Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to adumbrate the contours of a depth psychological hermeneutics of the Biblical text that would rediscover the value of classical allegorical exegesis and reimagine the role of the Christian Scriptures as a resource for inner transformation and spiritual development. Depth psychology seeks to explore the archetypal motifs that underlie cognitive and behavioral processes, hoping that a conscious engagement of these motives will promote the healing of inner wounds and a gradual move to integration. Archetypal motifs are crucial as they provide an unchanging bedrock for the mythical and spiritual symbols and themes that are spontaneously generated by the psyche and then further elaborated in the context of a religious community. The language of the Christian Scriptures may then be read as expressing the reality of human potential using symbolic language, tropes, and narratives.