Pollock, Psychology and Religion

The most interesting part of the article was the references to Jungianism. The ideals behind Jungianism (which are rather cultish but interesting never the less) relate to religion as a whole. As a religion, Jungianism accuses Christianity of causing many of the problems that the western man faces. Jungianism is based around Freudian ideas, and posits that aggression and the libido are the driving forces of man. Christianity (as Jungianism states) has “sex based” laws that prevent man from living in a natural way. Jungianism provides an alternative mechanism by which to live. Unlike Christianity, which promotes self control and a strict moral etiquette, Jungianism embraces/promotes the innate instincts of libido and aggression. In a way, Jungianism provides a framework almost opposite to that of most national religions. Ironically, Freud’s ideas of the unconscious expand into religion (Jungianism), and promote controversial theories, just as they do in psychology.