For anyone who is interested in the psychology of religion, especially the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, today’s guest is a wealth of wisdom and insight. Pittman McGehee shares his interpretation of Christian mythology through a Jungian lens. We also discuss:

How to approach the study of religion

New Atheist critiques of religion

Pathologizing aspects of religion & other ideologies

Cultivating a sense of the sacred in your own life

Intersection of Christianity with US culture and politics

Guest Bio:

J. Pittman McGehee is an Episcopal priest and Jungian analyst in private practice in Austin, Texas. He is widely known as a lecturer and educator in the field of the psychology of religion, as well as a published poet and essayist.

He is the author of The Invisible Church: Finding Spirituality Where You Are (Praeger Press, 2008), Raising Lazarus: The Science of Healing the Soul (2009), Words Made Flesh, and The Paradox of Love, now available for sale through The Jung Center of Houston’s Bookstore, Amazon.com, and other fine booksellers.

Pittman presented “What Is a Healthy Spirituality” during “Religion, Mental Health, and the Search for Meaning,” a conference held at the University of St. Thomas. Click here to listen to the conference recordings.

Pittman also was interviewed as part of the “In Touch with Carl Jung” Salon through Centerpoint. Click here to view the complete list of recordings and to listen to Pittman’s interview.

Shownotes:

0:00-4:00: Opening Remarks

4:00-11:10: Origins of Pittman’s interest in the ideas of Carl Jung

11:10-13:18: Interpreting Christian Mythology through a Jungian Lens

13:18-17:45: Problems with approaching religion through a scientific 

                       worldview

17:45-25:05: Pathological pitfalls of religion & other ideologies

25:05-29:07: Problems with the notion of “i’m spiritual but not religious”

29:07- 31:10: Cultivating a Sense of the Sacred

31:00-39:12: The American Religion: Puritanism, Patriotism, Capitalism

40:25-45:10: Closing Remarks

Links:

Personal Website of Pittman McGehee

Books by Pittman McGehee:

Raising Lazarus: The Science of Healing the Soul

The Invisible Church: Finding Spirituality Where You Are

The Paradox of Love

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