Abstract
Until now, the concept of unconscious spirituality has not received sufficient academic attention. Despite the fact that it surfaces now and then in various psychotherapeutic theories and clinical practice, it lacks appropriate conceptualization. The aim of this article is to address this issue. We shall begin with a short presentation of the history and complexity of the concept of unconscious spirituality. Subsequently, we will discuss at some length the theories of James and Jung, to then focus on the much less explored work of Victor Frankl. Lastly, we will turn to some contemporary clinical theories and conclude with a proposal for defining unconscious spirituality as an unperceived connection with the sacred, especially as a connection with one’s true self or spiritual core. We hope that this will be a meaningful contribution to developing a more inclusive and universal conceptualization of unconscious spirituality.
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Notes
Confessiones, 6,11: Tu autem eras interior intimo meo et superior summo meo.
Confessiones, I 1: You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
De veritate, q. 22, a. 2: omnia naturaliter appetunt Deum implicite, non autem explicite.
John Hughlings Jackson (1835–1911) created the conceptual framework for clinical neurophysiology and Pierre Janet (1859–1947) who coined the word “subconscious.”.
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Andrzej Krzysztof Jastrzębski O.M.I., professor at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, holds a post-graduate diploma in Psychotherapy and Pastoral Counseling, a PhD in Metaphysics and Philosophical Anthropology, and D.Th. in Spiritual Theology. He has authored several books, written a number of articles, and given many talks and taught a couple classes on those issues. His project is the research on issues touching spirituality, philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience in order to create a larger and more holistic understanding of the human being in view of the psychotherapeutic process and leading to achieving the full human potential.
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Jastrzębski, A.K. Unconscious Spirituality: Toward a Contemporary Conceptualization. J Relig Health 61, 4499–4515 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01320-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01320-8