Psychology of Religion: Classic and Contemporary

by David M. Wulff

Book Overview

An unbiased, comprehensive introduction to the psychology of religion. This book integrates clinical, theoretical, and empirical literature, as well as biographical information of the lives of significant psychologists and their works. It contains new research on meditation, the correlational study of religion, religion and mental health, object relations theory, pluralism and social constructionism.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471037060
• ISBN13: 9780471037064
• Release Date: December 1996
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 784 Pages
• Weight: 3.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.0" x 7.2" x 10.2"

Customer Reviews

Good Textbook

This textbook was in good condition with only a little highlighting. It was a pretty interesting book in a very specific field.

a nearly ideal introduction to the field

"Disguised as a textbook, this magnificent handbook encompasses the field in twelve chapters of forty to sixty pages. Exposition and insight flourish at every turn. Chapter 1 outlines history of the field; chapter 2 examines biological approaches to bodily states (G. Stanley Hall); chapter 3 presents behavioral theory and comparative studies of ritual behavior (in dogs and apes). Chapter 4 outlines laboratory experimentation, while chapter 5 probes statistical studies. Chapter 6 on Freud leads to chapter 7 on object-relations theory and narcissism (Suttie, Pruyser, Kohut) and thence to chapter 8 on Erikson. All are gems of synthesis and discernment. Chapter 9 on Jung and chapter 10 on James offer masterpieces of exposition and critique. Chapter 11 on the German descriptive tradition explores authors neglected in North America (Otto, Spranger, Girgensohn). Chapter 12 on the American humanistic synthesis expounds Allport, Fromm and Maslow, as well as transpersonal psychology. Case studies from major religions (particularly Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu) dot the text. An epilogue assesses the field in light of both the humanities and the social sciences....Indexes of persons and concepts are superb. "David Wulff has written the closest thing to a German-style handbook that North Americans are likely to see. Exhaustiveness, clarity in both organization and explication, and common sense combine to produce a nearly ideal introduction to the field. History of the discipline shines.... [The] bravura pieces on Freud, Erikson, Jung and James are among the best anyone has written on the masters. The same can be said of the chapter on "Object Relations Theory and Religion." Nearly every chapter climaxes with several pages of "Evaluation," in which the author weighs pros and cons. The style is lucid and nuanced but never boring. Until this volume appeared, few would have thought such a handbook to lie within the capacity of a single author. For a single scholar to synthesize literature of the past 125 years while exuding poise, common sense and uncommon insight exceeds all expectations. This work set a standard for handbooks in the social sciences.... "This masterpiece accomplishes something that cries out to be done for sociology of religion and anthropology of religion. Dispensing exposition, critique and hints for further research, Wulff makes the field accessible and attractive. Mastery resounds." --comments on the first edition of this book, by William M. Johnston, Recent Reference Books in Religion: A Guide for Students, Scholars, Researchers, Buyers & Readers (rev. ed., 1998), pp. 275-276.

A thorough review of psychology of religion

This is a great resource for anyone looking for a thorough overview of the psychology of religion literature. Although it's a bit expensive (what textbook isn't these days?), it will pay dividends to both researchers beginning a review of the relevant research in this field and to the casual reader who's interested in the subject, but wants more than the typically trite, overly-simplistic pop-psychology they'll find in most large-chain book stores.

This is the best book on the subject

I have looked at all the textbooks on psychology of religion because I teach the subject at the University of Redlands. This is by far the best textbook on the topic. The depth and scope of Wulff's writing is phenomenal. He takes a historical and biographical approach that is very intriguing. My students love the book too.

Comprehensive yet Digestable

I picked up this book as an amateur both in psychology and in religion, but with a desire to learn more about both. It really hit the spot. It's comprehensive - covering eveything from classic Freudian analysis to the newest brain scan results - and at the same time totally digestable. It was nice to see Wulff extensively quoted in a recent Newsweek article about "neurotheology". I give it five stars for both form and content.