Q: If you are a bible believing Christian is it okay to be reading books written by Carl Jung & books on symbols, signs & dream interpretation? Does this have anything to do with Christianity or the bible?
A: Thank you for your question. The Bible says, ““Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12).” Therefore, you are free to read books by Carl Jung and books about symbols, signs and dream interpretation. However, is doing so beneficial to you? Carl Jung is considered by some to be the “Father of Psychology.” Psychology is the study of the soul.
Jung, being a mere man, can only study the soul. God, on the other hand, is the Creator of the soul. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7).” So, is it beneficial for you to fix your mind on the conclusions reached by a created being like Carl Jung or on the truths revealed to you in the Bible by God, the Creator of the soul?
Symbols are usually a sign of what a person believes. In general, reading books about them is not wrong. The Bible is full of symbolism. But, only with an understanding of the scriptures can these symbols be interpreted in their proper context. Yet, when it comes to symbols, it is interesting to understand what the word means. One definition describes a symbol as an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed. This is an invitation to be misled into believing all sorts of error and unbiblical doctrines. Symbols can be vague and open to interpretation. Therefore, one can end up defining them in any way that feels good or seems right to them. That leads to chaos and confusion. For example, how many people do you see wearing crosses as jewelry, yet these same people do not appear to be representing anything Christian nor do they acknowledge Jesus as God and Savior or the Scriptures as being the Word of God?
The Bible is very clear about what God thinks of interpreting signs. “For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-11).” The section of the passage to focus on is “interpret omens.” Have you ever heard someone say something that happens is an “omen” of what is to come? What they mean is that one event is a “sign” of subsequent events to come. Doing this is neither accurate nor is it a sign of faith in God. Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign (Matthew 12:39)!” To study signs will only lead to more frustration as you will discover that they never lead to definite conclusions, but only to more questions and uncertainty about your faith and what you believe about your God.
Dream interpretation is another frowned upon practice in the Bible. “Do not practice divination or sorcery (Leviticus 19:26).” What is a dream? A dream is a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep. Nobody knows exactly what a dream is about and to interpret them is to venture into a realm nobody truly understands. Now, there were people in the Bible, like Joseph and Daniel, who interpreted dreams. However, it was God who was interpreting the dreams for them. It is this knowledge that led Joseph to rhetorically ask, “Do not interpretations belong to God (Genesis 40:8)?” I would recommend avoiding books about dream interpretation. They are not of God and do not offer any tangible proof of anything to put your faith in. Just like with symbols, signs, and the thoughts of Psychologist Carl Jung, you are only filling your mind with the words of men and not the truth of God’s Word. The majority of what the Bible says about these things is to avoid them. Remember, it is God who will “fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).” Grace and Peace to you.
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