Evil: The Shadow Side of Reality

When I first entered Seminary, I was told to pick up any books by John Sanford that ended up on my reading list, and I picked this one up as reading for my class in counseling.Over the years, psychology and Christianity have often been perceived as being at odds, so it is unique to find an author that touches on both.Perhaps one of the most critical ideas I brought away from this book came from the chapter, "Jesus, Paul, and the Shadow." He speaks of how, in 1 Timothy, Paul talks about the importance of impeccable character in clergy and leaders of the church.What touched me was his comments concerning the ideals that clergy feel compelled to follow, and the fact that as a result, we often end up living a facade and mask to our congregations, since they are shocked to discover that God created Clergy with "an ordinary amount of mud on their feet."He speaks of the importance of understanding salvation and grace, and how putting these unreasonable expectations upon Clergy is to deny their own dark side.Partly as a result of this book, I made a commitment to be an imperfect pastor. No, not deliberately imperfect, but rather ready to be vulnerable and open and to allow members of my congregations to understand that God loves me in the same way that God loves them, imperfect people, struggling for perfection. This mirrors another book I recently read,  Jesus + Nothing = Everything , and I recommend exploring both books for pastors.Although this book was originally written in 1981, it is an excellent resource in investigating the history, the ontology, and the understanding of sin and who we are as a real people.

Like all of John Sanford's books, this one combines a Jungian approach with a Christian one ... but not the cut-and-dried, live-by-rote Christianity that shuts down thought & exploration. Sanford isn't interested in comfirming the mindset (or rut) of the unquestioning & self-satisfied Christian. He calls for a living faith, one which examines & challenges the inner being of the individual.Here he delves into the question of Evil: what is it, really? And how do we cope with it? Refusing to take the easy route of placing it all Out There Somewhere, he explains the need to face the darkness within ourselves -- and more, to accept it as part of ourselves, to learn from it, to integrate it into our lives & so lessen its power over us.This won't be a book for those who believe in safety, or in living by dogma & authority. It places the responsibility for understanding Evil & coming to terms with it squarely in our hands alone. It requires that we question what we've been taught, what we've believed, in order to come to a living, personally meaningful truth. For those willing to walk this more difficult path, the rewards will be great. Highly recommended!

In this book Jungian analyst John Sanford shows that evil is a personal problem, one that individuals must grapple with within their own soul. It is not just a force in the environment that threatens to get us from without. The path of self-transformation directly involves confronting the evil within us. Becoming conscious of our personal evil exposes it to the light of day and allows it to transform. It then no longer lives in our shadow with a separate life of its own but instead as a redeemed part of our whole being. I feel that Sanford's insights into the nature of evil can be of help to all those who work on transforming their self.

I'm not done reading this book yet. I read at least a half dozen books at a time and this is the book I am reading most the time. It is well written so it is entertaining and easy to read. Anyone can learn something from the book. Though I'm not done with this book I am coming to the end and wish there were more. The findings make sense with other writings on psychology I've read. It's enlightening and my pick for suggested reading for everyone.

I haven't read my copy yet, but the copy my friend has, she has begun reading it.Anybody wanting to study the shadow side of self is in for a treat w/this book.Considering the "dark" times we all face in life, it would beneficial to understand how the individual's shadow is projected "out there" into the world, & what happens to the "out there" as a result of these projections.

If you're going to read this get your brain in high gear. It's somewhat difficult in part but it really makes a person think about the duality of human nature. It's a good study in how evil destroys us from the inside out. Read it, you'll be glad you did.

I recommend it to lots of people. It helped me after my divorce grapple with my intense feelings. It's a profound book, well-written, and pretty comprehensive of the topic. Very enlightening. Definitely changed my life forever.

purchased as a gift and the recipient is very pleased

Slow reading. Haven't made my way through it yet. But looks interesting and came recommended by a friend.

Un sujet fort et pertinent que beaucoup devraient lire, surtout avec ce qui se passe dans l'actualité. A lire absolument