The twenty-first century could well be Jung's century, just as the twentieth century was Freud's. Jung predicted the demise of secular humanism and claimed we would search for alternatives to science, atheism and reason. We would experience a new and even unfashionable appetite for the sacred. Educated people, however, would not return to unreconstructed religions, because these do not express the life of the spirit as discerned by modern consciousness. The sacred has developed a darker hue, and worshipping symbols of light and goodness no longer satisfies the longings of the soul. The new sacred cannot be contained by the formulas of the past, but nor can we live without a sense of the sacred. We stand in a difficult place: between traditional religions we have outgrown and a pervasive materialism we can no longer embrace.

These changes in our culture have come sooner than Jung might have imagined. In his time Jung struck many as eccentric or unscientific. But his works speak to our time since we have experienced the full gamut of Jungian transformations: the unsettlement of Judeo-Christian culture, the rise of the feminine, the onslaught of the dark side, the critique of modernism and positivism, and the recognition that the Western ego is neither the pinnacle of evolution nor the lord of creation. A new life is needed beyond the ego, but we do not yet know what it will look like. The outbreak of strong religion and terrorism are signs of the times, but these are expressions of a distorted and repressed spirit, and not, one hopes, genuine pointers to the future.

What the future holds is uncertain, but Jung's prophetic vision helps to prepare us for what is to come, and this will be of great interest to analytical psychologists and psychoanalysts, as well as to theologians, futurists, sociologists, and the general reader.

About the Author

David Tacey has written extensively on spirituality, mental health and society. His most recent book is Gods and Diseases: Making sense of our physical and mental wellbeing. David is Professor of Literature at La Trobe University, Melbourne, where he teaches courses on the crisis of meaning in Western culture, Jungian psychology and postmodern theory. He is the author or editor of thirteen books, including Jung and the New Age, The Spirituality Revolution and The Jung Reader.

Reviews

"Tacey has written extensively on Jungian psychology, Western culture, and postmodern theory. Inthis volume, he explores Carl Jung in the light of contemporary society and "the social and cultural landscape of spirit." According to Tacey, Jungian psychology may be more applicable to modem existence than it was to Jung's lifetime. In light of Jung's work, Tacey looks at Western religion and examines the "dark" aspects that are currently manifested in this culture (e.g., violence, fanaticism, extremism). This polarizing mind-set is a failure to look inward and grow toward a more integrated, holistic, global worldview. Wholeness, rather than perfection, should be the spiritual goal. Tacey examines why Jung has fallen out of favor over the past years and looks closely at the critics, addressing their major concerns. An entire chapter is dedicated to an exploration of James Hillman's work. The Darkening Spirit is a companion volume to Gods and Diseases (2013), as well as The Jung Reader (2012). This volume would be an excellent addition to any collection of Jung's work and critiques of Jung. Well researched, extensively documented with index. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels."- J. Bailey, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, North Carolinain CHOICE

"Tacey has written extensively on Jungian psychology, Western culture, and postmodern theory. Inthis volume, he explores Carl Jung in the light of contemporary society and "the social and cultural landscape of spirit." According to Tacey, Jungian psychology may be more applicable to modem existence than it was to Jung's lifetime. In light of Jung's work, Tacey looks at Western religion and examines the "dark" aspects that are currently manifested in this culture (e.g., violence, fanaticism, extremism). This polarizing mind-set is a failure to look inward and grow toward a more integrated, holistic, global worldview. Wholeness, rather than perfection, should be the spiritual goal. Tacey examines why Jung has fallen out of favor over the past years and looks closely at the critics, addressing their major concerns. An entire chapter is dedicated to an exploration of James Hillman's work. The Darkening Spirit is a companion volume to Gods and Diseases (2013), as well as The Jung Reader (2012). This volume would be an excellent addition to any collection of Jung's work and critiques of Jung. Well researched, extensively documented with index. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels."- J. Bailey, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, North Carolina

Book Information
ISBN 9780415527033
Author David Tacey
Format Paperback
Page Count 182
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 298g