The philosophical discussion is hardly in depth, for instance, the debate about how empirical Freud is was hardly touched upon.

He does examine in detail Freud's criticisms of religion. The author's reply to Freud's criticisms is devastating.

I found it interesting to learn that Freud was a Lamarckian. According to this book, Freud felt that the genetic theory of inheritance hadn't caught up to his theories. Science knew then and it certainly knows now that psychic trauma cannot be inherited. Freud's theory of iherited guilt feelings resembles in a way Augustine's theory of inherited Original Sin.

The Jung section was interesting but ultimately unsatisfying. He views Jung as a Berkleyian or Kantian idealist reducing everything to experience. I don't think this is fair to Jung. Jung's thought is not so one-dimensional.

My take on Jung is that the spiritual quest is fundamental and that the quest is mythic in scope. The occasional Berkelyian or Kantian window dressing Jung gives his quest are inconsequential and not important to Jung's thoughts. I can understand why those who would like to pigeon-hole Jung latch on to this aspect of his thought, but it is like dwelling on the frame of the Mona Lisa and forgetting about the content of the picture.

Jung regarded himself as trying to pursue a middle way in spirtual matters, not literal like the fundamentalists or reductionist like Freud or 19th century materialists. The author's arguments that Jung failed in this endeavor are not entirely convincing.

There are books that are more sympathetic to Jung and also better books in my opinion. I highly recommend -- Transformation of the God-Image by Edward F. Edinger and Jung and Christianity: the Challenge of Reconciliation by Wallace B. Clift. Wallace B. Clift is very critical of Jung's views that God has a dark side but is also very informative.

Having said all this; I must say Palmer's book was a very enjoyable read, a real page-turner in fact which is rare for a philosophy book, written extremely well and with great clarity.