Greg, each of your communications this year are speaking right into my heart. The discussion about Jung's struggle with the scientism of early twentieth century medicine comforts me having struggled with same.
I'm so glad these are resonating with you, Mary. Jung's stance really set him apart in his field (not sure if you read the Viktor Frankl entry yet, but he broke with Freud and Adler for similar reasons). And while it seems to me that "scientism" still dominates the fields of psychology and psychiatry, that hegemony is not as great as it once was. When I was growing up, I heard Freud referred to far more than Jung. Now it seems to be the opposite. I just finished reading a book by the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who defines himself as an "atheist", in which he spends ample time discussing the positive outcomes of having a spiritual/religious orientation and lifestyle, and being part of spiritual/religious community. Then he encourages readers to seek that out. And his basis for this, interestingly, is science. I think Jung would be very gratified by this trend.
Well, before AA, there was the washingtonian fellowship, which functioned in the same way, and had also good effect. authentic and beneficial relationships can replace the relationship with a chemical. so can toxic ones.
Thank you for pointing me to the Washingtonian movement. I had never heard of it. I did some reading yesterday and it's easy to see how the Oxford Group then AA fits into that lineage. One fascinating detail I read was that Abraham Lincoln once attended a Washingtonian meeting because he was, apparently, interested in their approach.
it was very effective. authentic relationships are what people really need, it is my observation, that, addictions are born, when we do not feel safe or authentic with other people, and have no hope of being so. even one relationship of that nature will thwart potential addiction, or at least limit it's duration and intensity. To lie (to oneself especially) virtue signalling, and labeling yourself to "signal virtue" is not very helpful, really. religion encourages this shallow behavior. this is why AA is so, divergent from "regular " religion, in it's quest for honesty. that does not exist in the common religions as a whole. It is totally fine to lie to yourself, and you will be forgiven.
This is a lovely post, thank you for it.
I'm so glad you liked it. It was one of my favorites to prepare this year. Jung is endlessly fascinating.
Greg, each of your communications this year are speaking right into my heart. The discussion about Jung's struggle with the scientism of early twentieth century medicine comforts me having struggled with same.
I'm so glad these are resonating with you, Mary. Jung's stance really set him apart in his field (not sure if you read the Viktor Frankl entry yet, but he broke with Freud and Adler for similar reasons). And while it seems to me that "scientism" still dominates the fields of psychology and psychiatry, that hegemony is not as great as it once was. When I was growing up, I heard Freud referred to far more than Jung. Now it seems to be the opposite. I just finished reading a book by the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who defines himself as an "atheist", in which he spends ample time discussing the positive outcomes of having a spiritual/religious orientation and lifestyle, and being part of spiritual/religious community. Then he encourages readers to seek that out. And his basis for this, interestingly, is science. I think Jung would be very gratified by this trend.
We are moving in to a more mature understanding of the whole aren’t we 🙌🙏🏻
Well, before AA, there was the washingtonian fellowship, which functioned in the same way, and had also good effect. authentic and beneficial relationships can replace the relationship with a chemical. so can toxic ones.
Thank you for pointing me to the Washingtonian movement. I had never heard of it. I did some reading yesterday and it's easy to see how the Oxford Group then AA fits into that lineage. One fascinating detail I read was that Abraham Lincoln once attended a Washingtonian meeting because he was, apparently, interested in their approach.
it was very effective. authentic relationships are what people really need, it is my observation, that, addictions are born, when we do not feel safe or authentic with other people, and have no hope of being so. even one relationship of that nature will thwart potential addiction, or at least limit it's duration and intensity. To lie (to oneself especially) virtue signalling, and labeling yourself to "signal virtue" is not very helpful, really. religion encourages this shallow behavior. this is why AA is so, divergent from "regular " religion, in it's quest for honesty. that does not exist in the common religions as a whole. It is totally fine to lie to yourself, and you will be forgiven.
I love this story about Jung and Bill W! I often think of the sign Jung put above his door, “Bidden or unbidden, God is present!”
Thank you for reminding me of that. We should all hang such a sign above our doors!