Psychology and Religion

Catalog description

This course enters into the ongoing dialogue between psychology and religion, focusing first upon what psychologists have to say about the phenomenon of religion as it relates to culture, society, and the individual; then also considering ways in which religious people have articulated (from "non-psychological" perspectives) viable "psychologies" as well. The course surveys psychological thinking about religion in the works of James, Freud, Maslow, Jung, Allport, and more contemporary psychologists of religion. In addition, it focuses upon specific issues and problems related to religious experience and behavior, exploring what both psychologists and "religionists" have to say about such phenomena as cults, conversion, prayer and ritual behavior, shamanism, meditation, religious intolerance, and altruism.