What leads a person to become religious? What happens psychologically in a religious experience? Does religion make a person happier, more open, more psychologically healthy, more tolerant, more caring? Bold and thoughtful, this book employs social-psychological theories and research to build an understanding of the source, nature and consequences of religion in individual life. The authors' goal is to provide an integrated and coherent perspective, one that honours the diversity and mystery of individuals' experience of religion, yet is scientifically sound. Drawing on the classic psychological treatment of religion by William James, Sigmund Freud and Gordon Alloort, as well as the more recent empirical literature, the authors develop a three-dimensional model of different ways of being religious ...as a means to self-serving ends, as an end in itself, and as an open-ended quest. They explore the origins of these dimensions of personal religion, tracing them to more or less creative responses to such existential questions as: What is the meaning and purpose of my life? and How do I deal with the fact that I am going to die?
They then explore the consequences of each of the three dimensions, both for the religious individual and for others in society. Finally, building on the foregoing analysis, the authors address one of the basic questions of our age - whether relgiion is a force for good or evil in human life.
Industry Reviews
"This fine and challenging book serves a two-fold purpose. It is a valuable survey of work in the psychology of religion, and it is a milestone in the development of the work stimulated by Allport's seminal attempt to characterize different orientations to religion....If looking for a textbook on the psychology of religion, one would find that most of the important topics are covered....[It] represents a very exciting and provocative survey." --The
International Journal for the Psychology of Religion
"A substantial contribution that will be a valuable resource for students of psychology and religion."--Allen Bergin, Brigham Young University
From reviews of the first edition: "The authors have provided a synthesis and survey of empirical social-psychological research on religious behavior and experience. . . .Comprehensive, thorough, and balanced. . .sophisticated, evenhanded, and appropriately complex. . . .The result is a clearly argued text. . . .The book can certainly be recommended to religious educators as a useful and instructive tool." --Theological Studies
"An insightful and useful work that should be valuable to sociologists interested in religion, mental illness, and intergroup relations. . . .A thoughtful and careful analysis of the multifaceted nature of religion." --American Journal of Sociology
"Comprehensive and insightful. . . .A well-organized, technically correct discussion refreshingly free of jargon. The analysis is careful, integrating the depth of a mature experience and knowledge." --Journal of Psychology and Theology
"Clear, readable. . . .Both summarizes and considerably adds to the growing literature on the social psychology of religion." --Choice
"This book is fascinating and provocative. . . . Well worth reading, particularly for those with some background in the psychology of religion." --Contemporary Psychology
"A coherent, integrated approach to the diversified phenomena of religious experience. . . .A major contribution." --Sociology and Social Research
"Fascinating. . . .Well organized, clearly written." --Theology Today
"Triumphantly escapes being trivial, tedious and irrelevant. Indeed, it is a most stimulating and challenging book which poses many important questions. . . . clearly and lightly written throughout. This book will be an important and possibly chastening stimulus and resource for teachers, students and practitioners in practical theology and pastoral care." --Contact, The Interdisciplinary Journal of Pastoral Studies
"An encyclopedic and critical summary of empirical research into religion. The outcome, expressed in an elegant style, is a comprehensive account of psychological reflection on religion." --David G. Deeks, Expository Times, UK
"The coverage is broad enough to serve as an introductory text in the psychology of religion if one wishes to use it that way (I have). It remains a 'must read' volume in the field." --John Tisdale,Psychology of Religion Newsletter, American Psychological Association Division 36
