| The Unconscious God: Psychotherapy and Theology | |
| Title Orig: | Der Unbewußte Gott |
| Author: | Viktor E. Frankl |
| Language: | German |
| Subject: | Logotherapy |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Release Date: | 1943 |
| Media Type: | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages: | 161 |
| Isbn: | 978-0671220990 |
| Preceded By: | The Doctor and the Soul |
The Unconscious God (German: Der Unbewußte Gott) is a book by Viktor E. Frankl, the Viennese psychiatrist and founder of Logotherapy. The book was the subject of his dissertation for a Ph.D. in philosophy in 1948.[1]
The Unconscious God is an examination of the relation of psychology and religion.
The term "the unconscious God" refers to a "hidden relationship with the hidden God".[2]
In his work, Frankl advocates for the use of the Socratic dialogue or "self-discovery discourse" to be used with clients to get in touch with their "Noetic" (or spiritual) unconscious.[3]
Human religiousness is a deeply individual decision, and aligns with the process of discovering meaning in even the most difficult of situations.
In comparing Protestant ministers and parishioners, Frankl contends that a mature involvement with a religious group increases the sense of purpose in life.[4]
Frankl's book was originally published as Der Unbewußte Gott[5] by Ehrlich Schmidt in 1943; the English language version was published by Simon & Schuster in 1975 under the title The Unconscious God: Psychotherapy and Theology.