<< True Christianity

C.G. Jung opens his Psychology and Alchemy with an impactful critique of Christianity. He reflects about the imitatio Christi* and the difficulty it supposes for us westerners to come to terms with the real implications of Christianity. 

According to this train of thought, the problems of society don’t arise from flaws in religions, but from the misunderstanding and inconsistency of the practicants. A sharp focus on dogmas and doctrines transforms externally, but does not contribute to the internal development of the individual. 

Visualizing sin and salvation as elements external to an incorruptible soul** have as a direct consequence the placement of both cause and consequence in the image of Christ and on factors that (because of their divine nature) remain outside of our sphere of influence. 

The result of which, is a denial for the need of self improvement and a neglect of the responsibility we have to carry in life. If God and everything that’s related to him is an element of the outside, then our soul is immutable matter and not a living element capable of growing or developing. 

Such a flaw has led us to a hollow (fake in more than one way) Christian-society where the interior pagan lives comfortably inside each of us; far beyond the reach of the Christ archetype; that should be the natural aspiration of each and everyone of us. A part of his brilliant analysis reads (Ch.I- Paragraph 12):

…Christian civilization has proved hollow to a terrifying degree: it is all veneer, but the inner man has remained untouched and therefore unchanged. His soul is out of key with his external beliefs; in his soul the Christian has not kept pace with external developments. Yes, everything is to be found outside- in image and in word, in Church and Bible- but never inside. Inside reign the archaic gods, supreme as of old…

In the end Christ himself said so: 

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16 24-26)

And that simple act, born out of the heart is what makes it all so difficult.

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Notes:

* The imitation of Christ