Invitation to the Psychology of Religion (2nd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: An Invitation to Reflective Study
Review: So you can evaluate whether this book is for you, I have excerpted, from Chapter 1, the approach and plan of the text:

"Chapter 1 has mapped out the basic ways of construing religion and the psychological ways of approaching it. Chapter 2 sketches how the psychology of religion began, the major phases and conflicts in the history of the field, and the important theoretical questions that have come out of that history. Chapter 3 states an appropriate philosophy of science for the psychology of religion. It also illustrates the predominant research methods used in the field.

In Chapters 4-6, the focus is on how people become religious, what their religion means to them psychologically, what personal motives and social experiences are involved, and which factors help to sustain the individual's religiousness.

Chapter 7 discusses the relationships between religion, purpose in life and values, and the theory and research on unusual and mystical states of consciousness. Chapters 8 and 9 examine the relation between different forms of religiousness and social and personal health.

Chapter 10 provides review statements for the various topics. It also suggests future directions that researchers might take and closes with a note on the importance of the psychology of religion to general psychology."

Throughout the book, Paloutzian cites results from a wide range of research studies that shed light on many of the topics mentioned above. "Invitation to the Psychology of Religion" is a work that is both quietly engaging and thought provoking. It should make a welcome addition to any personal psychology library.

Rating:
Summary: A smooth intro to the psychology of religion
Review: The psychology of religion, unlike such well entrenched divisions in psychology as developmental or social psychology, is in its infancy. So much so that it is only beginning to establish itself in the institutions of higher learning.

Thus, one of Dr. Paloutzian's objective in writing this book is to encourage students to see the value of doing psychological studies in religion. Surveying the various research undertaken in the past and present, the author gives a summary of the accomplishments of the discipline as well as the areas in which further studies are needed.

Responding to the clamor for an introductory material to the psychology of religion, Paloutzian has written this readable overview of the field. Being introductory in nature the author does not give lengthy discussions of the theories and empirical studies he cites. His goal is not to expound on these but to whet the appetite of reader and then lead him to the pertinent authors and works. On the other hand in the first few chapters Paloutzian elucidates on the various methodologies employed in the psychology of religion, as well as defining what the psychology of religion is and is not.

For those interested in the psychological aspects of religion, or even for those simply curious to know what this seldom heard of area of study is, Paloutzian's work offers a smooth and enlightening entry into this most fascinating field.

Rating:
Summary: Keep looking......Very boring!
Review: This book was utilized in a psychology of religion class I just took and it is boring beyond belief. Much of the research that was used in the examples were questionable. (Sample sizes were too small and control of extraneous variables in some seemed non-existant). This field of psychology is very young and needs books that can present credible research in a way that can stimulate interest. This book constantly says more research is needed in this or that area, but does little to show that the field has any credibility to it.