SEATTLE/ Conservative Monitor -- It has long been presumed that there are two sides to every personality, the side we show to the public and a rather slimy, perhaps evil side, that we all keep hidden deep within us. Dr. Michael Ruth's new book, "Shadow Work" addresses these two sides of personality and explores the relationship, even "war", they wage within our souls.

Dr. Ruth is both a pastor and a practicing psychologist. His book, "Shadow Work" approaches human personality from both these perspectives. First, we get a Jungian view of the human mind. Nevertheless, one need not be familiar with psychology or its labels to read and understand this book. It is detailed in its descriptions, colloquial in its prose and the case studies presented (based on actual sessions in therapy) illuminate ideas clearly.

What is more original and even more helpful is the Christian perspective that Dr. Ruth brings to the issue. I think it is fair to disclose at this point that I am a skeptic. This does not keep me from finding value in religious ideas largely on the grounds that any idea that has stood the test of history must have some validity.

"Shadow Work" puts forth the hypothesis that the dark side of human personality within each and every one of us comes from repressed urges that we find unbecoming. We try to become the image that we present to the world and not the animal of our desires. Yet this is impossible and the "shadow" is always with us. With quotes from Jung and the Apostle Paul (as well as James) Dr. Ruth makes a vigorous case that we must confront this shadow of ourselves that we have hidden deep within our unconscious.

The idea is not to "get in touch with our feelings" or any of that new-age mumbo jumbo. Rather it is to understand the shadow because that is how we may do battle with it. Dr. Ruth then goes into a step by step procedure on how we go about first recognizing our dark side and then confronting it. He calls this process the "Walk of life". Here is short descriptive passage:

"The Walk of Life is the process of moving out of unconscious, spiritually dark living and growing into what we were created to be - of leaving behind the Shadowlands and moving toward individuation."

"Shadow Work" is far more than a self-help book because it extends the shadow theory to organizations. Dr. Ruth makes the case that human built governments, clubs, associations and even churches have a shadow which they too must confront in order for them to fulfill their mission to do good.

Dr. Ruth specifically addresses the shadow of the Church in America. I found some of his characterizations perhaps overblown and possibly even unwarranted. Yet, an honest evaluation would reveal that there are aspects of church life which might represent a shadow. There is little doubt that this book will give many a pastor some reason to think about his congregation and the way he handles the day to day business of his church.

"Shadow Work" is a useful book for any one determined to continually improve himself, a category that I would hope would include all of us. For as Dr. Ruth notes, to ignore the shadow is to live life as a shell of a human, largely unconscious of the reason for our actions or the reason for our existence. Socrates famously said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." This book speaks directly to that notion.

Well-written, well-thought out in its structure, "Shadow Work" will make you think. Dr. Ruth does a great job with biblical and psychological resources, and he fully explains references that might otherwise seem obscure. He is erudite and obviously well-read; this comes through in his writing. Even so, the body of the work is accessible to the novice and the layman.

From the conservative perspective, the only thing I found objectionable was a quote from Al Gore's "Earth in the Balance". The quote immediately set my conservative teeth on edge - I also felt my knee jerk - for several minutes I scanned the passage looking for political significance and liberal foolishness. In the end, I concluded that the passage made no real difference to the work.

On the positive side, "Shadow Work" validates what we conservatives have been saying all along, that our culture is moving into the toilet and that we must rise above it. This passage illustrates Dr. Ruth's point, "The unfortunate fact is, if we relax and move with the flow of our culture, it will end up dragging us down to its level of immaturity."

If you are looking for the roots of the failings of our society or the roots of the failings of individuals, "Shadow Work" may hold an important key. The work deserves a thorough read. On a personal note, this is one book I am glad crossed my desk. It truly did make me think about my own existence, my own actions and perhaps confront a little part of my shadow. I can often measure how much a book engages me by how many dog-ears and margin notes I make. My review copy is full of scribbles and bent pages.

An interesting, engaging read.