Which neo-Freudian theorist stimulated the most discussion about religion?

• A. Carl Jung
• B. Erik Erikson
• C. Alfred Adler
• D. Karen Horney

Answer: (A)

Carl Jung is the neo-Freudian who stimulated the most discussion about religion. He treated religious experience as a meaningful, psychologically real phenomenon, not just an illusion. central to his theory is the collective unconscious, a shared layer of the psyche containing archetypes—universal symbols like the God image, the wise old man, and the hero—that show up in myths, dreams, and religious symbols across cultures. Jung argued that engaging with these symbols through individuation—the process of becoming a whole person—helps people integrate inner conflicts and find meaning. Because religion offers a rich array of such symbolic images that people actually experience and wrestle with, Jung’s approach brought religion into the center of psychological theory and therapy, fueling extensive conversation about its role in personality. In contrast, other neo-Freudians like Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney focused more on psychosocial development, social dynamics, or interpersonal factors, without making religion the central issue Jung did.