Carl Jung and Maximus the Confessor on Psychic Development: The Dynamics between the "Psychological" and the "Spiritual"

222 Pages·2014·1.684 MB·English

by  G.C. Tympas

CARL JUNG AND
MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR
ON PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT
In what ways does psychological development differ from spiritual development
and psychological experience from spiritual experience?
Bringing together two disparate theories under a trans-disciplinary framework,
G. C. Tympas presents a comparison of Carl Jung’s theory of psychic develop-
ment and Maximus the Confessor’s model of spiritual progress. An ‘evolutional’
relationship between the ‘psychological’ and the ‘spiritual’ is proposed for a
dynamic interpretation of spiritual experience.
Carl Jung and Maximus the Confessor on Psychic Development offers a creative
synthesis of elements and directions from both theories and further explores:
• Jung’s views on religion in a dialogue with Maximus’ concepts;
• the different directions and goals of Jung’s and Maximus’ models;
• Jung’s ‘Answer to Job’ in relation to Maximus’ theory of ‘fi nal restoration’.
Tympas argues that a synthesis of Jung’s and Maximus’ models comprises a
broader trans-disciplinary paradigm of development, which can serve as a pluralistic
framework for considering the composite psycho-spiritual development.
Constructively combining strands of differing disciplines, this book will appeal
to those looking to explore the dialogue between analytical psychology, early
Christian theology and Greek philosophy.
G. C. Tympas has degrees in medicine and theological studies and a PhD in
psychoanalytic studies from the University of Essex. His research focuses on the
relationship between early psychic models and psychiatric nosology and he is cur-
rently a priest and pastoral counsellor of the Greek Orthodox Church in London.
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CARL JUNG AND
MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR
ON PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT
The dynamics between the ‘psychological’
and the ‘spiritual’
G.C. Tympas
First published 2014
by Routledge
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2FA
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2014 G. C. Tympas
The right of G. C. Tympas to be identifi ed as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Tympas, G. C.
Carl Jung and Maximus the Confessor on psychic development : the
dynamics between the “psychological” and the “spiritual” / G. C.
Tympas. — First Edition.
pages cm
1. Psychology and religion. 2. Jung, C. G. (Carl Gustav), 1875–1961.
3. Maximus, Confessor, Saint, approximately 580–662. I. Title.
BF51.T96 2014
261.5′15—dc23
2013040117
ISBN: 978-0-415-62516-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-62517-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-81298-4 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
TO MY FATHER POLYCARPOS
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CONTENTS
Figures ix
Tables x
Foreword by Renos K. Papadopoulos xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xiv
Abbreviations xvi
1 Introduction 1
2 The ‘psychological’ and the ‘spiritual’: an evolutional
relationship 17
The ‘spiritual’ and the ‘psychological’ in context 19
The framework of different ontological levels in modern
sociology 28
The spiritual: an evolution from the psychological and
the ontological potential 32
3 Jung and the post–Jungians on religion: breakthroughs
and limitations 38
Freud and Jung on religion: emancipation or interplay
of opposites? 38
Jung’s ‘complex’ relation to and standpoints on religion 42
The post–Jungians on religion and the Christian perspective 48
4 Maximus the Confessor and Carl Jung on the foundations
of the psyche 57
Maximus’ life and philosophical background 57
Maximus on man: a ‘cataphatic’ or an ‘apophatic’
anthropology? 59
vii
CONTENTS
Jung’s archetypes and Maximus’ ‘logoi’ of beings: exploring
the foundations of the psyche 64
Maximian ‘logoi’ vis-à-vis archetypal theory:
ontological and phenomenological perspectives 76
5 The directions and the stages of psychic development 82
Individuation as a ‘natural’ process: from the ‘ego’
to the ‘Self’ 82
Deifi cation in Maximus: a synergic spiritual process towards
the ‘deifi ed man’ 87
Archetypes, creative fantasy, symbols, and the transcendent
function 90
The stages of spiritual life and the l ogoi-as-virtues towards
‘theological philosophy’ 96
Passions, complexes, and ‘renunciation’ in psychological
and spiritual development 100
6 The psychic functions and spiritual experience 111
Individuation, typology, and spiritual experience 112
Maximian psychic model-functions and spiritual experience 118
Active imagination, prayer, and spiritual experience-as-
knowledge 124
7 The ultimate goal: a question of wholeness or holiness? 130
God-image and the fourth element in Jung’s understanding
of the Self-wholeness 130
Theosis (dei fication) in Maximus and the membership
of Christ’s body 136
Wholeness or holiness? 143
8 ‘Answer to Job’: a dark side or an eschatological light? 148
Evil and time in Jung’s progression of the Self 149
Maximus’ theory of ‘fi nal restoration’ and the eschatological light 154
‘Darkness’ as a stage of spirituality within time and eternity 157
9 Conclusion: a ‘trans-disciplinary paradigm’ of
psychic development 163
Bibliography 181
Index 195
viii
FIGURES
2.1 The Spiritual as synthesis of phenomenological
and ontological elements 32
2.2 The spiritual continuum within the ontological hierarchy 34
4.1 Maximus the Confessor interrogated by the Emperor in
Constantinople 63
5.1 Sigmund Freud, G. Stanley Hall, Carl G. Jung (front row),
Abraham A. Brill, Ernest Jones, Sandor Ferenczi,
in front of Clark University (1909). 86
9.1 A trans-disciplinary paradigm of development 175
ix