Jungs Religious Influences

Presented By: Anton Martel

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 life.
At the age of 13, she decided to turn to Christianity. At the age of 17, Jung lost faith in Christianity and decided to become agnostic.

Age 13-16

Age 17-18

Summary of Jungs Religious Life

Cultural Background
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 Jungs childhood, she was not religious as she was not exposed to any religious teachings or beliefs.

Jung considers her close family to be agnostic as they do not have any religious beliefs. However, several of Jungs relatives such as her uncles, aunts and cousins are Christian. It is worth to note that Jungs 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 claimsis unknown or unknowable.

Family

Jungs Transition to Christianity

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.

Education

Relationship with Best Friend

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.

Relationship with Boyfriend

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.

Friendships

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.

Religious Experience

Jung lived in Swansea, a coastal city and county located in Wales, United Kingdom where 71% of the population is Catholic and 34% agnostic.

Cultural Background

Jungs Transition to Agnosticism

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.

Experience

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

Education

Relationship with Friends

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.

Relationship with Boyfriend

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.

Friendships

It is evident through this presentation of Jungs 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 Jungs 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 familys belief, too, would have forced me to become agnostic.

Summary