1st Edition
A Psychological Inquiry into the Meaning and Concept of Forgiveness
This book explores the psychological nature of forgiveness for both the subjective ego and what Jung called the objective psyche, or soul. Utilizing analytical, archetypal, and dialectical psychological approaches, the notion of forgiveness is traced from its archetypal and philosophical origins in Greek and Roman mythology through its birth and development in Judaic and Christian theology, to its modern functional character as self-help commodity, relationship remedy, and global necessity. Offering a deeper understanding of the concept of "true" forgiveness as a soul event, Sandoval reveals the transformative nature of forgiveness and the implications this notion has on the self and analytical psychology.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: A BRIEF HISTORY OF FORGIVENESS
Chapter 3: DEFINING FORGIVENESS
Chapter 4: FORGIVENESS IN THE FACE OF THE UNFORGIVABLE
Chapter 5: FORGIVENESS AND THE SELF
Chapter 6: THE LOGIC OF FORGIVENESS
INDEX
Biography
Jennifer M. Sandoval is a practicing psychologist in southern California, USA.
"Counselors with an interest in religious/spiritual issues or in Jungian psychoanalysis will benefit from this book, as will readers of the psychology or philosophy of religion. The author refers to a wide range of psychoanalytic thinkers (C. Jung, M-L. von Franz, J. Hillman, and W. Giegerich) and philosophers (J. Derrida and S. Zizek). With the author favoring a philosophical approach over a social science one, the reader is not faced with statistics and studies to back claims, but philosophical and Jewish or Christian perspectives. The author thus follows the Jungian tendency to regard psychology as the work of the soul, something more qualitative and poetic than quantitative.
(...)Much of Sandoval’s discussion is a helpful summary of analytical psychology, including some of the more fascinating and popularized aspects, such as the shadow and projection. Forgiveness provides fertile ground for these aspects of Jung’s teachings. Sandoval shows why Jungian psychology has had such staying power: it faithfully describes human nature, including from a religious stand- point, despite its theological shortcomings. "- Brian Welter, D.Th. (University of South Africa), Freelance writer, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling
