Religion and Crisis in Jungian Analysis

Mental health professionals are trained to alleviate the suffering of people in crisis situations. Sometimes, however, it may be necessary to provoke a crisis to further the growth process. An example of an induced crisis is found in the analytical psychology of C. G. Jung. In Jungian terminology, a crisis occurs when one's persona-based personality structure collapses, and the ego is displaced as the center of the psyche. The subsequent confusion is necessary for the establishment of the self as the new center of the personality. The author discusses the religious implications of this transformation.