Keep Talking Episode 71: Thomas Moore - Spirituality and Soul in the Modern World
Thomas Moore is a spiritual teacher, a psychotherapist, and the author of many books, including his bestseller, "Care of the Soul."
During our conversation, Thomas talks about his many years as a Catholic monk, his time in academia, and his work as a therapist. He also talks about the ideas and life of Carl Jung and James Hillman, archetypes of the human psyche, and spirituality and religion in the modern world.
Thomas is well-known for his writings on the human soul. He discusses his appreciation for historical figures like Emily Dickinson and Henry David Thoreau and details their wisdom and insights. In an increasingly secular age, Thomas has given mystical sustenance to those seeking to better understand their own soul, its needs, and how one might live a life of spirituality and soulfulness.
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(00:00) Intro
(02:36) Attraction to religion and Catholicism
(05:10) The life of a monk
(06:51) What left Thomas and led to leaving a monk's life
(08:25) Being denied tenure at SMU
(11:00) Carl Jung
(14:10) The influence of Jung (14:51) Jung's biography
(20:32) The magician archetype
(23:06) Disagreements with Jung
(25:50) What is the soul?
(30:45) "Care of the Soul" quotes
(35:07) Space for soul in modernity
(40:38) The exodus from traditional religion is a sign of maturation
(45:25) Who should be consulted for wisdom?
(48:49) Wisdom from history
(52:23) The ego and the mystical
(56:04) What is religion?
(58:47) Approaching life's decisions religiously
(01:02:20) Archetypes and the role of men
(01:09:19) Phineas Gage and the implications for a human soul
(01:16:09) Lessons from 40 years as a therapist
(01:20:30) What's next for Thomas?