Carl Jung and James Hillman, the chief exponent of post-Jungian Archetypal psychology, could be considered ‘Men of God’. Throughout their writings they refer to ‘God,’ ‘a god,’ or 'the gods,’ suggesting an enduring concern with the nature of the divine in human experience. This is hardly surprising, since psychology means the words, or stories, of the soul.
Psychology is, in the end, inseparable from religion. However we define it, the soul belongs to that dimension of human life concerned with meaning, purpose, consciousness, love, beauty, suffering, death, and eternity. These are not simply abstract concepts, but real-world experiences, with tangible consequences, through which we encounter the sacred.
Jung and Hillman differ, however, in their images of God. This talk will distill several key ideas, while also drawing an important distinction between their theological and psychological concerns. The difference is not merely philosophical. The myths that live, often unconsciously, within the therapist, will also shape the way their patients are heard, and understood.
How a person experiences their connection with the Divine, and how God or the gods speak to us, are at the heart of all religious belief. They are also the concern of psychology, whose task is to listen carefully to the life of the soul. So the question is not only whether there is one God or many, but which vision of the divine the therapist serves in the consulting room.
~
“The soul demands your folly; not your wisdom.” Carl Jung, The Red Book
~
Mordechai Brodie presented this paper to the Israeli Jungian Association earlier this year. This lecture is now being offered to a wider audience.
ONE GOD, OR MANY?
Thursday, 08 October 2026
18h00-19h00 CAT
The talk will be one hour, with 10mins for Q&A after.
ZAR440. USD40 for overseas. If you have difficulty with funds at this time, contact us.