Lecturer: Dr. Stephen Palmquist
"Know thyself." -- anonymous (inscription at the temple in Delphi)
"...you are to be perfect [i.e., whole], as your heavenly Father is perfect
[whole]."
--Jesus (quoted in Matthew 5:48)
"It is in the struggle between good and evil that life has its meaning--and in
the hope that goodness can succeed.... Evil can be conquered only by
love."
-- M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie, pp.266-267
"...dream, not waking, ...is the door of metaphysic, so far as the latter
deals with man."
-- Carl Du Prel, Philosophy of Mysticism, I.70
"...psychology's function is to help men see, not to be the light."
-- Ann Ulanov (quoted in R.L. Moore, Jung and Christian Spirituality,
p.59)
Aims and Objectives
The H.K.B.U. 1995-96 Calendar/Bulletin states: "The University
aims at educating the whole person to be well-balanced..." (p.41). The
Complementary Studies program has been established as one means of
achieving this goal. But just what does it mean to be a "whole person"?
Does this phrase imply that without a Baptist University education we
would all be only "partial persons"?
The purpose of this class will be to discover what it means to be a
whole person. Actually becoming a whole person, however, is a life-long
process. With this in mind, each of us will be encouraged to begin working
towards the realization of this ideal in our own individual personality. In
this process, various theories and practical methods will be introduced from
the areas of psychology, theology, and religious studies. Although these
three disciplines are often regarded as quite separate, we shall consider them
in this class as all being part of a fourth discipline, philosophy ("love of
wisdom").
From another point of view, you will have to study only one subject
in this class: namely, yourself! The lectures, readings, etc., will be designed
as guidelines as to how this crucial study might take place. If taken
seriously, such self-study may be painful at times: it will require you to
adopt a posture of self-reflection and self-criticism, to acknowledge that
what you thought was right (or true) about yourself might not be right (or
true) after all. If we are open to the possibility of learning about who we
really are, then confusion or even despair will sometimes seem to block the
way to personal growth; yet if we persist, this will eventually be balanced
by a new vision arising out of the darkness. This is, in fact, the fundamental
paradox of healing, or self-transforming, experiences: we can be made
whole only when we recognize our brokenness.
Grade Assessment
Small group discussions: On five occasions the class will divide into small
discussion groups (3-6 people in each). At the end of the class hour, each
group will hand in one paper summarizing the content of their discussion.
This paper will not be graded; but one mark will be given just for attending
(see below). If you are absent from one of these sessions with a good
excuse (approved by the lecturer beforehand if possible), you can make it
up by answering the questions on your own and handing in your paper
before the day of the next class session.
Special Project (50%): Each student will be expected to write a "dream
diary" (see separate handout). Anyone who feels unable to do a dream diary
must notify the lecturer within the first two weeks. You would then be
asked to design a proposal for an alternative project (subject to the lecturer's
approval), aiming to achieve the same goal as the dream diary (i.e., self-
understanding).
Final Examination (50%): The exam will consist of one essay question
(worth 25%) based mainly on the lectures, and 25 "objective" questions
(worth 25%) based mainly on the book of readings. The dream diary is
likely to be a very time consuming project, so each student will have the
opportunity to choose (before handing in the completed project) to answer a
question based on their dream diary instead of the normal (more theoretical)
essay question. For every small group discussion you attend, you may
leave one objective question blank.
Readings
A book of readings is being prepared containing the required
readings. Two copies of this text will be on one day reserve in the library.
For further reading (not compulsory), the following books will also be on
reserve in the library:
Sigmund Freud, An Outline of Psychoanalysis.
Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams.
Carl G. Jung, The Basic Writings of C.G. Jung.
C.S. Hall & V.J. Nordby, A Primer of Jungian Psychology.
The CED has a series of three videos (30 minutes each), called "The Story
of C.G. Jung" (VC/169/ 1,2,3). These are well worth viewing, as they
provide a good introduction to Jung's life and ideas.
Tentative Lecture Plan (with corresponding pages in the book of readings)
I. General Introduction (pp. 1-35)
1. The "Whole" Person
2. Interpreting Dreams
3. Pre-Freudian philosophical psychology
4. Psychology in the twentieth century
II. Freud and the Reawakening to Dreams (pp. 36-60)
5. The "psychoanalytic" nature of dreams
6. Discussion (?)
7. The topography of the psyche
8. The psycho-historical origins of religion
III. Jung's Philopsychy (pp. 61-65, 75-88)
9. Jung's story
10. The stone: symbols of transformation
11. The stages of life
12. The "psychosynthetic" nature of dreams
IV. Encountering the Unconscious (pp. 65-74, 98-102)
13. Confronting the archetypes
14. The guidance of the Self
15. Psychological types
16. Discussion (?)
V. Evil and the Obstacles to True Religion (pp.88-98,103)
17. The breakthrough: beyond good and evil?
18. Naming personal evil
19. Discussion (?)
20. The ethics of psychotherapeutic self-transformation
VI. Self-Transformation through Love (pp. 104-115)
21. The philosophy of love
22. The art of loving
23. The "ideal lover": an impossible dream?
24. Discussion (?)
VII. Psychology and Christianity: Friends or Foes? (no readings)
25. Jung's challenge to the Christian Church
26. Christianity's challenge to the religion of the Self
27. Discussion (?)
28. Conclusions: spirituality and the quest for the "Self-in-God"
Back to the home page
This page was last updated on 30 September 1995
StevePq@hkbu.edu.hk