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Resources in the Psychology of Religion

by Michael E. Nielsen, PhD

© 1994-2002, Michael Nielsen

In this list you will find my recommendations for books in the psychology of religion, some religion books that you may find interesting, academic journals from the social sciences and from religion, and professional organizations that promote the social-scientific study of religion.

[Note from Russ Dewey in 2018: This list was last updated August 18, 2000, so the list here can be considered "oldies but goodies" and still worth checking out.]

Books

If you are searching for a general introduction to the psychology of religion, I recommend the book by Paloutzian. For more information on significant people in the psychology of religion, Fuller's book is an excellent place to start. A more detailed examination of the field is found in Wulff's book, which is sure to become a classic. If you are an advanced undergraduate student or a graduate student, I recommend you read Hood, Spilka, Hunsberger & Gorsuch's empirical approach, which should be considered essential reading. There are many, many more books that could be listed here, but this will give you a good start. In the past, I grouped these books as either 'classic' or as 'contemporary,' but such a distinction is too arbitrary to be of much use. The books now are listed simply according to the author's last name. This list is incomplete, and reflects only those books that I have had time to include.

For your convenience, I have included links to Amazon.com for many of the books listed here. To visit the amazon.com description of the book, or to order it, simply click on the ISBN or ASIN number following the book's citation information. I have received much better service from Amazon.com than I have from other online bookstores and I hope that you find it to be a convenient source for books.

  • Adler, A. (1964). Social interest: A challenge to mankind. Capricorn. (No longer in print.)

  • Adler, A. (H. Ansbacher & R. Ansbacher, Eds.) (1956.) The individual psychology of Alfred Adler: A systematic presentation in selections from his writings. New York: Basic Books.

  • Adler, A. (H. Ansbacher & R. Ansbacher, Eds.) (1979). Superiority and social interest. New York: W. W. Norton. (Part 5 is "Religion and individual psychology") ISBN: 0393009106

  • Adler, A., & Jahn, E. (1933). Religion and Psychology. Frankfurt. (A classic work in German.)

  • Adler, K., & Deutsch, D. (Eds.) (1959). Essays in individual psychology. Grove Press. (Section 2, by Albert Reissner, is titled "Religion and Psychotherapy")

  • Adler, M. J. (1994). Platonism and Positivism in Psychology. Transaction/Rutgers University. (Mortimer Adler discusses Freud's contribution to psychology and his views on religion.) ISBN: 0393009106

  • Aletti, M., & Rossi, G. (Eds.) (1999). Ricerca di se e trascendenza. Torino: Centro Scientifico Editore. (My admittedly rough translation: Research on the transcendent. Unfortunately, I do not speak Italian, but I have great respect for the editors. Among the contributors to the book are many other highly respected scholars, and the chapter titles cover a wide range of areas in the psychological study of religion. If you know Italian, this should be worthwhile reading. I am donating my copy to the Georgia Southern University library, so if you are in the U.S. and you cannot locate a copy through your bookstore, your university library may be able to borrow my copy via interlibrary loan.) ISBN: 8876403256

  • Allport, G. W. (1950). The individual and his religion. New York: Macmillan. ASIN: 0020831307

  • Allport, G. W., Vernon, P. E., & Lindzey, G. (1960). Study of values (3rd ed.). Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.

  • Alpert, N. L. (1985). Religion and psychology: A medical subject analysis and research index with bibliography. Washington, DC: Abbe. ISBN: 0881640352

  • Altemeyer, B., & Hunsberger, B. (1997). Amazing conversions: Why some turn to faith and others abandon religion. Amherst, NY: Prometheus. [Intended for a general audience, this book tries to explain some of the characteristics of people who leave vs. those who adopt religion.] ISBN: 1573921475

  • Altman, I., & Ginat, J. (1996). Polygamous families in contemporary society. New York: Cambridge University Press. (A fascinating glimpse at religion and society, in the context of family relationships.) ISBN: 0521567319

  • Austin, James H. (1998). Zen and the brain: Toward an understanding of meditation and consciousness. Massachussetts Institute of Technology Press. ISBN: 0262011646

  • Balch, R., & Taylor, D. (1984). Seekers and Saucers: The Role of the Cultic Milieu in Joining a UFO Cult. In Kelly, D. H. (ed.) Deviant Behavior: A Text-Reader in The Sociology of Deviance, 2nd Ed. New York: St Martin's Press. (Discusses a participant observation study of the Heaven's Gate group.) ISBN: 0312119410

  • Batson, C. D., Schoenrade, P., & Ventis, W. (1993). Religion and the individual: A social-psychological perspective. New York: Oxford University. (Presents a fine overview of the field from a perspective building on Allport's. I am told that this is the most commonly-used book in the field in European classrooms.) ISBN: 0195062094

  • Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1997). Illustrated encyclopedia of active new religions. New York: Rosen. (Describes 1200 active new religious movements; revised edition, with CD ROM. Originally published 1993.) ISBN: 0823925862

  • Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1998). Original Sins : Reflections on the History of Zionism and Israel. Interlink Pub Group. ISBN: 1566561310

  • Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1989). Prolegomena to the Psychological Study of Religion. Bucknell Univ. Press. ISBN: 0838751598

  • Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1993). The annotated dictionary of modern religious movements. Danbury, CT: Grolier. (Describes 2200 new religious movements since 1800, and includes a CD-Rom.)

  • Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1996). Psychoanalytic studies of religion: Critical assessment and annotated bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood. (An exhaustive survey of the psychoanalytic perspectives on religion.) ISBN: 0313273626

  • Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1992). Despair and deliverance: Private salvation in contemporary Israel. New York: SUNY Press. (Describes salavation and other religious movements in Israel since the 1973 war.) ISBN: 0791410005

  • Beit-Hallahmi, B., & Argyle, M. (1997). The psychology of religious behavior, belief and experience. London: Routledge. (Examines the many and varied factors that may be used to answer the question, "Why do people have religious beliefs, and what are the effects of those beliefs on other aspects of life?" An interesting and useful book!) ISBN: 0415123313

  • Bell, R. M. (1985). Holy Anorexia. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press. (Describes some of the physical extremes that people undergo in pursuit of religious experiences.) ISBN: 0226042057

  • Belzen, J. A. (Ed.) (2000). Aspects in contexts: Studies in the history of psychology of religion. Amsterdam/Atlanta: Rodopi. (An in-depth examination of the people and trends that have affected psychology of religion.) ISBN: 904201511X

  • Belzen, J. A. (Ed.) (1997). Hermeneutical approaches in psychology of religion. Amsterdam: Rodopi. (Fourteen essays that depict the contribution that the hermeneutical approaches -- contrasted with positivistic, statistical approaches currently dominating the field -- can make toward the psychological understanding of religion.) ISBN: 9042000333

  • Bhugra, D. (ed.) (1996). Psychiatry and religion: Context, consensus and controversies. London: Routledge. (This book "attempts to narrow the gulf between spiritual and psychological welfare" and investigates several religious and denominational perspectives.) ISBN: 0415165121

  • Boisen, A. (1936). The exploration of the inner world. New York: Harper Bros. ASIN: 0812210204

  • Brown, L. B. (ed.) (1973). Psychology & religion. Baltimore, MD: Penguin. (A collection of interesting articles from 1926 - 1971.)

  • Brown, L. B. (1987). The psychology of religious belief. London: Academic. (An excellent overview of the factors that affect religious belief, and of the consequences of religious belief. Unfortunately, the publisher is now out of stock.)

  • Brown, L. B. (1994). The human side of prayer. Birmingham, AL: Religious Education Press. ISBN: 0891350926

  • Brown, L. B. (Ed.) (1994). Religion, Personality, and Mental Health (Recent Research in Psychology) Springer Verlag. ISBN: 0387977732

  • Browning, D. S. (1987). Religious thought & the modern psychologies. Fortress Press. (A well-respected view of religion and psychology.) ISBN: 0800623223

  • Browning, D.S., Jobe, T., and Evison, I.S. (1990). Religious and Ethical Factors in Psychiatric Practice. Nelson-Hall. (Aimed at the psychiatric practitioner.) ISBN: 0830412255

  • Bulka, R. V. (1998). Work, love, suffering, and death: A Jewish/psychological perspective through logotherapy. (Bulka builds on Frankl's approach in this examination of Judaism and psychology.) ISBN: 0765799960

  • Bulkeley, K. (1999). Visions of the night: Dreams, religion and psychology. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. (Bulkeley attempts to forge connections between religious views of dreams as revealing divine truths, and psychological perspectives on dreams.) ISBN 0791442845

  • Capps, D. (2001). Freud and Freudians on religion: A reader. New Haven, CT: Yale. (Includes selections on religion by Freud, Bakan, Erikson, Kohut, Kristeva and Winnicott.) ISBN 0300082010

  • Capps, D. (1997). Men, religion, and melancholia: James, Otto, Jung, and Erikson. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. (Examines the idea that melancholia motivates us to become religious.) ISBN: 0300069715

  • Capps, D. (1987). Deadly sins and saving virtues. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress. (A well-respected psychologist's view of theology. Unfortunately, it is now out of print.)

  • Capps, D., & Jacobs, J. L. (Eds.) (1995). The struggle for life: A companion to William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience. Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Monograph Series, Number 9. (Wonderfully insightful essays from 19 scholars concerning James's monumental work. Available from the publisher, the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.) ISBN: 1882380029

  • Capps, D., Rambo, L., & Ransohoff, P. (1976). Psychology of religion: A guide to information resources. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co. (A fine bibliography of books and articles on the psychology of religion, particularly for researchers interested in the field's history.) ISBN: 0810313561

  • Cardena, E., Lynn, S. J., & Krippner, S. (Eds.) (2000). Varieties of anomalous experience: Examining the scientific evidence. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Addresses near-death experiences, out of body experiences, and the effects of other unusual phenomena.) ISBN: 1557986258

  • Charet, F. X. (1993). Spiritualism and the foundations of C. G. Jung's psychology. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. (An interesting discussion of the spiritualist movement and its impact on Jung.) ISBN: 0791410943

  • Coles, R. (1999). The secular mind. Princeton Univ. Press. (Reflections on the attempt to use science to study religious questions.) ISBN: 0791410943

  • Corbett, L. (1996). The religious function of the psyche. London: Routledge. (Builds on Jung's analytic perspective.) ISBN: 0415144019

  • Corveleyn, J., & Hutsebaut, D. (eds.) (1994). Belief and unbelief: Psychological perspectives. Amsterdam/Atlanta: Editions Rodopi. International Series in the Psychology of Religion, vol. 3. (Essays and empirical reports from a variety of perspectives.) ISBN: 9051836732

  • Covington, D. (1996). Salvation on Sand Mountain : Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia. Penguin USA. (One man's experience with "serpent handling.") ISBN: 0140254587

  • Danesh, H. B. (1997). The psychology of spirituality: From divided self to integrated self. Landegg Academy Press. (A mass-market paperback devoted to psychological exploration of existential and consciousness issues.) ISBN: 3906726029

  • De Silva, P. (2000). An introduction to Buddhist psychology (3rd ed.). New York: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN: 0742508579

  • DiCenso, J. (1998). The other Freud: Religion, culture and psychoanalysis. New York: Routledge. (Suggests that Freud's views on religion deserve more study than they tend to receive.) ISBN: 0415196590

  • Dossey, L. (1993). Healing words: The power of prayer and the practice of medicine. San Francisco: Harper Colllins. (A good "popular press" book on the interrelationships between religion and health.) ISBN: 0061043834

  • Eisenberg, G. D. (1988). Smashing the idols: A Jewish inquiry into cult phenomenon. Jason Aronson, Inc. (A Jewish perspective on new religious movements.) ISBN: 0876689748

  • Ellis, B. (2001). Raising the devil: Satanism, new religions, and the media. Lexington, KY: Univ. of Kentucky. (A specialist in American folklore describes how Pentecostal religion, conspiracy theory, and the media resulted in the 1980s U.S. satanism scare.) ISBN: 0813121701

  • Ellwood, R. (1999). The politics of myth: A study of C.G. Jung, Mircea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. (Examines the similarities and differences of three important figures in the study of myth.) ISBN: 0791443051 (hardcover) or 079144306X (softcover)

  • Emmons, R. A. (1999). The psychology of ultimate concerns: Motivation and spirituality in personality. Guilford. (Describes research and theory about how spirituality relates to personal goals and the things we strive for.) ISBN: 1572304561

  • Erikson, E. (1958). Young man Luther: A study in psychoanalysis and history. New York: W. W. Norton. (1993 reprint of one of the field's classics. Well worth reading!) ISBN: 0393310361

  • Faber, M. D. (1998). Synchronicity: C. G. Jung, psychoanalysis, and religion. Westport, CT: Praeger. (Faber argues against synchronicity and other Jungian ideas, in favor of a more scientific or rational view of the world.)ISBN: 0275963748

  • Fagnani, D., & Rossi, M. T. (1998). Simbolo, metafora, invocazione tra religione e psicoanalisi: Atti del VI Convegno Nazionale della Societa Italiana di Psicologia della Religione, Milano, 12-13 ottobre 1996 [Italian]. Bergamo, Italy: Moretti & Vitali. (Proceedings from the 1996 Conference of the Italian Society for the Psychology of Religion. Chapters focus on several intriguing aspects of symblism and related issues.)

  • Fenn, R. K., & Capps, D. (Eds.) (1995). On losing the soul: Essays in the social psychology of religion. State University of New York Press. ISBN: 0791424944

  • Ferm, V. (ed.) (1937/1990). Religion in transition. New York: MacMillan. (This book gives fascinating glimpses into the personal religious stories of some of psychology's early investigators of religious phenomena: Starbuck, Leuba, Coe, and others. Well worth reading!) ISBN: 083690074X

  • Festinger, L., Riecken, H. W., & Schachter, S. (1956). When prophecy fails. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. (A classic study of how people may react when their religious beliefs are disconfirmed.) ASIN: 0061311324

  • Fowler, J. W. (1981). Stages of faith. San Francisco: Harper and Row. (Fowler's influential theory of how faith may change as the person develops. This was republished in 1995 in soft cover.) ISBN: 0060628669. See also ISBN: 0800617398

  • Frankl, V. (1962). Man's search for meaning. Boston: Beacon. (One of my favorite books. A fascinating account of Frankl's experience in a concentration camp. Reprinted in 1998) ISBN: 0671023373

  • Freud, S. (1928). The future of an illusion. Translated by W.D. Robson-Scott. New York: Liveright. (Reprinted 1989) ISBN: 0393008312

  • Freud, S. (1928). Totem and taboo: Resemblances between the psychic lives of savages and neurotics. NY: Dodd. ISBN: 0394701240

  • Freud, S. (1939). Moses and monotheism. London: The Hogarth Press and The Institute of Psychoanalysis. ISBN: 0394700147

  • Friedman, M. (1992). Religion and psychology: A dialogical approach. New York: Paragon House. (Psychology of religion from a religious perspective very heavily influenced by Martin Buber. Currently out of print.)

  • Fromm, E. (1950). Psychoanalysis and religion. New Haven: Yale University. (An excellent, accessible examination of religion and psychoanalysis.) ISBN: 0300000898

  • Fromm, E. (1991). You shall be as Gods: A radical interpretation of the Old Testament and its tradition. New York: Holt. (This is a softcover reprinting of Fromm's 1966 work. Unfortunately, neither edition appears to be available.) ISBN: 0805016058

  • Fromm, E. H. (1995). Escape from freedom Henry Holt. ISBN: 0805031499

  • Fuller, A. R. (1994). Psychology & religion: Eight points of view (3rd ed.). Lanham, MD: Littlefield Adams. (An introduction to the people who have shaped the discipline.) ISBN: 0822630362

  • Galanter, M. (1999). Cults: Faith, healing and coercion (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford. (An overview of personal and social factors that influence people in new religious movements.) ISBN: 0195123700

  • Galanter, M. (1989). Cults and new religious movements: A report of the American Psychiatric Association. American Psychiatric Association. (Describes psychiatric views of involvement in new religious movements.) ISBN: 0890422125

  • Godin, Andre (1985). Psychological dynamics of religious experience. Religious Education Press. ISBN: 089135039X

  • Golshani, M. (ed.) (1998). Can science dispense with religion? Tehran, Iran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. (An interesting investigation of science-religion compatibility, notable for its inclusion of several Muslim perspectives as well as the more typical Christian and Jewish viewpoints.) ISBN 9644260813

  • Griffith, J. L., & Griffith, M. E. (2001). Encountering the sacred in psychotherapy: How to talk with people about their spiritual lives. New York: Guilford. ISBN: 1572307013

  • Grzymala-Moszczynska, H. (1992). Psychologia religii: Wybrane zagadnienia [Psychology of religion: Selected issues]. Krakow. (Highly recommended to me as a good introduction to the field written in Polish.)

  • Grzymala-Moszczynska, H., & Beit-Hallahmi, B. (eds.) (1996). Religion, psychopathology and coping. Amsterdam-Atlanta: Rodopi. (A summary of papers presented at a December 1990 conference in Mogilany, Poland.) ISBN: 9042001011

  • Guthrie, S. E. (1995). Faces in the clouds: A new theory of religion. Oxford University Press. (Guthrie tries to account for the pervasive nature of religious beliefs. A fascinating theory derived from anthropology, and from cognitive and evolutionary psychology.) ISBN: 0195098919

  • Hart, S. (2001). Cultural dilemmas of progressive politics (Morality and Society). Chicago: Univ. of Chicago. (Examines conservative and liberal uses of religion in politics, with the thesis that religion can be more effectively used by people interested in liberal social perspectives.) ISBN: 0226318184

  • Heller, D. (1986). The children's God. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago. (A very readable study on how children of different ages and religions characterize God.) ISBN: 0226326365

  • Heller, D., & Heller, E. (1996). Angels must get get their wings by helping little angles like me: Children's ideas of god, heaven and the angels. Kensington Pub. Corp. ISBN: 0821751565

  • Helminiak, D. A. (1998). Religion and the human sciences: An approach via spirituality. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. (An approach that builds on Wilber to combine Eastern and Western views.) ISBN: 0791438066

  • Heimbrock, H., & Boudewijnse, H. B. (eds.) (1990). Current studies on rituals: Perspectives for the psychology of religion. Amsterdam/Atlanta: Editions Rodopi. International Series in the Psychology of Religion, vol. 2. ISBN: 9051831781

  • Hermanson, J. (1997). The interplay of social science and personal belief in Gordon W. Allport's psychology of religion. Lund: Lund University Press. (Investigates one of the people who has had more of an impact on the field than any other individual.)

  • Hexham,I., & Poewe, K. (1997). New religions as global cultures: Making the human sacred. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. (A thought-provoking examination of the "cult" and "anti-cult" movements, in many of their facets.) ISBN: 0813325080

  • Hill, P. C., & Hood, R. W. (Eds.). (1999). Measures of religiosity. Religious Education Pr; ISBN: 089135106X

  • Hood, R. W. (Ed.). (1995). Handbook of religious experience. Birmingham, AL: Religious Education. (Especially recommended for its chapters on religious experience in different faith traditions, and for solid overviews of various psychological perspectives toward religious experience.) ISBN: 0891350942

  • Hood, R. W. Jr., Spilka, B., Hunsberger, B., & Gorsuch, R. (1996). The psychology of religion: An empirical approach. New York: Guilford. (The best available view of psychological research on religion.) ISBN: 1572301163

  • Howard, E. B. (2000). Affirming the touch of God: A psychological and philosophical exploration of Christian discernment. University Press of America. ISBN: 0761816895

  • Jacobs, J. L., & Capps, D. (eds.) (1997). Religion, society, and psychoanalysis: Readings in contemporary theory. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. (A variety of psychoanalytic perspectives on religion are represented here. Chapters range from Freud & Fundamentalism to Jacques Lacan.) ISBN: 0813326486

  • James, W. (1902/1985). The varieties of religious experience. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. (This is the foundational examination of religion by a psychologist. Although you can read my version online, I highly recommend that you obtain a copy for your own library.) Softcover: ISBN: 0684842971; Hardcover: ISBN 0940450380

  • Jamison, K. R. (1996). Touched with fire : Manic depressive illness and the artistic temperament. Free Press. (Promotes the view that manic depression is tied to spirituality and artistic creativity.) ISBN: 068483183X

  • Jeeves, M. A. (1997). "Human Nature at the Millennium: Reflections on the integration of psychology and Christianity," Baker. (Religion and psychology from a protestant perspective.) ISBN: 0801021049

  • Jeeves, M. A., & Berry, R. J. (1999). Science, life, and Christian belief: A survey of contemporary issues. Baker Book House. ISBN: 0801022266

  • Jones, J. W. (1996). Religion and psychology in transition: Psychoanalysis, feminism, and theology. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. ISBN: 0300067690

  • Jones, J. W. (1991). Contemporary psychoanalysis and religion: Transference and transcendence. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press (1993 reprinted edition). ISBN: 0300057849

  • Jonte-Pace, D., & Parsons, W. B. (Eds.) (2000). Religion and psychology: Mapping the terrain. New York: Routledge. (Essays by many of the leading scholars in the field from empirical psychology, psychoanalysis & theology.) ISBN: 0415206189

  • Jones, J. W. (1991). Contemporary psychoanalysis and religion: Transference and transcendence. New Yaven, CT: Yale University Press. ISBN: 0300049161

  • Jung, C. G. (1933). Modern man in search of a soul. New York: Harcourt Brace (1955 reprint). ISBN: 0156612062

  • Jung, C. G. (1958). Psychology of religion: West and east. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. (Second edition published 1970 by Routledge.) ISBN: 0691097720

  • Jung, C. G. (1962). Psychology and religion. Yale University Press. (1992 reprint) ISBN: 0300001371

  • Jung, C. G. (1962). Memories, dreams and reflections. New York: Pantheon. ISBN: 0679723951

  • Jung, C. G. (1992). Psychology and religion (Terry Lectures, 1937) (Reprinted). Yale Univ. Press ISBN: 0300001371

  • Jung, C. G. (1984). Psychology and western religion. Princeton Univ. Press (reprinted edition). ISBN: 0691018626

  • Kent, J. A. (1999). The psychological origins of the resurrection myth. Open Gate Press. (Presents the argument that the resurrection of Jesus was part of a general tendency of bereaved people to hallucinate an image of the person who has died.) ISBN: 1871871433

  • Kimble, M. A. (2001). Viktor Frankl's contribution to spirituality and aging. New York: Haworth. (An overview of logotherapy, conversations with Frankl, and other insights into his work.) ISBN: 0789011565

  • Kimura, R. (2002). Aum Shinrikyo: Japan's unholy sect. GreatUnpublished.com. (Glimpse into the efforts to stop religious terrorism in Japan.)ISBN: 1588987418

  • Koenig, H. G. (1999). The healing power of faith : Science explores medicine's last great frontier. Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 0684852969

  • Koenig, H. G. (ed.) (1998). Handbook of religion and mental health. Orlando, FL: Academic. (An excellent reference book, with chapters from leading experts in psychiatry and psychology.) ISBN: 0124176453

  • Koenig, H. G. (1997). Is religion good for your health?: The effects of religion on physical and mental health. Binghamton, NY: Haworth. ISBN: 0789002299

  • Koenig, H. G. (1994). Aging and god : Spiritual pathways to mental health in Midlife and Later Years. Haworth Press. ISBN: 1560244240

  • Koenig, H. G., & Cohen, H. J. (2001). The link between religion and health: Psychoneuroimmunology and the faith factor. New York: Oxford. (Argues that religious involvement & belief impacts the immune system, which results in health benefits.) ISBN: 0195143604

  • Koenig, H. G., & Weaver, A. J. (1998). Pastoral care of older adults : creative pastoral care and counseling (Creative Pastoral Care and Counseling Series). Fortress Press. ISBN: 0800629647

  • van der Lans, J. M., & van Belzen, J. A. (1986). Current issues in the psychology of religion. Proceedings of the third symposium on the psychology of religion in Europe. Editions Rodopi.

  • Lawson, E. T., & McCauley, R. N. (1993). Rethinking religion: Connecting cognition and culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (A theory of ritual and its role in life. Written by a comparative religion scholar and a philosopher of science.) ISBN: 0521438063

  • Leuba, J. H. (1925). The psychology of religious mysticism. New York: Harcourt, Brace. ASIN: 0710073178

  • Leuba, J. H. (1978). The psychological origin and the nature of religion. Folcroft, Pa. : Folcroft Library Editions. ASIN: 0527566004

  • Leuba, J. H. (1975). Psychological study of religion : Its origin function and future. AMS Press (Reprinted edition). ISBN: 0404039693

  • Levin, J. S. (Ed.). (1994). Religion in aging and health: Theoretical foundations and methodological frontiers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (Examines the impact of religion on older adults.) ISBN: 0803954395

  • Levine, M. (2000). The positive psychology of Buddhism and yoga: Paths to a mature happiness. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. (Relates Buddhism and yoga to developments in Western psychology, with a focus on applications to daily living.) ISBN: 0805833498

  • Lewis, J., & Melton, J. G. (Eds.). (1994). Sex, slander, and salvation: Investigating the Family/Children of God. Stanford, CA: Center for Academic Publication. (Research and essays regarding The Family, the new religious movement that is the subject of investigation in the report on child abuse in The Family.)

  • Loewenthal, K. M. (1995). Religion and mental health. London: Chapman & Hall.

  • Loewenthal, K. M. (2000). The psychology of religion: A short introduction. Oxford, England: Oneworld. (A concise introduction to the field.) ISBN: 1851682120

  • Malony, H. N. (Ed.). (1991). Psychology of religion: Personalities, problems, possibilities. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. (Recent research and thought by current leaders in the discipline.)

  • Malony, H. N., & Spilka, B. (1991). Religion in psychodynamic perspective : The contributions of Paul W. Pruyser. Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN: 0195062345

  • Maslow, A. H. (1956/1993). The farther reaches of human nature. Arkana Press. ISBN: 0140194703

  • Maslow, A. H. (1976/1994). Religions, values and peak experiences. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN: 0140194878

  • McCullough, M. E., Pargament, K. I., & Thoresen, C. (Eds.) (1999). Forgiveness. Guilford Press. [An overview of psychological research on factors relevant to forgiveness.]ISBN: 157230510X

  • Meissner, W. W. (1984). Psychoanalysis and religious experience. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press (reprinted 1986). ISBN: 0300037511

  • Meissner, W. W. (1994). Ignatius of Loyola : The psychology of a saint. Yale Univ. Press. ISBN: 0300060793

  • Meissner, W. W. (1995). Thy kingdom come: Psychoanalytic perspectives on the messiah and the millennium. Theological Book Service. ISBN: 1556127502

  • Miller, W. R. (ed.) (1999). Integrating spirituality into treatment: Resources for practitioners. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Suggestions for therapists who wish to address spirituality with their clients.) ISBN: 1557985812

  • Moberg, D. O. (Ed.). (2001). Aging and spirituality: Spiritual dimensions of aging theory, research, practice and policy. New York: Haworth. (Surveys the role of spirituality among the aging.) ISBN: 0789009390

  • Molendijk, A. L., & Pels, P. (Eds.). (1998). Religion in the making: The emergence of the sciences of religion. Leiden: Brill. (Includes an excellent chapter by David Wulff, describing the development of psychological studies of religion.) ISBN: 9004112391

  • Moosbrugger, H., Zwingmann, C., & Frank, D. (Eds.) (1996). Religiosität, Persönlichkeit und Verhalten. Beiträge zur Religionspsychologie (Religiosity, personality, and behavior. Contributions to psychology of religion). Münster: Waxmann Verlag. (An introduction to the empirical psychology of religion literature, written in German.)

  • Müller, A. (1992). You shall be a blessing: Main traits of a religious humanism. San Francisco: Alfred Adler Institute of San Francisco. (An examination of the Adlerian perspective.)

  • Myers, D., & Jeeves, M. (Eds.). (1987). Psychology through the eyes of faith. New York: Harper Collins. (Essays by two psychologists who also are Christian. Well worth reading.) ISBN: 0060655577

  • Newman, W. M., & Halvorson, P. L. (1999). Atlas of American religion: The denominatioall era, 1776-1990. Thousand Oaks, CA: Alta Mira Press. ISBN: 0761990577

  • Nielsen, S. L., Johnson, W. B., & Ellis, A. (2001). Counseling and psychotherapy with religious persons: A rational emotive behavior therapy approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. ISBN: 0805828788

  • Oates, W. E. (1991). Behind the masks: Personality disorders in religious behavior. Westminster: John Knox Press. ISBN: 0664240283

  • Oser, Fritz K. and Reich, K. Helmut (Eds.), Eingebettet ins Menschsein: Beispiel Religion. Aktuelle psychologische Studien zur Entwicklung von Religiosität [Imbedded in humaneness: example religion. Topical psychological studies on the development of religiousness]. Lengerich (Germany): Pabst Scientific Publishers. (An examination of religious development written in German and edited by two of the world's experts in the field.)

  • Oser, F. K., & Gmunder, P. (1991). Religious judgement : A developmental perspective. Religious Education Press. ISBN: 0891350810

  • Oser, F. K., & Scarlett, W. G. (Eds.). (1991). Religious development in childhood and adolescence. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. (Recent research and theory regarding young people's religious thought.) ISBN: 155542788X

  • Palmer, M. (1997). Freud and Jung on religion. New York: Routledge. (Examines the ongoing Freud-Jung debate.) ISBN: 0415147476

  • Paloutzian, R. F. (1996). Invitation to psychology of religion. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. (A fine introduction to the field. Greatly enjoyed by my students.) ISBN: 0205148409

  • Paolini, K., & Paolini, T. (1999). 400 years of imaginary friends: A journey into the world of adepts, masters, ascended masters, and their messengers. Livingston, MT: Paolini International. (An examination of the Church Universal and Triumphant from the perspective of former members.) ISBN: 0966621301

  • Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. New York: Guilford. (Pargament's fine integration of psychology, religion, theory & research is essential reading for people interested in how people use religion in coping with life's stresses.) ISBN: 1572302143

  • Pargament, K. I., Maton, K. I., & Hess, R. E. (1992). Religion and prevention in mental health : Research, vision, and action. Haworth Press. ISBN: 1560242264

  • Paranjpe, A. C., Ho, D. Y. F., & Rieber, R. W. (eds.) (1988). Asian contributions to psychology. New York: Praeger. (Several chapters describe psychological aspects of Eastern religious perspectives, particularly Buddhist and Hindu. Highly recommended for these chapters.) ISBN: 0275925242

  • Paranjpe, A. C. (1998). Self and identity in modern psychology and Indian Thought (Path in Psychology). Plenum. ISBN: 0306458446

  • Parkes, C. M., Laungani, P., & Young, B. (1997). Death and bereavement across cultures. London: Routledge. (Compares the rituals commonly associated with death in a wide variety of cultures and religions.) ISBN: 0415131375

  • Peterson, J. B. (1999). Maps of meaning: The architecture of belief. London: Routledge. (Attempts to integrate neuropsychology, cognitive science, Freud and Jung into a theory of religious belief and myth.) ISBN: 0415922224

  • Pitts, V. P. (1977). Concept development and the development of the God concept in the child: A bibliography. Character Research Press. ISBN: 0915744074

  • Plante, T. G., & Sherman, A. C. (2001). Faith and health: Psychological perspectives. New York: Guilford. (Integrates research on religious faith and physical and emotional well-being.) ISBN: 1572306823

  • Pratt, J. B. (1908). The religious consciousness: A psychological study. New York: Macmillan.

  • Pruyser, P. W. (1968). A dynamic psychology of religion. New York: Harper and Row. ASIN: 006066701X

  • Rabin, A. I. (1998). Psychological issues in biblical lore: Explorations in the old testament. New York: Springer. Illustrates personality and other psychological concepts with examples from the Old Testament.) ISBN: 0826112129

  • Rambo, L. R. (1993). Understanding religious conversion. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. (An interesting examination of conversion.) ISBN: 0300065159

  • Randi, James (1991). The faith healers. Prometheus. (Describes how some ministers engaged in scams to defraud their followers.) ISBN: 0879755350

  • Randi, J. (1997). An encyclopedia of claims, frauds, and hoaxes of the occult and supernatural : James Randi's decidedly skeptical definitions of alternate realities. St. Martin's Press. ISBN: 0312151195

  • Rank, O. (1930/1998). Psychology and the soul. Johns Hopkins U. (A new translation of Rank's examination!) ISBN: 0801857392

  • Rector, L. J., & Sanataniello, W. (1998). Psychological perspectives and the religious quest. Essays in honor of Orlo Strunk Jr. University Press of America. ISBN: 0761812938

  • Reich. K. Helmut, Psychology of religion: What one needs to know (The Teacher's File). Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, 33 (1), March 1998, 113-120. (Not a book, but an excellent resource for people interested in teaching psychology of religion.)

  • Reich, K. H., Oser, F. W., & Scarlett, G. (Eds). 1999. Psychological Studies on Spiritual and Religious Development: Being Human: The Case of Religion, Vol. 2. Past Scientific Publishers: Lengerich (Germany). (A set of perspectives on religious development from several of the field's experts. Available for $15 (check, money order) from Past Scientific Publishers, Eichengrund 28, D-48525 Lengerich, Germany.)

  • Reuben, J. R. (1996). Psychotherapy and Buddhism: Toward an integration. New York: Plenum. (An attempt to merge psychoanalysis with Buddhist thought.) ISBN: 0306454416

  • Richards, P. S., & Bergin, A. E. (eds.) (1999). Handbook of psychotherapy and religious diversity. American Psychological Association. (Focuses on the role of religion in psychotherapy, with chapters describing how individuals from various religious traditions tend to respond to issues such as abortion and euthanasia, and the role of guilt and shame in that tradition.) ISBN: 155798624X

  • Rizzuto, A. (1998). Why did Freud reject God? A psychodynamic interpretation. Yale University Press. (An examination of Freud's childhood and family life, which concludes that it was impossible for him to believe in a benevolent God.) ISBN: 0300075251

  • Roof, W. C. (1999). Spiritual marketplace: Baby boomers and the remaking of American religion. Princeton University Press. ISBN: 0691016593

  • Schumaker, J. (Ed.). (1992). Religion and mental health. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0195069854

  • Shafranske, E. (ed.) (1996). Religion and the clinical practice of psychology. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. (A highly praised book aimed at clinicians and graduate students--essential reading for clinical and counseling psychologists.) ISBN: 1557983216

  • Shea, G. (2001). The immortal I (2nd ed.). Shelton Group: Oakbrook, IL. (An interesting work integrating diverse areas of psychology, Christianity, and philosophy.) http://www.theimmortali.com

  • Shermer, M. (1997). Why people believe weird things: Psydoscience, superstition, and other confusions of our time. New York: Freeman. (Michael Shermer, popular historian and publisher if Skeptic magazine, addresses doubt, belief, creationism, and the nature of science.) ISBN: 0716733870

  • Shorter, B. (1996). Susceptible to the sacred: The psychological experience of ritual. London: Routledge. (Applies Jungian psychology to explain sacred rituals and every-day life.) ISBN: 0415126207

  • de Silva, P. (2000). An introduction to Buddhist psychology. (Part of an increasing interest in the ways that Buddhism and psychology may enlighten one another.) ISBN: 0742508579

  • Snyder, C. R., & Lopez, S. J. (Eds.) (2001). Handbook of positive psychology. New York: Oxford. (A thorough overview of psychology's contribution to understanding humanity's better qualities, rather than its deficiencies.) ISBN: 0195135334

  • Sobel, Z., & Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1991). Tradition, Innovation, Conflict : Jewishness and Judaism in Contemporary Israel. State Univ. of New York Press. ISBN: 0791405559

  • Spilka, B., & McIntosh, D. N. (Eds.) (1996). The psychology of religion: Theoretical approaches. Bounder, CO: Westview. (Features chapters on many of the theoretical perspectives influencing current psychological thought about religion. Especially recommended for people interested in psychological research on religion.) ISBN: 0813329477

  • Stern, E. M. (Ed.) (1985). Psychotherapy and the religiously committed patient. New York: Haworth. (A collection of articles devoted to various aspects of therapy with religious people, generally from the perspective that the therapist can use religious beliefs in order to increase mental health.) ISBN: 0866563962

  • Stewart, D., & Mickunes, A. (1990). Exploring phenomenology: A guide to the field and its literature. Athens, OH: Ohio U. Press. (An overview of the phenomenological perspective, which has some strong advocates in psychological studies of religion.) ISBN: 0821409611

  • Strommen, M. P., Brekke, M. L., Underwager, R. C., & Johnson, A. L. (1972). A study of generations. Minneapolis: Augsburg. (A study of religion in the lives of 5000 Lutherans.) ASIN: 080661207X

  • Sullivan, J. P. (1998). On holy ground: The impact of psychotherapists' spirituality on their practice. University Press of America. (Examines how five respected therapists utilize spirituality in their clinical practices.) ISBN: 076181177X

  • Swatos, W. L., & Kvisto, P. (eds.) (1998). Encyclopedia of religion and society. Altamira Press. (A superb resource on a wide range of social science and religion topics. Like any good, specialized encyclopedia, it is not inexpensive, but this is a superior reference work and well-worth the cost.) ISBN: 0761989560

  • Tart, C. W. (Ed.). (1975). Transpersonal psychologies. New York: Harper & Row. ASIN: 0062508563

  • Thomas, L. E., & Eisenhandler, S. A. (Eds.) (1998). Religion, belief, and spirituality in late life. New York: Springer. (A variety of methods are used to examine the role of religion in older adults.) ISBN: 0826112358

  • Vande Kemp, H. (1984). Psychology and theology in western thought 1672-1965: A historical and annotated bibliography. New York: Kraus International Publications. (Annotates 1000 books dealing with psychology and religion. No longer in print.)

  • Wall, George B. (1995). Religious experience & religious belief. University Press of America . ISBN: 0819198331

  • Walsh, F. (1999). Spiritual resources in family therapy. Guilford. ISBN: 1572305088

  • Watts, F.N. & Williams, M. (1988). The psychology of religious knowing. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. (Now out of print, but well worth reading if you can locate a copy.)

  • Werkhoven, H. N. (1998). The international guide to new age music. New York: Watson-Guptill. ISBN: 082307661X

  • Wilber, K. (1979). No boundary: Eastern and Western approaches to personal growth. Boston: New Science Library. (An introduction to Wilber's blend of transpersonal psychology and Eastern religion.) ISBN: 0394748816

  • Wilber, K. (1993). The spectrum of consciousness. (2nd ed.) Wheaton, IL: Quest. (A more advanced examination of transpersonal psychology.) ISBN: 0835606953

  • Wilber, K. (1999). The marriage of sense and soul : Integrating science and religion. Broadway Books. ISBN: 0767903439

  • Witwicki, W. (1938). Le foix des eclaires. Paris: Alcan. (One of the earliest works from a Polish scholar in psychology and religion, this wasn't published in Poland until 1958.)

  • Wong, P. T. P., & Fry, P. S. (eds.) (1998). The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications. Wahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. (Research on the impact of existential questions on people's mental health.) ISBN: 0805825037

  • Worthington, E. L., Jr. (1999). Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research & theological perspectives. Templeton Foundation Press. (This book is part of the Templeton Foundation's attempt to place religion and science in a constructive dialogue.) ISBN: 189015122X

  • Wulff, D. M. (1997). Psychology of religion: Classic and contemporary (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley. (A veritable encyclopedia of the psychology of religion; especially strong with representing the field's breadth. Originally written in English, the book is now available in Swedish and will soon be translated into Polish.) ISBN: 0471037060

      This excellent book is available in translations:

    • Polish: Wulff, D. M. (Psychologia religii. Translated by Pawel Socha, Przemyslaw Jablonski, and Malgorzata Sacha-Pieklo. Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Szkolne I pedagogiczne, 1999.
    • Swedish: Religionspsykologi (2 volumes). Translated by Barbro Bergling and Lars Nilsson. Lund: Studentlitteratur, 1993.

  • Zelitchek, A. (1996). Psychology of spirituality (Psikhologiya duhovnosti - Russian). Moscow: Moscow Transpersonal Institute. (An examination of spirituality from a Russian perspective. Dr. Zelitchek is now translating it into English.)

  • Zock, H. (1990). A psychology of ultimate concern: Erik H. Erikson's contribution to the psychology of religion. Amsterdam/Atlanta: Editions Rodopi. International Series in the Psychology of Religion, vol. 1. ISBN: 9051831803

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Religion Books

Here are a few of my favorite books about religion.

  • Albom, M. (1997). Tuesdays with Morrie: An old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson. New York: Doubleday. (The most inspiring book I've read in years.) ISBN: 0385484518

  • Dalai Lama. (1995). The power of compassion. San Francisco: Harper Collins. (Good thoughts from a remarkable person. This book is out of print, but a good search of used book stores on the internet may reveal a copy. It is well worth the effort to find.)

  • McMurrin, S. (1965). The theological foundations of the mormon religion. Salt Lake City: Univ. of Utah Press. (One of the best books ever written about Mormonism. Describes how this ostensibly conservative religion is actually liberal in some important ways.)

  • Pelikan, J. (Editor) (1990). The world treasury of modern religious thought. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. (Contains classic essays and excerpts from great thinkers in religion, running the gamut from atheist to devout. Includes thoughts of James, Freud, and Jung.)

  • Rinpoche, S. (P. Gaffney & A. Harvey, Eds.) (1993). The Tibetan book of living and dying. San Francisco: Harper Collins. (An interesting view of Tibetan Buddhism.)

  • Ritchie, G. G., and Sherrill, E. (1978). Return from tomorrow. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell. (A classic in the "near death experience" literature.)

  • Rohr, J. (Editor) (1988). Science & religion: Opposing viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhave Press. (Essays about science and religion, from such people as Galileo Galilei, Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein, Stephen Jay Gould, and Isaac Asimov.)
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Journals

Psychology or Social Science Journals

These journals are where you will find current research dealing with the psychology of religion. Browse through these at your local college or university library. Like any scientific research, these can contain some intimidating statistical techniques, or may otherwise be daunting. But whether you are searching for information for a term paper, or are looking for interesting reading, the journal articles are worth the effort. To the best of my knowledge, the information here is current. Information of this type, however, quickly becomes outdated. If you learn that information contained here is not current, please contact me so that I can update these listings.

You also may wish to examine the tables of contents of journals, where I have provided the titles and names of authors of research published in several prominent journals in the field.

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

Publisher: Blackwell Publishers, Inc.
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148, USA
OR
108 Cowley Road
Oxford, OX4 JF

Editor: Ted G. Jelen, Editor
Department of Political Science
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Box 455029
4505 Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89154-5029
USA

International Journal for the Psychology of Religion

Publisher: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262
USA

Editor: Raymond F. Paloutzian
Department of Psychology
Westmont College
955 La Paz Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108-1099
USA
A list of their articles is found here.

Review of Religious Research

Publisher: Religious Research Association
108 Marist Hall
Catholic University of America
Washington, DC 20064

Editor: D. Paul Johnson
Department of Sociology
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409

Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion

Publisher: JAI Press
55 Old Post Road, No. 2
Greenwich, CT 06836

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

Publisher: Carfax Publishing Limited
P.O. Box 25
Abbingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3UE
United Kingdom

or: Carfax Publishing Limited
875-81 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA

Psicologia della Religione - News

Publisher: Societa Italiana di Psicologia della Religione
Associazione Culturale senza Fini di Lucro
Via G. Verdi 30, 21100 VARESE
Italy
If you speak Italian, this newsletter will keep you informed of the field's developments. Professor Mario Aletti is President of this organization, and can be reached at Dipartimento di Psicologia, Universita Catholica, Largo Gemelli, 20123 Milano, Italy. Their newsletter is now available on the internet.
Psychology of Religion Newsletter of American Psychological Association Division 36
Publisher: American Psychological Association Division 36
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Editor: Mark J. Krejci
Department of Psychology
Concordia College
901 8th St. S.
Moorhead, MN 56562 USA

Journal of Psychology and Theology

Publisher: Rosemead School of Psychology
Biola University
13800 Biola Avenue
La Mirada, CA 90639-0001

Editor: Patricia L. Pike
13800 Biola Avenue
La Mirada, CA 90639

Journal of Psychology and Judaism

Publisher: Human Sciences Press
233 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013-1578

Editor: Reuven P. Bulka
1747 Featherston Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1H 6P4

Contemporary Jewry

Editor:
J. Alan Winter
Contemporary Jewry
Box 5302
Connecticut College
New London, CT 06320

Journal of Religious Gerontology

Publisher: Haworth Press
10 Alice Street
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
Journal of Religion & Abuse

Publisher: Haworth Press
10 Alice Street
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580

Journal of Consciousness Studies

(May be of interest to people who focus on spirituality and mind-body questions.)
Publisher: Imprint Academic
PO Box No. 1
Thorverton, Exeter Ex5 5YX
United Kingdom

Editor: Jonathan Shear
Dept. of Philosophy
Virginia Commnowealth University
Richmond, VA 23284-2025, USA
email: jshear_delete_this_@cabell.vcu.edu

Religion and American Culture

Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions

Journal of Religion and Health

Publisher: Human Sciences Press, Inc.
Attn: Dept. HRH
233 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013-1578
Phone: 1-800-221-9369

Editors: Ann Ulanov and Barry Ulanov
606 West 122nd Street
New York, NY 10027

Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science

Publisher: Joint Publication Board of Zugon
The Chicago Center for Religion and Science
1100 East Fifty-fifth Street
Chicago, IL 60615-5199
OR:
Blackwell Publishers
238 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
and 108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JF, UK
Journal of Psychology and Christianity
Publisher: The Christian Association for Psychological Studies
P.O. Box 310400
New Braunfels, TX 78131-0400
U.S.A.
email: capsintl_delete_this_@compuvision.net
phone: (210) 629-2277
fax: (210) 629-2342

American Journal of Pastoral Counseling
Publisher: The Haworth Pastoral Press
10 Alice Street
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
USA

Editor: Richard Dayringer, ThD, Editor
SIU School of Medicine
P.O. Box 19230
Springfield, IL 62794-1113

Social Thought: Journal of Religion in the Social Services

Publisher: The Haworth Pastoral Press
10 Alice Street
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
USA

Editor: Joseph J. Sheilds
The Catholic University of America
National Catholic School of Social Service
Washingotn, DC 20064

Journal of Ministry in Addiction and Recovery

Publisher: The Haworth Pastoral Press
10 Alice Street
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
USA
Marriage & Family: A Christian Journal
Publisher: American Association of Christian Counselors
1821 Walden Office Square, Suite 111
Schaumburg, IL 60173
USA
This journal and the AACC take an evangelical perspective.
The Quarterly Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
The organ of the Iranian Islamic Society for Mental Health
Publisher: Office of the Journal of the Fundamentals of Mental Health
Editor: Dr. S. A. Hosseini
P.O. Box 91735-6135
Mashad, Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel: 98-51-813075
Fax: 98-51-2228969
Published in Persian, with English abstracts

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Religion Journals

In most cases, these journals either come more from a religious studies perspective, or they are journals that have been recommended to me but which I have not personally examined. In some additional cases, I do not have complete publisher information available. The link information from 2000 is mostly obsolete and has been removed, but most of these journals still exist and can be found with an internet search.

The Scottish Journal of Religious Studies

Publisher: Department of Religious Studies
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
United Kingdom

Syzygy: Journal of Alternative Religion and Culture

Publisher: Center for Academic Publication
Stanford University
Branch Box 5097
Stanford, CA 94309-5097

Journal of Contemporary Religion

Publisher: Carfax, Abingdon, Oxon.

Journal of Empirical Theology

Publisher: KOK Publishers, Kampen, Netherlands

Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religions

Publisher: King's College, London: Centre for New Religious Movements

Method and Theory in the Study of Religion

Publisher: Centre for Religious Studies, University of Toronto
Centre for the Study of Religion
University of Toronto
123 St. George St.
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2E8
Canada

Japanese Journal of Religious Studies

Publisher: International Institute for the Study of Religions


Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion

Editor: Dr. Clare A. Palmer
School of Environmental Sciences
Creek Road
Deptford, London SE8 3BW
England

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Organizations

Psychology and Religion

There are several professional organizations that are concerned with religion and psychology. Here is a sampling:

  • American Psychological Association
    Division 36 -- Psychology of Religion
    750 First Street NE
    Washington, DC 20002-4242
    U.S.A

  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
    Division of Social Sciences
    Alfred University
    1 Saxon Drive
    Alfred, NY 14802, U.S.A.

  • Religious Research Association
    108 Marist Hall
    Catholic University of America
    Washington, DC 20064
    U.S.A.

  • The Center for Aging, Religion and Spirituality
    Luther Seminary
    2481 Como Avenue
    St. Paul, MN 55108
    U.S.A.
    phone: (612) 641-3581; or fax (612) 641-3425

  • Societa Italiana di Psicologia della Religione
    Associazione Culturale senza Fini di Lucro
    Via G. Verdi, 30,
    21100 VARESE, Italy

  • Centre for Psychology of Religion, at Catholic University of Louvain
    Dr Vassilis Saroglou
    Université catholique de Louvain
    Faculté de psychologie et des sciences de l'éducation,
    Place du Cardinal Mercier, 10
    B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique

  • Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging
    American Society on Aging
    833 Market Street, Suite 511
    San Francisco, CA 94103-1824
    U.S.A.
    phone: (415) 974-9600; or fax (415) 974-0300

  • Association for Transpersonal Psychology
    P.O. BOX 3049
    Stanford, California 94309
    phone: 650/327-2066
    Well-suited for psychologists who seek a very broad-minded view of psychology and of religion.

  • Society for the Psychological Study of Jewish Issues
    This organization exists primarily on the internet. They encourage research on Jewish life, and sponsor activities at the APA convention.

  • Association for Spritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling
    ASERVIC
    A Division of the American Counseling Association
    5999 Stevenson Avenue
    Alexandria,VA 22304-3300
    1-800-347-6647

  • International Association of Pastoral Counselors
    P.O. Box 140182
    Dallas, Texas 75214

  • American Association for Pastoral Counselors
    9504-A Lee Highway
    Fairfax, Virginia 22031-2303
    (703) 385-6967

  • Christian Association for Psychological Studies
    P.O. Box 310400
    New Braunfels, TX 78131-0400
    U.S.A.

  • Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
    1549 Clairmont Road, Suite 103
    Decatur, GA 30033
    U.S.A.

  • American Association of Christian Counselors
    AACC Member Services
    P.O. Box 739
    Forest, VA 24551
    USA
    An association focusing on counseling from an evangelical Christian viewpoint.


  • Christian Research Association
    Locked Bag 23
    Kew, Victoria, 3101
    Australia
    Dedicated to providing reliable data about Australians' religious beliefs and practices.


Scholarly Organizations that Study Religious Movements

These organizations tend to focus on religion from either a sociological or theological perspective, or they are a good source of information on new religious movements (commonly but incorrectly known as 'cults').

  • American Academy of Religion
     1703 Clifton Road, N.E.
    Suite G5
    Atlanta, GA 30329-4075
    U.S.A.

  • Association for the Sociology of Religion
    Room 108 Marist Hall
    Catholic University of America
    Washington, D.C. 20064
    U.S.A.

  • Association of World Academics for Religious Education
    160 N. Fairview Ave., Suite D 282
    Golita, CA 93117
    U.S.A.

  • Information Network Focus on Religious Movements
    London School of Economics
    Houghton St.
    London WC28 2AE
    England

  • Center for Studies on New Religions
    Via Juvarra
    20-10122
    Torino
    Italy

  • Communal Studies Association
    University of Southern Indiana
    8600 University Boulevard
    Evansville, IN 47712
    U.S.A.

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