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What is psychology of religion

A discipline in psychology which is concernedwith the interpretation of the religiousphenomenon via psychological perspectives

Topics in psychology through which thereligious phenomenon is approached:evolutionary psychology, social psychology,cognitive psychology, narrative psychology,developmental psychology, clinical psychology,neuroscience

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Prominent figures in psychology of

religion

William James (The varieties of religiousexperience: A study in human nature - 1902)

Carl Gustav Jung (Psychology and Religion -

1938) Sigmund Freud (Moses and Monotheism:

Three essays 1939)

Gordon Allport (The individual and his

religion: A psychological interpretation - 1950) Abraham Maslow (Religions, values, and peak-

experiences 1964)

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A genetic basis to religion

The God Gene: The question about spirituality asa universal force in human psychology. Isspirituality an instinct? Is that instinct related to a

monoamine transporter which regulatessignalling chemicals associated with mystical-likeexperiences and/or altered states ofconsciousness?

VMAT2: The predisposition gene causing thesensations needed for a physiologicalunderstanding of the transcendence

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A biological basis to religion

Neurotheology: Amygdala, hippocampus, inferiortemporal lobe what is the content of the spiritualinformation provided through them?

Meditation and memory problems: Participants whowere scanned through meditation and individuals withmemory problems were found to have same brainareas (increased levels of blood flow in frontal andparietal lobes) activated during both states II Cor.

12:2 I know a man who fourteen years ago was caughtup into Paradise whether in the body or out of thebody I do nor know, God knows...

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Experimental approaches to religion

A 5-D scale to religion: Ideological (Belief);Ritualistic (practice); Intellectual (Knowledge);Experiential (Feeling); Consequential (Effects)

Experimental study of religion as a socialattitude: religion and prejudice; religion andconformity; religion and unanimity; religionand sense of belonging; religion and language

The Allport-Ross Religious Orientation Scale:Intrinsic-Extrinsic Motivation

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Religion as a therapeutic means for

psychology

Cognitive behaviour therapy of religion: themodification of core schemas and values sopositive therapeutic change to be maximised

through religious beliefs: The use of issues ofspiritual salience in a persons life in ordernegative cognitive thoughts to be controlled andaltered.

RCET (Religious Cognitive-Emotional Therapy): Anintegration of cognitive, humanistic, andexistential psychotherapies via religious beliefs

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Why psychology of religion is not a topic

of interest for psychology textbooks?

Psychology of religion as wrongly associated

to philosophy of religion

The opposition of psychology to religion and

vice versa

The claim psychology is the study of mindand

behaviour, whereas religion is the study of

supernatural agents

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Psychology of religion: An interdisciplinary

topic for psychology textbooks

Religion and individual differences (Therelationship of religion with the Big Five)

Religion and social identity theory (religiousparticipation and psychological well-being:positive vs. negative affect)

Religion and personality psychology (religiousindividuals are agreeable, conscientious, but notopen to new experiences)

Religion and the cognitive state of man (Godsaved us from destruction... cognitive dissonance

Leo Festinger)

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Sketching out a study unit for

psychology textbooks

Psychobiological issues in the study of religion (The serotonin system

and spiritual experience)

Developmental psychology of religion (Attachment to parental figure

as deriving from attachment to God)

Social psychology of religion (Religious and meaning-belief systemsco-exist in a persons world-view, and can influence ones religious

explanation as to what takes place within social life)

Abnormality and the study of religion (Statistical infrequency of

abnormal trends among religious individuals)

Research methods in psychology of religion (social surveys the

causal influence of social events leading to healing; experiments

triggers of religious experience and the effects of religion in the

helping of others)

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Selective Literature

Bowker, J. W. (2005). The Sacred Neuron. Discovering theextraordinary links between science and religion. London: I.B. Tauris

DAquili, E., & Newberg, A. B. (1999). The Mystical Mind.Probing the biology of religious experience. Minneapolis:Fortress Press

Hamer, D. (2004). The God Gene. How faith is hardwiredinto our genes. New York: Anchor Books

Pearce, J. C. (2002). The Biology of the Transcendence. A

Blueprint of the Human Spirit. Rochester, Vermont: ParkStreet Press

Wulff, D. M. (1997). Psychology of Religion. Classic &Contemporary. New York: John Wiley & Sons