On Theology and Psychology: The Correspondence of C. G. Jung and Adolf Keller

by C. G. Jung, Adolf Keller, Marianne Jehle-Wildberger (Editor), Heather McCartney (Translator), John Peck (Translator)

Overview

Jung's correspondence with one of the twentieth century's leading theologians and ecumenicists

On Theology and Psychology brings together C. G. Jung's correspondence with Adolf Keller, a celebrated Protestant theologian who was one of the pioneers of the modern ecumenical movement and one of the first religious leaders to become interested in analytical psychology. Their relationship spanned half a century, and for many years Keller was the only major religious leader to align himself with Jung and his ideas. Both men shared a lifelong engagement with questions of faith, and each grappled with God in his own distinctive way.

Presented here in English for the first time are letters that provide a rare look at Jung in dialogue with a theologian. Spanning some fifty years, these letters reveal an extended intellectual and spiritual discourse between two very different men as they exchange views on the nature of the divine, the compatibility of Jungian psychology and Christianity, the interpretation of the Bible and figures such as Jesus and Job, and the phenomenon of National Socialism. Although Keller was powerfully attracted to Jung's ideas, his correspondence with the famed psychiatrist demonstrates that he avoided discipleship. Both men struggled with essential questions about human existence, spirituality, and well-being, and both sought common ground where the concerns of psychologists and theologians converge.

Featuring an illuminating introduction by Marianne Jehle-Wildberger, On Theology and Psychology offers incomparable insights into the development of Jung's views on theology and religion, and a unique window into a spiritual and intellectual friendship unlike any other.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691241982
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	11/29/2022
Series:	Philemon Foundation Series , #1
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marianne Jehle-Wildberger is a Swiss historian who has written extensively on the Reformation, Pietism, and modern church history. She is an expert on National Socialism and the church struggle in Germany. Her many books include Adolf Keller: Ecumenist, World Citizen, Philanthropist.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Register of Persons xi

Abbreviations xix

Part I From Beginnings to 1943

1 Adolf Keller's and C. G. Jung's Development up to 1909 3

a Adolf Keller (1872-1963) 3

b C. G. Jung (1875-1961) 8

2 Common Paths: Analytical Psychology and Christian Pastoral Ministry 16

a Jung's Split from Freud and Keller's Siding with Jung 16

b Mutual Interests: The Psychoanalytical Society (1913-1914) 22

c Consensus and Dissent: The Association for Analytical Psychology (1914-1918) 30

d An Important Letter by Jung on Therapy 36

e Keller as Pastoral Psychologist 37

f Keller's Propaganda for Analytical Psychology and Pragmatism 41

g Difficult Beginnings of the Psychological Club 46

h The Individuation of Jesus: Keller's Lecture on the Gospel and Christianity 51

i Tina Keller-Jenny, Early Analysand of C. G. Jung 54

j Jung and Keller in Zurich Together in Zurich: An Overview 64

3 The Paths Diverge 66

a Keller's Ecumenical and Humanitarian Engagement 66

b Keller's Turn toward Karl Barth's Dialectical Theology 68

c Jung's and Keller's Analysis of National Socialism 72

d Jung's and Keller's Writing on Psychology and Religion 76

e The Situation at the Start of the Correspondence in Their Later Years 81

Part II The Correspondence Between Jung and Keller

On the Letters 91

The Letters 117

Appendix. Adolf Keller: Analytical Psychology and Religious Research 247

Literature 283

Acknowledgments 293

Index 295

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book enables us to see the tensions and insights of Jung's religious thinking, and also brings to light the importance of Keller as a theologian concerned with both psychological and social responsibility. On Theology and Psychology is rich in insights for all those interested in Jung and the formation of the movement around him."—Jeremy Carrette, author of William James's Hidden Religious Imagination

Editorial Reviews

This book enables us to see the tensions and insights of Jung's religious thinking, and also brings to light the importance of Keller as a theologian concerned with both psychological and social responsibility. On Theology and Psychology is rich in insights for all those interested in Jung and the formation of the movement around him.—Jeremy Carrette, author of William James's Hidden Religious Imagination

From the Publisher