Religious Studies at the University of Kent

MA in the study of mysticism and religious experience

TH861 Contemporary Issues in the Study of Mysticism and Religious Experience

Course description

This course examines C. G. Jung's writings on a variety of oriental mystical traditions (particularly Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism) and the relationship between analytical psychology and transpersonal and archetypal psychology. The course begins by introducing students to the difficulties in understanding Jung's model of psychological development and in establishing whether the individuation process is, or is not, a religious experience. These difficulties are illustrated through an examination of Jung's supposed 'gnosticism' and James Hillman's post-Jungian deconstruction of analytical psychology.

The main emphasis of the course, however, is on Jung's relationship to Indian spiritual traditions. Among the themes discussed are (i) the extent of influence of oriental mystical traditions on Jung's metapsychology; (ii) Jung's perception of India and China as culturally 'other' (his 'orientalism'); (iii) Jung's theistic orientation and his failure to understand non-dualism; (iv) Jung's cultural and psychological relativism; (v) Jung's misinterpretation of oriental religious materials; (vi) Jung's preference for Taoism over Indian soteriological traditions. The course concludes by assessing the value of the contribution of Ken Wilber's transpersonal psychology (integrating western schools of depth-psychology with oriental paths to spiritual emancipation) to the debate about Jung's relationship to the East.

Course aims

To assist students to understand the primary themes of the course, lecture notes, short articles and extracts from Jung's writings are distributed for discussion. This body of material provides a foundation for independent research for seminar presentations and for the writing of essays. Students are encouraged to concentrate their independent study on particular areas of the course of interest to them. This course provides opportunities for students:

1. To explore the nature of analytical psychology, as well as of transpersonal and archetypal psychology.
   
2. To develop skills necessary for a critical reading of Jung's writings on Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist religious materials, as well as of the literature of transpersonal and archetypal psychology.
   
3. To conduct independent research using the library collections and IT resources.
   
4. To present seminar papers and participate in group discussion
   

1. Write lucid, well-constructed essays supported by textual evidence, making intelligent use of endnotes and bibliographic sources.
   
2. Engage in creative discussion with others about the main themes of the course.
   
3. Present thoughtful seminar papers and head group discussion on the materials introduced by them.
   
4. Undertake creative research.
   

An overview of the MA programme

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