Reception of the sacral in the context of researches of the 20th century analytic psychology Cover Image

Рецепція сакрального в контексті досліджень аналітичної психології ХХ століття
Reception of the sacral in the context of researches of the 20th century analytic psychology

Author(s): Natalya Liva
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Psychology, Recent History (1900 till today), Sociology of Culture
Published by: Національна академія керівних кадрів культури і мистецтв
Keywords: sacral; analytical psychology; Carl Jung; European culture; spirituality; crisis; European society; Christianity; subconsciousness; collective unconsciousness;

Summary/Abstract: Every historical époque can be considered as unique. The 20th century can be a characteristic example in this sense. Most of investigations are dedicated to the question of peculiarity of the époque. In particular, analytical psychology can be mentioned as one of the unique traits of the 20th century. Central place in the article occupies analysis of the evolutional processes in reception of the sacral in the 20th century European culture. These processes are considered in the context of achievements of the analytic psychology of Carl Jung. Social importance of Jung’s method has been considered not only as a psychological phenomenon but as a phenomenon of culture. In the context of Christianity which occupies dominate position almost in the whole world during a long period of time, confession was inalienable part of spiritual life of people. As a corrective means for different inner human contradictions and conflicts it did not need any alternative. In the 20th century the situation has been changed. An unexpected substitution took place – psychoanalysis began to fulfill the function of soul’s cure. This had its logical grounds. The bearer of the European cultural tradition feels permanent inner conflict between accustomed canonical tenets and contemporary achievements of science. Image of the world proposed in the Bible was quite natural for medieval époque, but it does not correspond to ideas of the 20th century men. Research of collective unconsciousness by Carl Jung helped to reveal one of the most serious spiritual problems – contradiction between faith and knowledge. During his medical practice Carl Jung understood that it was a catalyst of variable neuroticisms. In the versatile spiritual life of people many components can be differentiated. Between these entire components central place occupies sacral sphere. It defines ideology and builds image of the world. In the primitive society first human ideas of the supernal was connected exceptionally with the external environment – phenomena of nature, wild animals which needed "coaxing" by special magic rituals. In the process of social development spirits and gods became more and more human, getting through the phase of half-animals or halfmen. At last time came for the idée of the unified God. In this long and gradual process a certain vector can be observed in the entire dynamics in reception of the Sacral. It moves from the external to the inner. In the beginning of the 20th century this evolutional process has its continuation and development. The nature of this evolution reveals one of peculiarities of human psyche – phenomenon of conscience. In one of his articles Jung gives an extraordinary record of conscience. The famous scientist describes it as an ambivalent phenomenon. During a long time it was perceived by men as divine or demonic voices. Jung accentuates relativity of the negative and positive in axiological valuation of the unconscious manifestations. They only play compensative role and harmonize human psyche. Both consciences – good and evil – come from the same source. These achievements had also collateral negative effects. Now these ex-autonomous substances (both angels and demons) transposed inside human soul. The 20th century is characterized as the time when concealed primitive instincts fetch away and control collective psyche. Phenomenon of fascism is especially characteristic in this context. Carl Jung explains this process as an activation of certain archetypes. In the mind of contemporary people awakes mentality of ancient ancestor. Modern people are in an extraordinarily difficult situation. They are not able to hang upon religious tenets with such a decision as they did it earlier. At the same time they understand clearly enough their strong necessity of God’s existence. This great need finds its realization in curious paradoxes. A characteristic example is certain observations of famous Russian philosopher Olexij Losev, whose great longing was to annihilate contradictions between faith and knowledge with the help of dialectics. The famous scientist gives negative estimate for Newton’s mechanic model of the World as an endless and uniform desert without form and spirituality. He – astronomer who lives in the 20th century! – rallies at the contemporary idea of heliocentric system and prefers to see the Earth unmoved. The next paradox lays in the unexpected affinity between certain Olexij Losev’s ideas and those of Carl Jung. This similarity can be observed in their interpretation of such categories as "myth", "symbol", "archetype". Their definitions of the myth and the archetype coincide in certain detail. Many of psychoanalysts wished to continue the cause begun by Jung and considered themselves as his followers. However the famous scientist didn’t care to pass on his experience to somebody. Probably he understood clearly that his contemporaries are not ready to recipe and interpret results of his research. His analysis of the nature of sacral was too much revolutionary and innovative. Achievements of analytic psychology, on one side, are of great importance as such that reveal concealed evolutional processes in the comprehension of the sacral. At the other side, our ability for differentiating parts of our own psychical realm does not release us from the moral responsibility.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 150-155
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: Ukrainian