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Jung and Christianity in Dialogue: Faith, Feminism, and Hermeneutics (Jung and spirituality series)

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_Jung and Christianity in Dialogue: Faith, Feminism, and Hermeneutics_ is a rich and diverse collection of writings, from some of the foremost authors in the fields of religion and psychology. This companion volume to _Carl Jung and Christian Spirituality_ explores the relationships between Jungian psychology and Christian traditions in new and illuminating ways. It includes some of the finest articles yet contributed to this dialogue, organized into four different sections: "Jung and Theology" discusses Jung and Christian faith; "Jung, Feminism, and Spirituality" presents feminist critques of Jungian psychology; "Jung and Hermeneutics" explores Jung's interpretive approach to Christian scripture and theology; and "Jung and Pastoral Care" looks at the application of Jung's psychology for the parish minister and pastoral counselor.

"Jung and Christianity in Dialogue: Faith, Feminism and Hermeneutics", published in 1990 and edited by Moore and Meckel is a brief collection of essays discussing the intersection of Jungian psychology and aspects of Christianity. The majority of these essays have been previously published.

At the outset of the Twenty-First century Jungian views of religion seems a minor historic curiousity - of interest only to select historians of twenty-century intellectual thought. The popularity of psychoanalysis, both Freudian and Jungian, has declined radically from its hey-day in the middle of the previous century. Hand-in-hand with this decline has been a general loss of interest in Jung's thoughts on other subjects such as religion, both, from scientific and theological commentators. On the one hand, Jung's psychological framework with its' `collective unconscious' and other structures seems contrived and unscientific. It strikes many as a brand of speculative metaphysics, inconsistent, not only with modern views of the mind, but with methodological naturalism in general. While on the other hand, though Jung's views are clearly mystical and mysterious, they lack the appeal and explanatory power of tradition religion. Put bluntly, Jung's views on religion seem silly. Indeed, it is hard to imagine that they had once warranted some serious consideration.

Putting aside the limited relevance of Jung's views on religion, the essays in this collection are mediocre at best, limited in scope and characterized by empty sophistry. The publishers claim that these contributions are from the "most highly-recognized" thinkers in the areas of religion and psychology is a paradigm case of hyperbole. At best the contributors are minor figures, mostly drawn from a narrow Jungian niche.

Overall, a mediocre collection of period essays, likely, a pass for most readers interested in religion or psychology.