Jacob's Dream of a Ladder: Freudian and Jungian Perspectives

摘要

This article presents two interpretations of a piece of sacred text—Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching to heaven—one based on the psychological theories of Sigmund Freud and the other based on those of C. G. Jung. It purports to show that the Freudian interpretation leaves us with a reductionist view of ritual that is in accord with the notion that religion has no place in a modern scientific world—a view that leaves the reader with a feeling of something missing. The Jungian interpretation, however, enables a change in perspective and leads to a deeper worldview that encompasses both intellect and spirit.