of the central event of Christianity, Christ’s death on the Cross and his descent to the dead and discusses how Balthasar’s ‘vertical’ and Jung’s ‘horizontal’ approach to this major happening can be held together fruitfully with one another. Illustrating how analytical psychology and Christian theology can mutually enrich one another when they are held in creative tension, this book invites reflection on the meaning of the central symbol of Christianity, and God’s involvement with evil as an aid to integrated psychological living and theological maturity. It will prove fascinating for students of psychology and religion as well as for Jungian analysts and practical theologians. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1. Introduction Part I: Constructing a framework for critical comparison 2. Introducing Jung and Balthasar Jung – a sketch of his life and work Balthasar – a sketch of his life and work Jung’s project in relation to Christianity Balthasar’s theological project Introduction: Epilogue Theological aesthetics not aesthetical theology Theodrama – The Saving Action Theo-logic – Divine Truth and Creaturely Truth Evil in Jung’s Symbolik des Geistes and in Balthasar’s works And In Balthasar’s Works Notes 3. A framework for critical comparison An adapted Frei/Ford typology Balthasar as a type 2 contextualizing theologian Openness to culture A distinctive response to culture Relating a type 2 theology to other disciplines Jung as a type 4 reinterpretive psychologist Other readings of Jung Jung’s scientific orientation Jung’s phenomenological orientation Jung’s metaphysical orientation Notes Part II: Bases for critical comparison 4. Anthropology and theological orientation Comparable anthropologies? Jung’s map of the psyche Balthasar’s theological anthropology Differing theological orientations Jung’s ‘Joachimite’ theological orientation Balthasar’s corpus triforme theological orientation Notes 5. Analogy and polarity Differing views on analogy Differing understandings of polarity Balthasar’s dialectic of contradiction Jung’s dualistic monism Satan in the Old Testament – a case study Theological orientation Analogy and polarity Notes Part III: God’s involvement with evil 6. Evil – its origins and reality Divine and human involvement in the origin of evil How Jung and Balthasar understand the reality of evil Jung’s understanding of evil Balthasar’s understanding of evil Notes 7. Jung on God’s involvement with evil The problem of the fourth The patristic elaboration of the doctrine of the Trinity The application of Jung’s therapeutic method Anamnesis and reconstruction Two types of psychological interpretation The therapeutic relationship Jung’s specifically theological interpretations The divine drama linked to human development Jung’s assessment of the Christ/Antichrist conflict Jung’s ‘Joachimite’ theology of the Spirit in relation to the Trinity Notes 8. The Cross in Jung and Balthasar Jung and the Cross Jung’s reading of the Cross and his theory of symbol formation Jung’s reading of the fairy tale ‘The Princess in the Tree’ Jung’s further reflections on the Cross in Aion Balthasar and the Cross Kenosis Descensus Resurrection: kenosis–reconciliation Jung on resurrection Balthasar on resurrection The End Notes Part IV: Conclusion 9. A cruciform model for God’s involvement with evil The relationship between Balthasar as a contextualizing theologian and Jung as a reinterpretive psychologist Human experience and the divine action in relation to evil How ‘vertical’ and ‘horizontal’ interrelate The exception of the polarity of good and evil Descensus in Balthasar and Jung Concluding illustration: ‘The Crucifix that Spoke to St Francis’ Notes 10. Summary Bibliography Index This book brings together the work of Carl Gustav Jung and Hans Urs von Balthasar, two of the most creative thinkers in psychology and theology in the twentieth century, to critically compare their ideas on the perennial question of God’s involvement with evil. In later life Jung embarked on a project relating to Christianity, with psychotherapeutic and theological intentions, forming his collection of essays, Symbolik des Geistes, in which God and evil was a major theme. Balthasar gave significant attention to Jung’s psychology in his own theological trilogy, but opposed the approach to God and evil that Jung presented. In this book Les Oglesby provides a thorough examination of convergences and divergences in Jung and Balthasar’s thinking, their different approaches to the origins and reality of evil, as well as their alternative theological orientations. The book culminates with a study of each man’s understanding of the central event of Christianity, Christ’s death on the Cross and his descent to the dead and discusses how Balthasar’s ‘vertical’ and Jung’s ‘horizontal’ approach to this major happening can be held together fruitfully with one another. Illustrating how analytical psychology and Christian theology can mutually enrich one another when they are held in creative tension, this book invites reflection on the meaning of the central symbol of Christianity, and God’s involvement with evil as an aid to integrated psychological living and theological maturity. It will prove fascinating for students of psychology and religion as well as for Jungian analysts and practical theologians -- from publisher's website Introduction -- Part I. Constructing A Framework For Critical Comparison. Introducing Jung And Balthasar -- A Framework For Critical Comparison -- -- Part Ii. Bases For Critical Comparison. Anthropology And Theological Orientation -- Analogy And Polarity -- -- Part Iii. God's Involvement With Evil. Evil - Its Origins And Reality -- Jung On God's Involvement With Evil -- The Cross In Jung And Balthasar -- -- Part Iv. Conclusion. A Cruciform Model For God's Involvement With Evil -- Summary. Les Oglesby. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.