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Among the high-powered volumes which have been appearing on religion and analytical psychology this smaller, unassuming one might easily be overlooked. Its aim is to apply the Christian religion to social problems and to show how these depend upon spiritual attitudes. In this it is essentially different from any of the other studies, and indeed represents pioneer work.
The author's main thesis is briefly as follows. Throughout the ages it has been the religious men who provided spiritual solutions: the Old Testament shows the prophets performing this function, the New Testament records how the life of Jesus gave the solution to mankind once and for all. That man has not made use of the opportunity means that Christianity has to be interpreted and re-interpreted over the centuries. In this age it is depth psychology which is most valuable in the presentation of Christianity to mankind.
Montgomery Watt has drawn heavily on Jung's theory of archetypes. He contends that all religions can be understood as an archetypal synthesis but that Christianity is the best so far. An essential feature in his interesting discussion is to draw on Jung's thesis concerning the relativity of the ego; consequently Watt opposes planning as a solution, aiming only to present the Christian synthesis in the best way possible in given circumstances. This leads him to an analysis of the state of society at the present time and to suggesting a number of remedies which grow out of his analysis.
Without being technical, this volume is excellently presented. It is well written and the argument is clear. The application of Jung's theories to the state of society was attempted by Progoff in terms of sociology, but nothing more has come of his investigation. An application must be possible, and Mr. Watt gives indications of how it could be done. This volume can confidently be recommended to anyone interested in a subject matter insufficiently studied by analytical psychologists.