The Emergence of Consciousness in Genesis 1—3: Jung's Depth Psychology and Theological Anthropology

Zygon 49 (2):509-529 (2014)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The development of a robust, holistic theological anthropology will require that theology and biblical studies alike enter into genuine interdisciplinary conversations. Depth psychology in particular has the capacity to be an exceedingly fruitful conversation partner for theology because of its commitment to the totality of the human experience (both the conscious and unconscious aspects) as well as its unique ability to interpret archetypal symbols and mythological thinking. By arguing for a psycho-theological hermeneutic that accounts for depth psychology's conviction that myths about the origin of the world are always simultaneously myths about the origin and emergence of human consciousness, I demonstrate that the presence of numerous Jungian archetypes in Genesis 1–3 suggests that the narrative can be read from a psychological perspective without diminishing or marginalizing the dominant theological themes of exile and return. Furthermore, such a reading fundamentally suggests that the narrative is not about how sin entered into creation, but rather how consciousness emerged in human community

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

The Entangled State of God and Humanity.Peter B. Todd - 2014 - Asheville Jung Center Webinar Series, 22.
Answer to Job.Carl Gustav Jung - 1954 - Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.

Analytics

Added to PP
2014-05-22

Downloads
69 (#214,873)

6 months
4 (#319,344)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Personal knowledge.Michael Polanyi - 1958 - Chicago,: University of Chicago Press.
The origins and history of consciousness.Erich Neumann - 1954 - [Princeton, N.J.]: Princeton University Press.
The Collected Works of C. G. JUNG.C. G. H. G. Jung - 1984 - In C. G. H. G. Jung & Aniela Jaffé (eds.), Selected Letters of C.G. Jung, 1909-1961. Princeton University Press. pp. 201-210.

View all 8 references / Add more references