The Archiv für Religionspsychologie is the oldest medium in the psychology of religion. It is the official organ of the Internationale Gesellschaft für Religionspsychologie (International Association for the Psychology of Religion [IAPR]) founded in 1914. Following a reorganization of the IAPR in 2001, the Archiv is now published as an international, peer-reviewed yearbook.The current editorship is shared by Jacob A. Belzen, Nils G. Holm and Ralph W. Hood Jr. The Archiv für Religionspsychologie is open to all scientific methodologies, quantitative and qualitative as well as to established and innovative conceptual and theoretical perspectives in the psychology of religion.
In the past four decades or so, the so-called psychology of religion – after having been deemed extinct, impossible or unlikely – has risen to prominence again: the number of publications is rapidly growing, an impressive secondary literature (handbooks, introductions, etc.) is available already, infrastructure has been developed (a number of new journals devoted to the subject have been founded, organizations have been established, increasingly funding is going to the area), attracting many new researchers. Organizations like the American Psychological Association are now publishing in the field of psychology of religion (and its Div. 36 [“psych of rel”] with almost 3,000 members is already midsized among the APA-divisions). This book documents this re-emergence and development.
The aims pursued in this book are quite modest. The text is not an introduction in the traditional sense to any psychological subdiscipline or field of application, nor does it present anything essentially new. Rather, it shows ‘work in progress’, as it attempts to contribute to an integration of two differently structured, but already existing fields within psychology. In order to explain this, it is probably best to say a few words about how the book came into being and about what it hopes to achieve. As a project, the volume owes very much to others. While lecturing in places ranging from South Africa to Canada and from California through European co- tries to Korea, colleagues have often urged me to come up with a volume on ‘c- tural psychology of religion’. For reasons that should become clear in the text, I feel uncomfortable with such a demand. To my understanding, there exists no single cultural psychology of religion. Rather, there are ever expanding numbers of div- gent types of psychologies, some of which are applied to understanding religious aspects of human lives or to researching specific religious phenomena, while others are not. Within this heterogeneous field that is, correctly or not, still designated as ‘psychology’, there are also many approaches that are sometimes referred to as ‘cultural psychology’ or as ‘culturally sensitive psychologies’. It would be wor- while applying many of these to research on religious phenomena, but at present not too many are in fact so applied.
In 2015, both the journal Archive for the Psychology of Religion and the International Association for the Psychology of Religion (IAPR), the bearer of the journal, completed their first century. This occasion prompted extensive historical research to the scientific infrastructure concerned, and critical reflection on their reason for existence, dealing with questions such as: How is the psychology of religion doing? What is it about? Which factors play a role? Whom does it serve? What has been the place and value of the infrastructure now celebrating its existence? This celebrating supplement to the Archive for the Psychology of Religion expands this discussion of IAPR’s history and continues its critical reflexion.
"Islam & Psychology: Principles and Practices" by Mohd Nasir Masroom is an insightful and comprehensive exploration of the integration of Islamic teachings with contemporary psychological principles. Drawing on the author’s extensive experience as a senior lecturer in Islamic Psychology and Counseling, this book delves into the rich and nuanced intersection of faith, spirituality, and mental health. The book is divided into 20 engaging chapters, each offering a deep dive into critical aspects of Islamic psychology. It begins by exploring the foundational interface between psychology and religion, emphasizing the often-overlooked dimension of spirituality. Early chapters introduce key Islamic concepts such as al-Ruh (the spirit), al-Qalb (the heart), al-Nafs (the self), and al-Aqal (the intellect), providing readers with a thorough understanding of the Islamic view of human nature (Fitrah) and personality. As the book progresses, it offers a detailed examination of the development of embryonic stages, the significant contributions of five eminent scholars of Islamic psychology, and the profound implications of the pillars of faith (iman) and Islam on individual well-being. The discussion extends to the spiritual science of Tasawwuf, exploring spiritual heart diseases and the illnesses of the soul, and providing insights into their spiritual cures. The book also addresses practical applications of Islamic psychology in therapeutic settings, with dedicated chapters on Islamic counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health. These sections highlight how Islamic teachings can be effectively utilized in counseling and therapy, considering the cultural and religious contexts of the patients. A unique exploration of the connection between Jinn, Ruqyah (spiritual healing), and mental health further enriches this discussion. In the final chapters, the book turns its focus to the emotional aspects of the human experience. It examines emotions such as patience, gratitude, acceptance, trust in Allah, bravery, fear, happiness, sadness, love, and hate, all through the lens of Islamic teachings. These discussions offer a holistic view of how emotions are understood, managed, and nurtured in Islam. "Islam & Psychology: Principles and Practices" is a valuable resource for students, scholars, and professionals in the fields of psychology and Islamic studies, as well as for anyone interested in the ways in which faith and spirituality influence mental health and well-being. By bridging classical Islamic knowledge with modern psychological practices, this book offers a unique perspective that not only enhances our understanding of psychology but also enriches our approach to mental health in a way that is deeply rooted in faith and spirituality. To students, please do not hesitate to email the author [[email protected]] to redeem a promotion code.
Ana María Rizzuto’s groundbreaking explorations of the formation of God representations in early childhood and their elaboration throughout the life cycle have made their mark, enriching the practice of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy as well as scholarship within the psychoanalytic study of religion. Assessing Rizzuto’s legacy on the thirty-fifth anniversary of the publication of The Birth of the Living God, contributors to this international collection of essays confirm the significance of Rizzuto’s contributions to psychoanalytic theories of religious experience. They also underscore Rizzuto’s most important contribution to clinical practice: rather than assert that psychoanalysis is incompatible with religious beliefs and practices or with spiritual concerns that patients may bring to a therapeutic context, Rizzuto makes room for the coexistence of psychoanalysis and religion in the therapeutic setting. Accompanied by illuminating commentaries by Rizzuto, the essays in this volume address a range of topics: developmental processes associated with God representations, psychotherapeutic treatment models informed by Rizzuto’s theory, the practice of psychotherapy in contexts shaped by Eastern religious traditions, monstrous referents in God representations, and the psychoanalysis of religion in light of the new atheism. Demonstrating how Rizzuto’s work has enhanced connections within and among psychoanalytic theories of religion, established pathways for new developments in psychotherapy, and facilitated interdisciplinary conversations, this volume showcases the compelling power of Rizzuto’s work and its ongoing influence.
This book provides an overview of the foundations of Chinese psychotherapy, based on a full consideration of Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist teachings. Serving as a reliable and practical guide to coping with life’s adversities, the book offers therapeutic techniques to guide clinical practice based on the potential mutual enrichment of these teachings and current psychotherapies, research, and practice. It aims to guide readers towards authentic, durable happiness with novel approaches to a variety of mental health problems. Among the topics addressed: Cultural heritages and mental health Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist techniques for self-enlightenment psychotherapy Psi mechanisms and related training models Foundations of Chinese Psychotherapies combines modern clinical methods and traditional teachings to form a unique approach to mental health and well-being. It will be a valuable resource for mental health professionals and others who seek to intervene in a variety of mental health problems. "A systematic introduction to indigenous Chinese psychotherapy is long overdue.Explicating human nature as envisioned by traditional Chinese thinkers, this book is a timely answer to the increasingly contested question of what it means to be human in an era when gene editing keeps tinkering nature’s design. " Louise Sundararajan, Ph.D., Ed.D., Fellow of the American Psychological Association; Chair and founder of the Task Force on Indigenous Psychology. "This is an important book. It builds on the work of K.-S. Yang and K.-K. Hwang in their hope for an indigenous Chinese psychology. This book is the next installment in that progression. The world-wide community of scholars needs to know what an indigenous psychology looks like that is sensitive to the insights of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. This book makes that contribution and it is my hope that it will be widely read." Alvin Dueck, PhD, Distinguished Senior Professor of Psychology, Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, USA Foundations of Chinese Psychotherapies is a valuable introduction to how the Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist traditions understand the human psyche, and in particular psychic abilities. Yung-Jong Shiah has a unique perspective on these topics, having been trained in both Eastern and Western traditions, and through his deep familiarity with how science has been used to study these intriguing topics. " Dean Radin MS PhD, Chief Scientist, Institute of Noetic Sciences, USA and author Real Magic (2018) and other books.
This open access book explores how children draw god. It looks at children’s drawings collected in a large variety of cultural and religious traditions. Coverage demonstrates the richness of drawing as a method for studying representations of the divine. In the process, it also contributes to our understanding of this concept, its origins, and its development. This intercultural work brings together scholars from different disciplines and countries, including Switzerland, Japan, Russia, Iran, Brazil, and the Netherlands. It does more than share the results of their research and analysis. The volume also critically examines the contributions and limitations of this methodology. In addition, it also reflects on the new empirical and theoretical perspectives within the broader framework of the study of this concept. The concept of god is one of the most difficult to grasp. This volume offers new insights by focusing on the many different ways children depict god throughout the world. Readers will discover the importance of spatial imagery and color choices in drawings of god. They will also learn about how the divine's emotional expression correlates to age, gender, and religiosity as well as strategies used by children who are prohibited from representing their god.
The concept of religiosity is a highly individual aspect of religion. The understanding of it was shaped in Protestant circles in the Western context and it has inspired a huge body of research and further developments in theology, as well as in religious education. However, both charismatic movements within Christianity and orthopractic religious traditions such as Islam raise the question of whether an individualized account of religiosity is able to grasp the spectrum of lived religion comprehensively. Furthermore, with increasing globalization, even Asian worldviews like Hinduism or Buddhism are part of daily experience and have expanded the notion of what can be perceived of as religion. These changes were discussed at the international conference ‘Religiosity in East and West: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges’ at the University of Münster, Germany, from 25 to 27 June 2019. With this volume of conference proceedings we pay special attention to the most significant conference contributions relevant to religious education and practical theology.
Joan D. Koss-Chioino and Philip Hefner's new volume is unique in exploring the meaning of spiritual transformation and healing with new research from a scientific perspective. An interdisciplinary group of contributors-anthropological, psychological, medical, theological, and biological scientists-investigate the role of religious communities and healing practitioners, with spiritual transformation as their medium of healing. Individual authors evaluate the meaning of spiritual transformations and the consequences for those who experience it; the contributions of indigenous healing systems; new frameworks for neurological and physiological correlates of transformative religious experiences; the support from neuroscience for the radical empathy and intersubjective exchange that takes place in healing practices; and evidence for universal elements of the healing process. This exciting new book will be an invaluable resource for those generally interested in the role of religion in society, across the sciences, social sciences, and all religious traditions. With a foreword by Solomon H. Katz.
