Jung’s Religious Jung’s Religious Influences Influences Presented By: Anton Martel

Summary of Jung’s Religious Life

Age 1-12

Jung grew up in a family that had no religious beliefs. Thus, she had no

religious beliefs at this phase of her l ife.

Age 13-16At the age of 13, she

decided to turn to Christianity.

Age 17-18

At the age of 17, Jung lost faith in Christianity and decided to become

agnostic.

Cultural Cultural BackgroundBackground

Jung spent the first 12 years of her life in South Korea - where 47% of its

citizens are agnostic, 23% are Buddhists and

11% are Christian.

Thus, throughout Jung’s childhood, she was not religious as she was not exposed to any religious

teachings or beliefs.

FamilyFamily

Jung considers her close family to be agnostic as they do not have any religious beliefs.

However, several of Jung’s relatives such as her uncles, aunts and cousins are Christian.

It is worth to note that Jung’s grandparents were against the beliefs of Christianity and urged her not to go to church.

Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable.

Jung’s Transition to ChristianityJung’s Transition to Christianity

Education

Jung had moved to Swansea in the seventh and eight grade – enrolling in the "Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.”

The school followed Christian beliefs. An instance of this would take place during assemblies, where each student was required to pray.

Jung had also taken a class called religious studies, which she credited for enhancing her interest in religion, most notably, Christianity.

FriendshipsFriendships

Relationship with Best Friend

Relationship with Boyfriend

One of the primary reasons that Jung became Catholic was due to the fact that her best friend was Christian and it was due to her best friend that Jung started to attend mass.

Her best friend has been a member of the dancing group of their respective church at Swansea and he suggested that Jung should join. Jung eventually joined and befriended so many friends that she decided to remain a Christian because she was happy.

Jung initially met her ex-boyfriend in church. Both

Jung and her boyfriend were Christians and went to mass together every Sundays and

would spend time together subsequently.

Religious ExperienceReligious Experience

After a year of being Christian, Jung was

baptized. It was during her baptism that she described

her faith in Christianity to be at its peak – as she felt

closer to God.

Cultural BackgroundCultural Background

Jung lived in Swansea, a coastal city and county located in Wales, United Kingdom – where 71% of the population is

Catholic and 34% agnostic.

Jung’s Transition to AgnosticismJung’s Transition to Agnosticism

ExperienceExperience

At the age of 17, Jung moved to the Philippines.

Jung was depressed about moving to the Philippines – most especially the idea of having to leave her friends in both Swansea and Korea. As a result, she began to question her faith in God, believing that should he have existed, he would not have done this to her.

EducationEducation

Upon moving to the Philippines, Jung enrolled at the International School Manila – where she participated in classes that questioned the existence of God, such as biology and anthropology.

Jung’s mother also discouraged her from going to church, believing that going to church was becoming detrimental to her grades.

FriendshipsFriendships

Relationship with Friends

Relationship with Boyfriend

Initially, Jung went to church every Sundays despite moving to the Philippines. However, Jung stopped going to church because she did not like the people that went to that church.

When Jung moved to the Philippines, Jung was

forced to break up with her boyfriend from Swansea.

As a result, Jung went through emotional pain that made her begin to

question her faith in God.

SummarySummary

It is evident – through this presentation of Jung’s life – that Jung has gone through a number of experiences that have affected her life and more importantly, her religious life. Her transformation from an Agnostic to a Christian and back to an Agnostic is highlighted through her life experience in moving from Korea to England and to the Philippines.

If I were in Jung’s position, I would also question my faith in God and I would too, turn Agnostic due to my unhappiness in moving to the Philippines and having to leave a life behind at Swansea – where I made a lot of good friends and had an intimate partner that I had to leave. Notably, my family’s belief, too, would have forced me to become agnostic.