Rethinking what it means to be religious

Neurosis is a substitute for legitimate suffering. Carl Jung 1938 by Yale University Press, Inc.

This quote from the noted psychiatrist resonated in me, since having spiritual leanings, I am very interested in the mechanisms of fear (though this first blog entry has nothing to do with neurosis). The quote was the hook. So much did I like it, that I looked up the work. Dr. Jung did a series of lectures on psychology and religion at Yale University in 1937, which obviously had a similar sentiment to me and went on to publish his work under the same title – Psychology and Religion.

What intrigued me was how Dr. Jung defined religion reminding me why it is so important to seek out other perspectives. Dr. Jung in hashing out his definition for the benefit of his audience, helped me piece together random thoughts that had proved difficult to articulate.

Those of us who are Charismatic, or Spirit-led (if the former is now too archaic a term) are accustomed to the sometimes-unceasing bashing of those considered “religious.” Indeed, the term “religious” is very much a pejorative. When defined as those who engage in both pointless and mindless rituals and tradition, I have previously given my consent, without much thought. Error on my part.

Now watch. Carl Jung defined the religious as those who have had a spiritual experience outside of themselves –

the influence of an invisible presence causing a peculiar alteration of consciousness.

This brilliantly restructures my thinking. When we bash the religious, we miss the boat. The religious are those we should be able to understand and indeed for some of us, count ourselves among. In fact, to become religious would be the end goal of our spiritual pursuits.

Think about it. To have a spiritual encounter with the Holy Spirit, where the end result is that your consciousness, your way of thinking, your view of yourself and the events around you, have been altered not according to your own design but according to the intent of God – if that my friend is truly being religious, then yes, label away. 🙂