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Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality

James M. Nelson

Psychology, Religion,

and Spirituality

123

Author

James M. Nelson

Department of Psychology

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN 46383

USA

jim.nelson@valpo.edu

ISBN 978-0-387-87572-9

e-ISBN 978-0-387-87573-6

DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-87573-6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2008943027

permission of the publisher (Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York,

NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use

in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer

software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden.

The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even

if they are not identiﬁ ed as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether

or not they are subject to proprietary rights.

Printed on acid-free paper.

springer.com

Preface

Over a century ago, psychologists who were fascinated with religion began to study

and write about it. Theologians and religious practitioners have responded to this

literature, producing a fascinating dialogue that deals with our fundamental under-

standings about the human person and our place in the world. This book provides

an introduction to the important conversations that have developed out of these

interchanges.

The dialogue between psychology and religion is difficult to study for a number

of reasons. First, it requires knowledge of both psychology and religion. People

with a background in psychology often lack a solid understanding of the religious

traditions they wish to study, and theologians may not be up to date on the latest

developments in psychology. Second, it requires conceptual tools to organize the

material and understand the basic problems involved in any attempt to connect the

science of psychology with religion. These concepts can be found in many places,

for instance in the writings of philosophers of science, but they are complex and

often hard to follow for those without a proper theological and philosophical back-

ground. Finally, authors who write on the topic come to the study of psychology

and religion from a variety of academic and personal backgrounds. This makes for

wonderful diversity in conversations, but it makes understanding and mastery of the

material quite difficult.

Given these problems, why should we try to understand this dialogue? Along

with many other scholars, I believe that psychology and religion both have things

to say to each other that are mutually beneficial. Psychology offers religion the

resources of science to improve the accuracy of its self-understanding and the

methods it uses to pursue desired goals. Religion offers psychology a vast store

of accumulated wisdom on the nature of the human person and how a good life

might be achieved. As each field hears what the other has to say, there is a response

or critique, and these are of vital importance as well. For instance, theological

responses to psychological theory and research provide valuable corrections that

can help the field avoid mistakes and misunderstandings. Accordingly, this book is

written from a dialogical perspective , looking at some of the important conversa-

tions and critiques that have been exchanged between psychologists, theologians

and religious practitioners. The word “and” in the title of this book reflects this

dialogical aim.

Nelson - Psychology, Religion, Spirituality (Springer, 2009).pdf

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