Religious Orientation as the Archtype of Carl G. Jung ― Case Studies of Islam and Bahai Faith in Korea

DOI: 10.21457/kars..53.200812.185

This paper is intended to examine the religious meanings which the direction of ritual and the symbol of the center have for homo religious, by analyzing the cases of Islam and Bahai faith in Korea. Comparing two religions from a phenomenological perspective, the author explores the psychological dimension of space and ritual in terms of C. G. Jung's main concepts of the collective unconscious and individuation. All Muslims pray towards Kaaba in Mecca five times a day. Qibla, the direction of prayer, plays an important role in unifying Muslims into one faith community and giving each member Muslim identity. Mecca, the center of the world, is regarded as the most sacred space for Muslim faith, prayer, pilgrimage, and fellowship. The symbol of the center connects the sacred life with the secular one. Similarly, Bahais stand towards the tomb of Bahaullah in Bahji, Akka during nine sacred festivals and other gatherings, including one of three mandatory prayers, which Bahais should perform daily. For Bahais, Qiblih, the direction of prayer, strengthens solidarity within Bahai community, reminding them of the martyrdom and teachings of the Manifestations of God. Despite theological and liturgical differences, Muslims and Bahais experience the similar process of individuation through which they can obtain their religious identity, by performing prayers towards the particular directions and remembering the meanings of the symbol of the center, which we can regard as one of archetypes in the collective unconscious.