CARL JUNG AND MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR ON PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT In what ways does psychological development differ from spiritual development and psychological experience from spiritual experience? Bringing together two disparate theories under a trans-disciplinary framework, G. C. Tympas presents a comparison of Carl Jung’s theory of psychic develop- ment and Maximus the Confessor’s model of spiritual progress. An ‘evolutional’ relationship between the ‘psychological’ and the ‘spiritual’ is proposed for a dynamic interpretation of spiritual experience. Carl Jung and Maximus the Confessor on Psychic Development offers a creative synthesis of elements and directions from both theories and further explores: • Jung’s views on religion in a dialogue with Maximus’ concepts; • the different directions and goals of Jung’s and Maximus’ models; • Jung’s ‘Answer to Job’ in relation to Maximus’ theory of ‘fi nal restoration’. Tympas argues that a synthesis of Jung’s and Maximus’ models comprises a broader trans-disciplinary paradigm of development, which can serve as a pluralistic framework for considering the composite psycho-spiritual development. Constructively combining strands of differing disciplines, this book will appeal to those looking to explore the dialogue between analytical psychology, early Christian theology and Greek philosophy. G. C. Tympas has degrees in medicine and theological studies and a PhD in psychoanalytic studies from the University of Essex. His research focuses on the relationship between early psychic models and psychiatric nosology and he is cur- rently a priest and pastoral counsellor of the Greek Orthodox Church in London. This page intentionally left blank CARL JUNG AND MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR ON PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT The dynamics between the ‘psychological’ and the ‘spiritual’ G.C. Tympas First published 2014 by Routledge 27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2FA and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2014 G. C. Tympas The right of G. C. Tympas to be identifi ed as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tympas, G. C. Carl Jung and Maximus the Confessor on psychic development : the dynamics between the “psychological” and the “spiritual” / G. C. Tympas. — First Edition. pages cm 1. Psychology and religion. 2. Jung, C. G. (Carl Gustav), 1875–1961. 3. Maximus, Confessor, Saint, approximately 580–662. I. Title. BF51.T96 2014 261.5′15—dc23 2013040117 ISBN: 978-0-415-62516-6 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-415-62517-3 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-81298-4 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman by Apex CoVantage, LLC TO MY FATHER POLYCARPOS This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Figures ix Tables x Foreword by Renos K. Papadopoulos xi Preface xiii Acknowledgements xiv Abbreviations xvi 1 Introduction 1 2 The ‘psychological’ and the ‘spiritual’: an evolutional relationship 17 The ‘spiritual’ and the ‘psychological’ in context 19 The framework of different ontological levels in modern sociology 28 The spiritual: an evolution from the psychological and the ontological potential 32 3 Jung and the post–Jungians on religion: breakthroughs and limitations 38 Freud and Jung on religion: emancipation or interplay of opposites? 38 Jung’s ‘complex’ relation to and standpoints on religion 42 The post–Jungians on religion and the Christian perspective 48 4 Maximus the Confessor and Carl Jung on the foundations of the psyche 57 Maximus’ life and philosophical background 57 Maximus on man: a ‘cataphatic’ or an ‘apophatic’ anthropology? 59 vii CONTENTS Jung’s archetypes and Maximus’ ‘logoi’ of beings: exploring the foundations of the psyche 64 Maximian ‘logoi’ vis-à-vis archetypal theory: ontological and phenomenological perspectives 76 5 The directions and the stages of psychic development 82 Individuation as a ‘natural’ process: from the ‘ego’ to the ‘Self’ 82 Deifi cation in Maximus: a synergic spiritual process towards the ‘deifi ed man’ 87 Archetypes, creative fantasy, symbols, and the transcendent function 90 The stages of spiritual life and the l ogoi-as-virtues towards ‘theological philosophy’ 96 Passions, complexes, and ‘renunciation’ in psychological and spiritual development 100 6 The psychic functions and spiritual experience 111 Individuation, typology, and spiritual experience 112 Maximian psychic model-functions and spiritual experience 118 Active imagination, prayer, and spiritual experience-as- knowledge 124 7 The ultimate goal: a question of wholeness or holiness? 130 God-image and the fourth element in Jung’s understanding of the Self-wholeness 130 Theosis (dei fication) in Maximus and the membership of Christ’s body 136 Wholeness or holiness? 143 8 ‘Answer to Job’: a dark side or an eschatological light? 148 Evil and time in Jung’s progression of the Self 149 Maximus’ theory of ‘fi nal restoration’ and the eschatological light 154 ‘Darkness’ as a stage of spirituality within time and eternity 157 9 Conclusion: a ‘trans-disciplinary paradigm’ of psychic development 163 Bibliography 181 Index 195 viii FIGURES 2.1 The Spiritual as synthesis of phenomenological and ontological elements 32 2.2 The spiritual continuum within the ontological hierarchy 34 4.1 Maximus the Confessor interrogated by the Emperor in Constantinople 63 5.1 Sigmund Freud, G. Stanley Hall, Carl G. Jung (front row), Abraham A. Brill, Ernest Jones, Sandor Ferenczi, in front of Clark University (1909). 86 9.1 A trans-disciplinary paradigm of development 175 ix