Psychology of Religion with Jungian Analyst Pittman McGehee

In today’s episode, Pittman McGehee shares his interpretation of Christian mythology through a Jungian lens. For anyone who is interested in the psychology of religion, especially the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, today’s guest is a wealth of wisdom and insight.

Guest Bio:

J. Pittman McGehee is an Episcopal priest and Jungian analyst in private practice in Austin, Texas. He is widely known as a lecturer and educator in the field of the psychology of religion, as well as a published poet and essayist.

He is the author of The Invisible Church: Finding Spirituality Where You Are (Praeger Press, 2008), Raising Lazarus: The Science of Healing the Soul (2009), Words Made Flesh, and The Paradox of Love, now available for sale through The Jung Center of Houston’s Bookstore, Amazon.com, and other fine booksellers.

Pittman presented “What Is a Healthy Spirituality” during “Religion, Mental Health, and the Search for Meaning,” a conference held at the University of St. Thomas. Click here to listen to the conference recordings.

Pittman also was interviewed as part of the “In Touch with Carl Jung” Salon through Centerpoint. Click here to view the complete list of recordings and to listen to Pittman’s interview.

Episode Details:

  • How to approach the study of religion

  • New Atheist critiques of religion

  • Pathologizing aspects of religion & other ideologies

  • Cultivating a sense of the sacred in your own life

  • Intersection of Christianity with US culture and politics

Shownotes:

0:00-4:00: Opening Remarks

4:00-11:10: Origins of Pittman’s interest in the ideas of Carl Jung

11:10-13:18: Interpreting Christian Mythology through a Jungian Lens

13:18-17:45: Problems with approaching religion through a scientific worldview

17:45-25:05: Pathological pitfalls of religion & other ideologies

25:05-29:07: Problems with the notion of “i’m spiritual but not religious”

29:07- 31:10: Cultivating a Sense of the Sacred

31:00-39:12: The American Religion: Puritanism, Patriotism, Capitalism

40:25-45:10: Closing Remarks

Links:

Books By Pittman McGehee:

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What Fredrich Nietzsche Can Teach Us about Today with Peter Sjostedt-H

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A Talk about The Mythology of Pre Historic Cave Art with Bernie Taylor