Evil: The Shadow Side of Reality [Paperback]

John A. Sanford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1982

This book explores the nature of evil in religious and psychological terms and looks at the devil in folklore and the Bible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company (August 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824505263
• ISBN-13: 978-0824505264
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reconciliation of Jung and Christian theology - interesting!, May 24, 2000

By 

Peter A. Kindle (Kansas City, Missouri) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Evil: The Shadow Side of Reality (Paperback)

Sanford is an Episcopal priest and Jungian analyst. This book is his attempt to reconcile CG Jung's conception of the psychological Shadow with the Christian theology of evil. Though written for a popular audience, this book succeeds to a large degree.

In turn Sanford covers the perceptions of evil from a mythological perspective (dualism), from the Old Testament perspective (monotheism), and from the New Testament perspective (dualism beneath a monotheistic umbrella). He contrasts the views of Jesus and Paul, finding in Jesus support for the Jungian concept of persona, while condemning Paul as the originator of the Church's historical denial of the duality of human nature. He evaluates patristic and more recent emendations of the devil legend, going so far as to skillfully retell and analyze the Jekyll/Hyde story.

Sanford takes a very balanced perspective on both the Christian and Jungian side of this issue. He presents both cases fairly and critically. Both traditions are personally valued by Sanford, and this respect shines through his presentation.

In the end he concludes with a persuasive reading of Christian theology through a Jungian lens, finding in crucifixion/resurrection a theological statement of wholeness compatible with Jung's integration of the Shadow.

A book like this is likely to be based upon many technical, scholarly works. While there are a few footnotes, I wish Sanford had included more biographical information for those wishing to dig more deeply.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We need to hear this!, August 1, 2000

By 

spidir (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evil: The Shadow Side of Reality (Paperback)

We today prefer "to believe that the evils of our time somehow do not exist in the human soul...but have political or economic causes, and could be eliminated by a different political system, more education, the correct psychological conditioning, or one more war to wipe out the enemy..." (p. 15). So begins Sanford's remarkable endeavor to explain how denial of negative feelings and attributes can lead to the projection of "villains out there." Explaining Jungian theory in relation to Christian belief is a difficult job (he points out that St. Paul urged people to deny their shadows), but Sanford mostly manages it. The section on theories and theologies of evil was tough going at times, but the chapter that used the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as an illustration made it all worthwhile. This is a remarkable book on a difficult topic.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful & challenging, February 23, 2006

By 

William Timothy Lukeman - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Evil: The Shadow Side of Reality (Paperback)

Like all of John Sanford's books, this one combines a Jungian approach with a Christian one ... but not the cut-and-dried, live-by-rote Christianity that shuts down thought & exploration. Sanford isn't interested in comfirming the mindset (or rut) of the unquestioning & self-satisfied Christian. He calls for a living faith, one which examines & challenges the inner being of the individual.

Here he delves into the question of Evil: what is it, really? And how do we cope with it? Refusing to take the easy route of placing it all Out There Somewhere, he explains the need to face the darkness within ourselves -- and more, to accept it as part of ourselves, to learn from it, to integrate it into our lives & so lessen its power over us.

This won't be a book for those who believe in safety, or in living by dogma & authority. It places the responsibility for understanding Evil & coming to terms with it squarely in our hands alone. It requires that we question what we've been taught, what we've believed, in order to come to a living, personally meaningful truth. For those willing to walk this more difficult path, the rewards will be great. Highly recommended!