Good morning everyone... had company these past few days and wasnt able to reply properly..

(((1oxbowgirl))) i will respond to you first...

source: http://theconstructivecurmudgeon.blo...ng-beware.html

ive been unable to determine Groothuis' qualifications in this field. Apparantly a member of the Christian faith, a personal blog wouldnt have been considered a reliable source during the time i spent in college, but i will
go ahead and work with it the best i can..

Title: Carl Jung Beware

begins the article with a personal experience. unverifiable. opinionation and no support. he admits no formal education in
psychology, psychiatry, or psychology but because of his Christian beliefs and some knowledge about Jungian thought feels qualified to counsel a complete stranger relative to her therapy needs..

states Groothius: "I accept the legitimacy and importance of integrating a thoroughly Christian world view with psychological insights."

Mr. Groothius sees no issue with integrating a non scientific theology which HE accepts as truth into the complicated medicine of brain examination but rejects those he cannot personally
believe in...

He has no issue whatever in inserting his personal viewpoints into this "unbiased" review..

".. I have repeatedly found Carl Jung to be a fountainhead of all manner of spiritual aberrations..."

excerpt:

"Many Christians are attracted to Jung because of his recognition of the spiritual nature of the human condition. While atheists such as Freud, B.F. Skinner, and Albert Ellis offer no solace for a soul they do not believe exists, Jung delves deeply and sympathetically into a variety of spiritual topics. When asked in a BBC interview if he believed in God, Jung replied, “I don’t believe--I know.” Many Christians hope that Jung may provide a fruitful model for the elusive integration of psychology and spirituality"

In this statement, Groothius finds cause to support Jungian thought. He finds the theory of spirituality to be an important element in relation to mental and psychologocal healing (we are still left to wonder of his credentials) and selects Jungian theory as a vehicle to his means
except one catch... the spirituality in question is not Christianity..

one can conclude the only acceptable spirituality is going to be Christianity...

in the following statement Groothius uses the argument that Christians can "allow" non -Christians to contribute to the field of mental health, but due to those individuals not being of the Christian faith, most likely, said contributions are to be questioned or disqualified simply because the ideas originate from non-believers... apparantly, according to Groothius, only the Christians know best...

"Unbelievers may have legitimate psychological insights that do not violate Christian truth and which bear good fruit in the counseling situation. Just as God gives rain to the righteous and righteous (Matthew 5:45) through his common (non-saving) grace, so God allows non-Christian thinkers insights into human psychology. However, when a theorist’s views are incorrigibly enmeshed in a world view that radically opposed Christianity, these views are incompatible with Christian thought--whether in psychology, psychiatry, or any other discipline."

Groothius offers some history of Jung that i find interesting although i have to wonder about factual basis given his (Groothius) penchant for opinionation and biased Christian views...

Groothius' motivation can be summed up in this quote:

"Given Jung’s background, it is not surprising that his major theoretical claims have little if anything to contribute to a Christian model for psychology and counseling."

deduction: non Christian, non acceptable.... clearly only a Christian Theology is acceptable as a spiritual compliment to mental health service in Groothius' eyes...

he goes on to say: "He (Jung) rejects the Christian view that God is outside of us and has the authority both to redeem us and command us."

how dare someone think outside the "box" of Christianity! IMO, Jung teaches of transcendence (self-empowerment) versus
salvation (other empowerment) as in Christianity ... transcendence comes from a more powerful place than its meeker "seeking salvation" 'from outside the self' counterpart (as in Christianity). Could this explain why Christians are threatened by Jung? Is it improper (a sin) to seek peace and sanity as an individual and outside Christianity? For some it seems so...

the following statement expresses the Christian need for "other" validation, and attempts to highlight an
opposition in folowers of Jungian thought...

"Because Jung rejects the authority of a personal God outside of the individual, he can only look within for redemption."

again, the reader is to assume that the "only" correct thought, is Christian theology..

in reading the article i am disturbed that the entire basis for rejection of Jungs' ideas appears based on the viewpoint of its (Jungs') non Christian foundation...

Groothius suggests that self-examination of human personality is only acceptable by the Christian
standard... that examination of thoughts not of Christian origin is an evil ...

what follows is that to have thoughts of non Christian origin is evil...

Groothius then appears to state that evil is un Christian and therefore should not be examined in any way (unless supported by a Christian authority I presume) ...

"Responsible Christian therapy sensitively challenges the conscience of the client according to scriptural realities. Christ challenges us to get to the root of our sin and uproot it if we are to be his disciples (Matthew 5:29-30). Jesus also offers pardon for those who confess their sins and trust in his loving forgiveness (1 John 1:8-10)."

one is left to deduce that non Christian thoughts are evil and by extension, the individual is evil, and salvation is as near as the nearest Christian authority.. how convenient...

Goothius seems to be saying something similar to the old time medicine show people... First, i'll tell you what ails you (didnt know you had an illness now did you?) ... and then, I'll tell you how to relieve it... (and only the one remedy is available) ...

IMO .. another be all/end all scenario... kinda like working for the company store... on payday, take your check to accounting to reconcile your living expenses and leave with enough cash to get to the job til next payday... a self perpetuating cycle...

according to Groothius: "Jungian visualization requires the suspension of rational judgment to facilitate the formation of inner images. Such occult and irrational elements in Jungian therapy should give pause to any Christian counselor who believes that Jungian visualization practices can be healing to the soul."

beware Christians and non Christians... imagination is now unacceptable...