Exploring the Collective Unconscious

“Our era certainly requires fresh perspectives on religion, as we cannot maintain a medieval mindset when engaging in religious experiences.” – C.G Jung

Jung claimed he didn’t simply believe in God; instead, he felt he had a direct knowledge of God. So, what does it mean to truly know God?

Over his career, Jung analyzed more than 80,000 dreams from his patients. From this extensive material, he observed recurring symbols and motifs that mirrored those found in world religions, myths, folklore, and literature.

These symbols included God, Christ, the soul, the wise old man, the trickster, and various elements such as the sun, moon, ocean, underworld, stars, and the hero. From these shared elements, Jung proposed the existence of a singular source within each human psyche that generates ideas, symbols, and behavioral patterns, which he termed the ‘collective unconscious.’

Through this framework, Jung believed he could explain various phenomena, including the experience of the numinous, the allure of specific religious and mythological narratives, and the ultimate goals and meanings in our lives.

For example, Jung interpreted many religious concepts—such as ‘soul,’ ‘evil,’ ‘transcendence,’ ‘heaven and hell,’ and ‘God’—through this psychological lens. He suggested that heaven represents a mental state of unity and fulfillment, while hell symbolizes a fracture or existential crisis. The transcendent experience, in Jung's view, involves transcending the ego to engage with the unconscious mind.

Evil, conversely, was seen as a projection of the Jungian Shadow—our refusal to acknowledge our darker impulses, which leads to projecting this darkness onto others. When viewed through this lens, religious ideas become symbols that grant access to deeper layers of our psyche, illustrating Jung's concept of ‘individuation,’ the integration of conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind.

Understanding the God Archetype

What, then, did God signify for Jung?

He grappled with organized religion during his upbringing. Although he felt a profound sense of the sacred early on, the Christianity of his time failed to facilitate a genuine connection with the divine. After his first communion, Jung felt unfulfilled, lacking any significant insight or breakthrough.

Through his psychological explorations, Jung came to see God as the central archetype within the collective unconscious. Rather than representing a literal deity dictating moral laws, God emerged as a psychological reality—symbolizing the transcendent dimensions of human experience.

This God archetype serves as the ultimate source of meaning and purpose in life. Jung referred to this central symbol as the ‘Self,’ encapsulating the entirety of the psyche. By reconnecting with the ‘Self,’ individuals could transcend the confines of the ego, establishing a profound link to their most timeless essence.

In essence, by engaging with the ‘Self,’ one can experience God and the numinous directly. For Jung, this connection represents the culmination of individuation and personal growth.

Jung's ideas sought to explain the widespread fascination with religious phenomena. He was critical of Freud's view of religion as mere ‘wish fulfillment,’ as well as Marx’s interpretation of religion as the ‘opiate of the masses,’ seeing them as only part of a larger narrative.

Jung did not delve into metaphysical inquiries regarding the nature and origin of the supernatural. Instead, he concentrated on individuals' experiences, adopting a phenomenological approach. He regarded organized religions—such as Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism—as manifestations of the same psychological phenomena: a reconnection with the psyche's inner world.

The term religion originates from the Latin word ‘religare,’ meaning to reconnect or bind with a transcendental reality. Viewed through Jung’s perspective, religion serves as a means of accessing the unconscious, the realm of archetypes, or the domain of the divine.

For Jung, the archetype of the ‘Self’ symbolizes the God image, representing the pinnacle of a mind turned inward. Religious experiences and encounters with the numinous could be interpreted as manifestations of archetypes breaking into conscious awareness. Such experiences evoke feelings of awe—an exhilarating mix of fear and wonder.

Archetypal (religious) experiences can possess a profound significance, often indicating a monumental transformation in an individual's psyche. Engaging in religious and spiritual practices can enhance one's connection with unconscious forces, thereby regulating this inner mechanism.

By integrating unconscious aspects of the mind into conscious awareness, individuals can achieve a state of mental equilibrium. Jung suggested that the lack of attention to the psyche before the 20th century stemmed from religious practices that maintained a stable metaphysical framework.

“Oh, how different the world appeared to medieval man! He perceived the earth as eternally fixed at the center of the universe, warmed by a sun that cared for him. Men were seen as God's children under the loving guidance of the Most High, destined for eternal bliss. Everyone understood precisely how to rise from a corruptible world to an incorruptible and joyful existence. Such a life seems unreal to us now, even in our dreams.” – C.G Jung

With the emergence of Enlightenment thought, rationality, and heightened consciousness, humanity awakened from the slumber of religious dogma into the tumult of an unanchored psyche, which gave rise to modern psychology.

Jung questioned whether the psyche intended this shift. Were we meant to shed our religious identities and evolve into something new? In this context, traditional religion can struggle to equip modern individuals with the tools necessary to navigate the unconscious forces.

As we navigate the 21st century, we face a crisis of meaning, mental health challenges, and a profound lack of spiritual and moral guidance.

“No culture or civilization prior to ours was compelled to take these psychic undercurrents seriously. Psychic life consistently found expression within a metaphysical framework. Yet, modern man can no longer ignore the power of these psychic forces.” – C.G Jung

The Pursuit of Transcendence

Ultimately, Jung perceived religious phenomena, symbols, and experiences as reflections of psychological realities. Through religion, one can cultivate a relationship with the unconscious, synonymous with the divine or God.

However, for many contemporary individuals, organized religion may feel outdated due to the influence of rationality, enlightenment, and scientific advancements. As a result, many experience a sense of spiritual and moral deficiency, often manifesting as psychological distress and existential angst.

Jung’s assertion that he knew God suggests an awareness of a force beyond the limits of his conscious mind. This force continually influences his life, for better or worse.

“I did not claim in the broadcast, ‘There is a God’; rather, I said, ‘I do not need to believe in God; I know.’ This does not imply: I know a specific God (Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, the Trinitarian God, etc.), but rather: I acknowledge that I am faced with an unknown factor, which I term ‘God’.” – C.G Jung

Through this unfamiliar force, we can directly experience God within the collective unconscious, but in a manner distinct from traditional understandings of God and religion.

By connecting with the ‘Self’ and its representations in myths and world religions, we can draw nearer to the numinous and its genuine source of meaning.

While Jung largely avoided metaphysical discussions concerning a supernatural creator, he advocated for an open-minded exploration of spirituality.

What mattered more was the primary experiences of himself, his patients, and humanity's collective engagement with timeless symbols, rituals, and religions—symbols that recur across cultures and throughout human history.

What does God signify for Jung? He provides his own answer:

“I remember Him, I evoke Him, whenever I use His name in moments of anger or fear, whenever I involuntarily exclaim: ‘Oh God.’ This occurs when I encounter someone or something more powerful than myself. It aptly describes all overwhelming emotions within my psyche that dominate my conscious will and seize control over me. It represents all that disrupts my plans, intentions, and subjective views, altering the trajectory of my life for better or worse.” – C.G Jung

Can humanity cultivate a more evolved relationship with God? Perhaps one day we will find our answer.