1. +
Synchronicity: A World
Religion?
Tyler Grey

2. +
Definition
 Carl Jung - 1951
 Definition: the acausal connection between two or more
psycho-physic phenomena
 In other words, there is a connection between humans that
goes beyond anything physical
 There is some sort of higher power drawing certain humans
and objects together for one reason or another

3. +
The Trend
 Taking Jung theory and applying it to World Religions
 Religions drawn to each other beyond coexisting, but somehow
interconnected
 Church attendance declining across America
 Cathy Lynn Grossman
 USA Today “More Americans Tailoring Religion to Fit Their Needs”
 More and more Americans molding their faith to what they believe

4. +
The Trend Abroad
 UK
 Students in grade school
taught numerous different
religions and rituals within
those religions
 Eastern Asia
 Popular religion
 Confucianism, Daoism,
Buddhism
 Creating new religions all
together

5. +
What does the media think?
 Synchronicity is the trend
 More exciting than liberal religion
 More exciting to have control of your own religion and spirituality
 Embrace the way religion is changing
 Blending of religions is a good thing
 Makes it easier for everyone to live together in the “melting pot”

6. +
What does the media think? Pt. 2
 Synchronicity is fine
 You can believe what you want to believe
 Not recognized as a true religion, but still acceptable for people
to take what they believe from different religions to fit what they
believe

7. +
What does the media think? Pt. 3
 No way!
 Synchronicity not considered an actual religion
 Traditionalist viewpoint
 No scripture to believe in, so there is no religion

8. +
Synchronicity as a World Religion
 Definition of World Religion: no true definition of religion
 To be considered a World Religion, must have:
 Scriptures
 Institutions
 Clergy
 Rituals
 By definition, Synchronicity not a World Religion

9. +
Synchronicity Considered
Spirituality Instead?
 “I‟m spiritual, but not religious”
 Carl McColman
 Huffington Post “Interspirituality: A Meaningful Alternative to
„Spiritual Not Religious‟”
 Could not consider himself religious because he explored his
spirituality through learning about and practicing traditions from
other religions
 “Interfaith friendly”

10. +
Conclusion
 Synchronicity can be a great thing
 Significance in religions being interconnected
 Coexist
 Common ground for different cultures
 Can be considered spiritual, but not considered a World
Religion because it does not contain the criteria necessary

11. +
References
 Banks, Adelle M. ”Report says trends for U.S. churches mostly
pointing down.” The Washington
Post. 9/28/11. http://www.washingtonpost.com/on-faith/report-
says-trends-for-us-churches-mostly-pointing-
down/2011/09/28/gIQASigH5K_story.html
 Blake, John. “Four Ways 9/11 Changed America‟s Attitude Toward
Religion.” CNN. 9/3/11.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/03/four-ways-911-changed-
americas-attitude-toward-religion/
 Goldberg, Philip. “America the Mystical: Oh Beautiful for Spacious
Minds.” Huffington Post. 7/2/11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-goldberg/america-the-
mystical-oh-b_b_886422.html

12. +
References
 Goldsmith, Rabbi Mark. “The Power of Unity: Religious
Pluralism in the U.K.” Huffington Post. 5/7/11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rabbi-mark-goldsmith/religious-
pluralism-uk_b_890611.html
 Grossman, Cathy Lynn. “More Americans Tailoring Religion to
Fit Their Needs.” USA Today. 9/13/11.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-
14/america-religious-denominations/50376288/1
 Heilland, Russell. “Inner Vision and Synchronicity 9 – Jungian
Religion.” 6/18/11.
http://www.russellheiland.com/psychology/inner-vision-and-
synchronicity-9-jungian-religion/

13. +
References
 McColman, Carl. “Interspirituality: A Meaningful Alternative to
„Spiritual Not Religious.‟” Huffington Post. 12/1/11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-mccolman/spiritual-but-not-
religious-alternative_b_1113829.html
 McDaniel, Justin. “Thai Buddhism: Magic, Money, and Murder.”
Huffington Post. 10/19/11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/justin-mcdaniel/thai-buddhism-
magic-money-murder_b_1016115.html
 McMaddish. “Synchronicity Explained Through Film.” 7/19/11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBbuV_Fc3x0&feature=relat
ed

14. +
References
 Miller, Susan Katz. “8 Reasons My Interfaith Family Celebrates
Hanukkah and Christmas.” Huffington Post. 12/13/11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-katz-miller/interfaith-
family-christmas-and-hanukkah_b_1133561.html
 Nauert, Rick. “Identity Shifts for Teens, But Not Their Religion.”
Psych Central. 7/1/11.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/07/01/identity-shifts-for-
teens-but-not-their-religion/27434.html
 Potter, Mark. “How to Start a Religion.” Wikihow. 11/15/11.
http://www.wikihow.com/index.php?title=Start-a-
Religion&action=credits

15. +
References
 RealCatholicTV. “Ther IS a Difference.” 9/14/11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wGR1PB1rps
 UnificationDotCom. “Spiritual But Not Religious. 11/13/09.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoXYmtS_cPA
 “What is Synchronicity?” Carl Jung Resources. 2011.
http://www.carl-jung.net/synchronicity.html
 Yoffie, Rabbi Eric H. “Ecstasy and the Future of Liberal
Religion.” Huffington Post. 7/10/11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-eric-h-yoffie/ecstasy-and-
the-future-of_b_889779.html