The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

In Chapter 1 of Part 4, Peck asserts that although the concept of grace cannot be scientifically defined, it is nonetheless a common occurrence within the human experience. He acknowledges that some instances of grace might seem like magic, but he argues that they are really examples of miracles amid the quotidian. For example, some people may grow up amid impossible circumstances that should logically give rise to severe mental illness. However, in some cases, such difficulties might usher the individual toward a stable and fulfilling life. This is an example of grace.

In Chapter 2, Peck explores the idea that the unconscious mind is the source of every individual’s power and understanding. He holds that the conscious mind creates mental illness by silencing the unconscious mind. People can attune themselves to their unconscious minds by paying attention to dreams, idle thoughts, and verbal slips. By becoming attuned to these experiences, people can experience grace. Peck then supports this premise by referring to Carl Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious. According to Jung, “we inherit the wisdom of the experience of our ancestors without ourselves having the personal experience” (252). In this view, everyone is participating in a common human experience, and sometimes the universe provides answers and knowledge that were not consciously sought.