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An examination of the thinking, personality, and development processes as well as clinical concerns of clients who are members of particular religious groups. Provides an in-depth look at the way religious upbringing influences people in ways that are difficult or impossible to describe. In addition, it examines possible future religious development as spiritualism begins to replace institutional religion and as religious choice replaces religious constraint. ... Read more

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The social scientific literature on the self has been marred by a general indifference to the levels of the self that escape observation. The literature, on the one hand, makes claims about the extent of individualism in American society or claims to see a narcissistic social character widespread in the American public. On the other hand, very little is known about the self at levels that escape observation, but these are the levels at which the self is both most vulnerable and, we argue, most vital. In this volume, the notion of the "soul" is put forward as a hypothesis with which to challenge social sciences to explore the self at depths well beyond that of social relationships. ... Read more

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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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What are the implications of a client’s image of God?

Improve your confidence—and your practice skills—by enhancing your knowledge of how individuals are likely to perceive God, and of how those perceptions impact the way they function as human beings. Theologians have long speculated and theorized about how humans imagine God to be. This book merges theology with science, presenting empirical research focused on perceptions of God in a variety of populations living in community and mental health settings. Each chapter concludes with references that comprise an essential reading list, and the book is generously enhanced with tables that make data easy to access and understand.

"Liberating Images of God" discusses the constriction and impoverishment of God images due to the traditional restrictions of God images to those that are male and personified. This chapter examines the potential for the client and counselor’s co-creation of images of God which embrace the feminine as well as the masculine, the nurturer as well as the warrior, and the natural world in all its dimensions as well as the human world, to liberate, enrich, sustain, and transform the client’s relationships with God and with him/herself.

"Attachment, Well-Being, and Religious Participation Among People with Severe Mental Disorders" examines the relationship between attachment states of mind and religious participation among people diagnosed with severe mental illness.

"Concepts of God and Therapeutic Alliance Among People with Severe Mental Disorders" explores the transferential aspects of God representation among severely mentally ill adults. It highlights research on the relationship between a patient’s image of God and that patient’s working relationship with his/her case manager, and discusses the implications for clinical practice of those findings.

"The Subjective Experience of God" presents a theory about the psychological basis for the experience of God that argues that this experience is essentially a form of projection and as such is an internal event that does not exist independent of an individual’s psyche. This chapter draws a distinction between faith in a particular belief—namely, faith in the existence of a loving, omnipotent God—and an attitude of faith, which is the basis for experiences of transcendence.

"Relationship of Gender Role Identity and Attitudes" presents the results of a study in which nearly 300 Catholic attendees at three university Catholic centers completed the Bern Sex Role Inventory, the Attitudes Toward Women Scale, and the Perceptions of God Checklist. This chapter looks at images of God as masculine or feminine, and at the connection for people between the way they perceive God and the way they relate towards men and women.

"Reflections on a Study in a Mental Hospital," brings you groundbreaking new research on perceptions of God in an inpatient population. This chapter examines the positive effects (as opposed to the negative effects previously portrayed by the psychological community) of religious belief and practice for residential care patients in a psychiatric hospital. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Compilation of Research, Theory, and Practice
Clinicians who work with religious clientele often hear narratives about the part that God plays in clients' lives. This emotional role that God plays is known as the God image. Sometimes God is more central, other times at the periphery, but usually important. Clinicians often want to address this area in treatment, but they have few resources available to help them make sense of clients' God images.

Richard Dayringer and David Oler have compiled a compendium of works to help shed light on God image work. The majority of the book is comprised of interesting empirical studies. Two chapters explore the largely unchartered territory of the God image and severe mental illness. Another study addresses gender role identity and the God image. A fourth empirical contribution discusses the formation of adolescents' God images. The other chapters are smart, philosophical, reviews of the God image construct that have implications for pastoral counseling and other forms of clinical work.

A central theme that runs loosely through The Image of God and the Psychology of Religion is an openness to understanding the different ways of experiencing God. Authors are careful to not limit the experience of God to any one tradition. Similarly, they advocate closely following the client's own understanding of God as a resource in pastoral counseling. This flexibility takes place in the context of larger theoretical frameworks. Several chapters provide ways of making sense of and conceptualizing the God image. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches are clearly described with a particular emphasis on projection theory and object relations. Similarly, attachment theory is discussed and empirically evaluated. Finally, behavioral or socialization theories along with cognitive consistency paradigms are also covered.

One limitation of The Image of God and the Psychology of Religion is that some of the chapters are loosely connected to one another. This is often a complaint of compilation works and maybe even more so of this work because it was co-published as a special series in the American Journal of Pastoral Counseling, Volume 7, November 2004. Regardless, however, the editors were clear that their intention was to provide a variety of voices and perspectives - some of which more closely relate to certain contributions than others.

Overall, however, Dayringer and Oler have provided a welcome addition to the God image literature. The contributors have covered fresh ground and added to other areas that were only lightly explored. Readers will find empirical support to help them better understand how certain populations understand and experience God. They will also find rich narratives that capture the complexities of God image work.

... Read more

Product Description
The twenty-first century has given rise to a growing interest in the intersection of science, religion, and spirituality. Few books address these issues from multiple perspectives and theories. To fill this void, F. LeRon Shults and Steven Sandage, coauthors of The Faces of Forgiveness (winner of the Narramore Award from the Christian Association for Psychological Studies) continue their interdisciplinary dialogue in their latest work, Transforming Spirituality. In this book Shults and Sandage address the subject of spiritual transformation through the lenses of psychology and theology. In addition to college and seminary students, Transforming Spirituality will appeal to readers interested in Christian spirituality. What is more, it provides helpful insights for counselors, psychologists, and others who work in the mental health field. ... Read more

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Around the world and throughout history, in cultures as diverse as ancient Mesopotamia and modern America, human beings have been compelled by belief in gods and developed complex religions around them. But why? What makes belief in supernatural beings so widespread? And why are the gods of so many different people so similar in nature? This provocative book explains the origins and persistence of religious ideas by looking through the lens of science at the common structures and functions of human thought.

The first general introduction to the "cognitive science of religion," Minds and Gods presents the major themes, theories, and thinkers involved in this revolutionary new approach to human religiosity. Arguing that we cannot understand what we think until we first understand how we think, the book sets out to study the evolutionary forces that modeled the modern human mind and continue to shape our ideas and actions today. Todd Tremlin details many of the adapted features of the brain -- illustrating their operation with examples of everyday human behavior -- and shows how mental endowments inherited from our ancestral past lead many people to naturally entertain religious ideas. In short, belief in gods and the social formation of religion have their genesis in biology, in powerful cognitive processes that all humans share.

In the course of illuminating the nature of religion, this book also sheds light on human nature: why we think we do the things we do and how the reasons for these things are so often hidden from view. This discussion ranges broadly across recent scientific findings in areas such as paleoanthropology, primate studies, evolutionary psychology, early brain development, and cultural transmission. While these subjects are complex, the story is told here in a conversational style that is engaging, jargon free, and accessible to all readers. With Minds and Gods , Tremlin offers a roadmap to a fascinating and growing field of study, one that is sure to generate interest and debate and provide readers with a better understanding of themselves and their beliefs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Needs a lot more work
There is a scene in one of the "Naked Gun" movies in which one of the characters asks another to tell him what happened, starting at the beginning. The other character then proceeds with the line "4.5 billion years ago Earth was a sphere of molten lava." I had used this line as a joke many times, although most people did not find it all that amusing. To my great shock and surprise, "Minds and Gods" starts off with the equivalent of this joke in full earnestness and for the first 40% of the book gives an excruciatingly prolonged background material on everything from human evolution to physiology and morphology of the brain. Most of this material is readily available in numerous other introductory texts, most of which would do it much better justice. At the very least this material should have been relegated to a couple of appendices. As it is, after the main theses of the book is briefly introduced at the very beginning of this book (religion is all about gods), we have to wade through a chapter after chapter of material that makes you wonder (sometimes aloud) where is it all going. Which brings me to another problem with this book: even the material on religion proper seems to rely too much on other secondary sources. There is very little in terms of original and unique contribution to the subject.

The one big thesis of this book is that religion is all about "gods" (loosely defined), and everything that deals with "gods" is religion. There are several major problems with that thesis. First of all, on one hand the author is forced to be flexible enough about what he means by "goods" when applying his template to such "atheistic" religious systems as Buddhism, while at the same time not giving any consideration to the all too frequent personification of non-human agents in physical sciences ("nature"), social sciences ("society") or humanities ("history"). No clear distinction between all of those anthropomorphizations is made, and we are left with a vague idea of the reasonableness of this categorization. In fact, the more deeply we get into the "Minds and Gods" the more we are convinced that the basic thesis of the book is nothing but a description of religion, rather than any kind of "explanation."

Another problematic feature of the book is the author's dismissal of theology and any deeper and systematized approach to religion. In the author's view, what really matters when it comes to the naturalistic study of religion are the low-level religious instincts, and not any definitive set of beliefs. This approach completely dismisses the fact that all of us can develop derived instinct from the more primitive ones through reflection and practice. What usually makes people want to study different religions is precisely this development of higher-level instincts. By dismissing them out of hand, the author removes one major motivational drive for wanting to study religion in the first place.

It is encouraging to see that there are researchers out there who are attempting to give a fuller account of religion as a natural phenomenon. However, all of the books that have been published thus far on the subject fall short of a more rigorous treatment of this fascinating subject. Most of the work in this field has more of a flavor of philosophy than a social science. We can only hope that we don't have to wait for a more rigorous treatment much longer.

My Review:
I'll just say that Todd really does a good job solidifying his arguments, and doesn't leave much out. He chooses his words very carefully and draws heavily on previous peoples work (Justin Barrett, Ilka Pyysiainen, Pascal Boyer are constantly being referenced). His careful wording, in turn, requires that much more attention when reading. Sometimes I would get through 5 pages and feel totally wiped out mentally. And this was my first experience with a book on this subject. But when I got done I felt like I had such a solid understanding of how religion works. It's about 200 pages. Great book.

My Summary:

Modularity: Tremlin describes that the brain is composed of several specialized locations. These specialized locations are called modules. The brain has a very large number of modules. One module might be in charge of mathematics, another area might be in charge of knowing who your mother is. There are lots and lots of modules in the brain, all of them combined give rise to consciousness.

Agency Detection Device (ADD): Tremlin describes our ability as humans to see agents. We know the lion is deadly when it's hungry. The shaking bush, could have a snake in it, makes us nervous. Our ability to see these "agents" is extremely widespread. Gods are always agents, actively influencing our lives.

Theory of Mind Mechanism (ToMM): Humans are extremely good at knowing what other people are thinking. When we see someones expression alone we usually have a handle on where their mind is at. This is known as our theory of mind mechanism. And gods are almost always aware of what we are thinking, and know our deepest secrets. They are usually involved in exploiting this subject; which is so vastly important to us as humans.

Explanation of the Variety of Religions: So the "folk" idea of religion, Usually involves a god that is a man, who takes care of your crops and brings good weather, and helps you win a football game/war. Gods are agents influencing the most important aspects of our lives. But there are gaps in logic that are ultimately faced, like why is god a man, who created him, etc. So theologians must find ways to explain these things, making god infinite say. But the "folks" rarely listen to theologians, they basically make the religion up to fit their everyday life. Which explains why most Christians have no idea what's in the bible.

When the theologians take the religion too far away from the "folks", the religion usually splits. And this explains the large number of different churches there are today. And now that folk life is changing faster then ever, new religions are spreading along with it. Religion and society go hand in hand.

Tremlin also argues that Gods must have an intuitive attribute in order to be influential on people. For instance he must be a man, and he is your friend. And he has a set of rules for you to follow. But there also must be something counter-intuitive to him to make him seem magical. For instance he knows what you're thinking. Or he can control the sun. Or he makes earthquakes when he's angry. When the right mix of "intuitive" and "counter-intuitive" ideas come together, the reward is the "folks" spreading the idea and the religion prospering.

Do you have God in Mind?
Tremlin gives us an outstanding book that looks to the mental machinery of homo sapiens in order to find where indeed God and his spiritual brethren live.In excellent fashion, the book introduces the reader to an up-to-date account of the evolutionary origins of the human mind and offers convincing speculation grounded in the evidence that there is of the selective pressures that produced such a wonder that sits atop our spinal column.

A key insight given to the reader is that agents (namely other people) were one of the most, if not certainly the most important aspects of our evolutionary environment.Detecting other agents (which also includes animals) and being attuned to clues that often signal them drove our mind to evolve the ADD or agency detection device.Every time that you hear an unfamiliar creak in the middle of the night and your mind seriously entertains the notion that it was a burglar's step and not temperature contraction among the boards, you know you have a working ADD.Every time a hunter sees a leaf move and raises a rifle, you know they have a working ADD.

Tremlin goes on to persuasively argue that the ADD is one of the most crucial aspects for building a mind capable of seriously entertaining and believing in the notion of supernatural beings.Why did you have that car accident immediately following entertaining thoughts of cheating on your spouse?There must have been an agent involved who knew your impure thoughts and became displeased with you!And this agent must have special powers to interrupt normal physical causality with psychological causality!

But detecting and entertaining the notions of agents that probably aren't really there doesn't give us God or Apollo or Thor.Indeed, that takes another special human thought process, our theory of mind or what Tremlin dubs the ToMM - Theory of Mind Mechanism.The ToMM evolved as a specialization of our hyper-social species because whether hypothesizing about what is going on in the mind of the salesman you are wrangling with or with an enemy who is saying peace but who has eyes that say War! - a working theory of mind is of particular survival value.Building upon the evidence for ADD, Tremlin argues successfully that all the various god concepts are a combination of detecting an agent and then theorizing about what is going on in their head.

Adding nuance to his argument, the author then expounds how just any old god concept doesn't entrance the mind.Drawing much from Pascal Boyer's work on counter-intuitiveness, Tremlin synthesizes a growing consensus in the field of cognitive science that minimally counter-intuitive (MCI) concepts are most memorable and relevant.A god that eats spaghetti with a water-hose, drinks dirt, and exists only on every third Thursday won't last long in the minds of humans.He would be too outlandish, or put in the more technical language, he wouldn't achieve a cognitive optimum.On the other side of the coin, a god that is normal except for having the ability to make magic rocks won't make it either; he'd be too mundane.The most cognitively optimal concepts for gods, Tremlin argues, are the ones that utilize the human template and violate it in a strategically important way, such as having access to juicy tidbits (omniscience) like knowing if Brother John got a DUI when he was in Cleveland.Socially strategic information is very important to people (as it tells us who will be good cooperators and who won't be) and therefore it is a prerequisite for any gods who wish to be believed in.

God also has to be practical.And as Tremlin mentions repeatedly, abstract notions of gods that are often entertained by theologians and philosophers don't have many believers.What good is it to believe in a god that is merely the first cause of the universe?If he can't help you with your life, he isn't of much use.A god such as that also doesn't activate our mental templates that generate inferences.This is why theologians who decry anthropomorphic conceptions of god will never make much headway with the congregation.Worshippers may lose the answer of "god is man in the clouds" when asked about the notion, but more often than not, in their "on-line" thinking, such a notion will be utilized.Tremlin cites the experiments conducted by Justin Barrett to back this up.

These things being said, there are some glaring omissions in the book.Death and afterlife beliefs are only summarily dealt with, the notion of sanctification (blessing or cleansing) wasn't covered in depth, and a discussion of the cognitive phenomenon of "essences" such as "sin" in religion was nearly absent (although it was covered in its ontological iteration).

However, despite the omissions, this is still one of the best books available on the topic and the aspects of religion that Tremlin elucidates with power easily outweigh what he leaves out.Students of religion and anyone interested in a grounded psychological explanation of religion will not want to miss this.And, as Tremlin says in the conclusion, a cognitive-scientific explanation of religion isn't about explaining it away (although certain people will still see it that way).It is rather about garnering a deeper understanding of this human phenomenon we call religion and what it can tell us about ourselves.

Excellent, But Incomplete, Overview of Cognitive Science of Religion
Tremlin's book is a welcome addition to the growing literature on the cognitive foundations of religion. It is well-written, scholarly, and effective in summarizing and distilling some of the main contemporary ideas concerning the cognitive/biological bases of belief in supernatural agents.

The book primarily defends the thesis that belief in gods and other supernatural agents is an evolutionary by-product of cognitive faculties- specifically, agency detection and 'theory of mind'- that evolved to serve the more mundane adaptive function of dealing with complex social environments.

Although plausible naturalistic explanations for the origins of religious belief may contribute, in the context of a broader argument, to undermining the case for the objective existence of gods, Tremlin does not discuss the potential relevance of such explanations to the question of God's existence in this book. Whether or not this is a positive or negative omission will be up to individual readers to decide.

My primary criticism of the book is that it neglects to adequately discuss the powerful emotional motivations for belief in supernatural agents as entities capable of relieving existential anxieties (fear of death, disease, misfortune). Any theory which attempts to explain the origins and persistence of religion without considering the emotional needs satisfied by god beliefs is, I feel, critically incomplete.

Emotional motivations underlying God beliefs are discussed more fully in S. Atran's excellent book (which defends a similar thesis to Tremlin's), In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion and in M.D. Faber's book, The Psychological Roots Of Religious Belief: Searching For Angels And The Parent-god. I recommend also R. Buckman's book, Can We Be Good Without God?: Biology, Behavior, and the Need to Believe and R. Hinde's book, Why Gods Persist.

Apart from this (I think significant) omission, students interested in the cognitive/biological bases of religion will be well rewarded (in this life) by reading Tremlin's book. ... Read more

Product Description
This work integrates the theoretical, empirical and clinical literature on the psychology of religion. Organized according to their fundamentally objective or subjective perspective, the most significant studies in German and French literature are discussed, as well as other important contributions from around the world. The author explains that literature of an "objective" nature considers behavioural and comparative (animal) psychology, the biological bases of religion, experimental approaches and correlational studies. The "subjective" perspective encompasses psychoanalytic approaches. Four biographical studies of the field's most prominent founders - Hall, James, Freud and Jung - are included, along with brief biographical sketches of other contributors. ... Read more

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an psychology explain religious behavior? This book explores the thinking of eight pioneers of religious psychology, including Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Fuller presents the theories of these seminal figures in a clear, straightforward way, and also examines the limits of psychological explanations of religion. He concludes the book by exploring the contributions to religion by some prominent recent figures in psychology such as Ana-Maria Rizzuto, Paul W. Pruyser, and Bernard Spilka. Praise for the latest edition of Psychology and Religion": "Professor Fuller has made a valuable contribution to students of psychology and religion. He has brought together in a single volume eight of the most important thinkers in their field. By presenting the views of these seminal figures in a cogent, straightforward manner and with scholarly faithfulness to their ideas, Fuller has eased the task of exploring an extremely challenging area. He is to be commended for his impressive effort."-Steven M. Rosen, The College of Staten Island ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great introduction to the Psychology of religion
This is a watershed book by a great teacher and psychologist. See also- Insight Into Value

Christopher Hellstrom
Author of The March ... Read more

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THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT PRAYER AS A MEANS OF DRAWING NEAR TO GOD THAT IS WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT FROM EXPERIENCE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Nice primer for prayer
Not sure I buy it all, but it is certainly well-presented and gives one plenty of food for thought.

Muddy psycho-babble
A disclaimer - this review is not the result of a thorough reading of the book - I simply couldn't read it for more than a page or two at a time. As best I can gather - the authors intended to tell us about prayer - and that they did a long string of declarative sentences, without personal statements or examples or interesting narative of any sort. If you are looking for guidance or inspiration for your prayer life, dear reader - keep looking.

P.S. I purchased the book at the recommendation of a pastor - who has since told me that his recommendation came from divinity school connections - I'm still looking for the first person who actually read this thing....

This is a good one!
Wonderfully articulated book on prayer from the perspective of prayer as a language...in fact, the primary language.The authors are able to include the psychology of prayersacrificing neither the mysticism nor the practical.Reading this text both tantalizes and encourages the reader to open to new vistas in his or her own life of prayer.

Excellent book on prayer

The authors account for the fundamental nature of prayer in human lives. According to them, prayer is like a primary speech. "In prayer we say who in fact we are - not who we should be, nor who we wish we were, but who we are." They raised six important aspects of human lives and they invite us to bring them to prayer. These are desire, projection, fantasy, fear, aggression and sexuality.

They acknowledge the importance of desire in prayer and say it is the motivating factor for prayer. Projection has been used in various forms throughout the history of philosophy and religion to discredit religion. Feuerbach was the first to use the terminology in this sense. Both Freud and Marx adapted it and applied it to reflect their own positions. Their underlining thesis is that we project to a god our own powers. The authors beautifully took this same terminology and applied it in a very positive and enriching way. They see projection as one of the ways we can reach out to God. They wrote, "In prayer we must begin where we are, with the images of the divine that we project and find ourselves projecting onto the unknown."

The authors opine that silence is one of the first fears that come in prayer. Their description of the fear of silence in prayer sounds like John and Teresa's description of the dark night of the soul. Rather than run away from prayer because of the fears or prayer taking us away from our fears, the authors say that prayer takes us into the center of these fears and help us to live through them.

One of the things people have the tendency to keep very secret is their sexuality. Sometimes people want to hide it from God, yet, it is at the very center of our lives. The authors invite us to contemplate our sexuality. They say, "our contemplative concentration must include our sexuality just as our sexuality must include our contemplative life."
This is definitely the best book on prayer I have read in recent times. The authors made appropriate use of the tools of psychology to help us pray without reducing prayer to psychology. It is practical, clear and very inviting. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in praying better. It is a must have for ministers, religious counselors and spiritual directors.

On bringing anything & everything into prayer
Your anger at God, your fear that there is no God, your suspicion that prayer is just a bunch of superstitious nonsense--bring it all into prayer. With chapters like "Prayer and Aggression" and "Sexualityand Prayer," this book gives you permission and encouragement to becompletely honest in prayer, to freely and fully express all that is onyour mind and in your heart.The approach is psychological, but without_reducing_ prayer to psychology.

(If, like me, you have serious doubtsthat this world full of suffering has a God worth praying to, I also highlyrecommend Karl Rahner's "The Need and the Blessing of Prayer.") ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Good introduction to buddhist psychology.
The book is concise, informative and easy to read. It provides basic principles of buddhist psychogy and comparison with the western therapeutic systems. A good book for beginners as well as others. ... Read more

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This classic anthology offers ancient and modern perspectives on Job's question: 'If a man die, shall he live again?' Spanning over 5,000 years of world thought, the selections invite consideration of an idea that has found hospitality in the greatest minds of history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

the best reincarnation book ever written
What do all the following people have in common?Moses, Siddhartha Gautama, Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Jesus of Nazareth, St. Augustine, St. Francis, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Arthur Conan Doyle, Walt Whitman, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Kahlil Gibran, Charles Lindbergh, Thomas Edison, Edgar Cayce, Mohandas K. Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer.

They all know that they have lived before.

In my early twenties, I collected and read practically every book available on the subject of reincarnation.

This Phoenix Fire Mystery book is without a doubt the BEST book on the subject.If you don't know anything about reincarnation, if you want an introduction to the subject, or if you want a comprehensive overview of the subject throughout history, READ THIS BOOK.

It's a real page-turner.

Excellent reference and fascinating to read
I first encountered this book as a textbook for a class taught by Dr. H.P. French at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY.He used the book for a history class entitled "History of Reincarnation".The class was a combination of history, comparative religion, and philosophical thought and it was positively fascinating.I have re-read this book many times over the years, and I refer to it frequently.Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, I think this is essential reading on the subject and it will help you to understand the various perspectives on the idea of rebirth after death.The authors cover everything from Zoroastrianism to Hinduism to modern Western thought on the subject.This will be a wonderful addition to your library.

An amazing experience..
This is not just a book..it's an experience that takes the reader on an incredible journey through time and history..and beyond! It's about humankind and its fantastic, diverse spiritual development through the ages, but at the same time also about each and every one of us personally, whoever and wherever we may be.
The writing is so clear, the content so spell-binding and the consequences so mind-boggling I was profoundly immersed in it for weeks.
Sorry Amazon, this one I'll keep forever..to start re-reading soon!

Great reference book.
When you want to find out where some of the most interesting ideas on the planet came from, this book will help you out. I didn't agree with everything I read in it, but I still loved it. What a great overview of some of the most original thinking of our time. ... Read more

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What can be gained from a dialogue between psychoanalysis and religion?

Freud described religion as the universal obsessional neurosis, and uncompromisingly rejected it in favour of "science." Ever since, there has been the assumption that psychoanalysts are hostile to religion. Yet, from the beginning, individual analysts have questioned Freud's blanket rejection of religion.

In this book, David Black brings together contributors from a wide range of schools and movements to discuss the issues. They bring a fresh perspective to the subject of religion and psychoanalysis, answering vital questions such as:

• How do religious stories carry (or distort) psychological truth?
• How do religions 'work', psychologically?
• What is the nature of religious experience?
• Are there parallels between psychoanalysis and particular religious traditions?

Psychoanalysis and Religion in the 21st Century will be of great interest to psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic therapists, psychodynamic counsellors, and anyone interested in the issues surrounding psychoanalysis, religion, theology and spirituality.

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An exploration of the relationships between Jungian Psychology and Buddhism with a special section on the famous oxherding pictures. Essential reading for all interested in either Buddhism or Jungian Psychology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Ox-herding & psyche-herding
This book consists of 3 Parts: the authors' personal views, their analyses of Kuo-an's (Kuku-an in Japanese) Zen Ox Herding Pictures (OHP), & 6 prior articles by Miyuki, a Pure Land priest, Zen practitioner, & Japanese Jungian psychoanalyst.The OHP is central; 2 renditions (Kuo-an's & Pu-Ming's) are given.The authors compare Buddhist meaning with Jungian Individuation.Spiegelman, also a Zen practitioner & a Jungian analyst) provides a masterful analysis & compares other religious/psychological views.The differences between the 2 author's viewpoints is interesting as the Westerner looks East & the Easterner looks West: Spiegelman seems to emphasize Buddhism while Miyuki emphasizes Jung but only in degree as they share Buddhism & Jung-as does their friend Hayao Kawai, the 1st Eastern Jungian analyst (author of Buddhism & the Art of Psychotherapy, 0890966982).There are other key points--Miyuki points out difficulties of translation & false renderings of Buddhist terms into English: p. 31: "The Zen concept of `mind' refers to something quite different from the Western concept of the word," p. 124: "duhkha which has been translated as `suffering.'However, etymologically & dogmatically, duhkha is better translated as...'dis-ease'" & p. 141: "The terms `'non-ego,' `no-self,' `etc. are inadequate translations of the ideas expressed in the term anatman & such translations serve to further confuse what is a difficult concept to place in Western categories."Aronson (Buddhist Practice on Western Grounds, 1590300939) would agree.Thus, Miyuki states on p. 138: "In my understanding, the Buddhist tradition aids the individual to strengthen the ego through the integration of unconscious contents" & p. 142: "This process of dispelling the illusory identity & manifesting the true self cannot be identified with aiming at dissolution of the ego."This greatly differs from some Western Buddhist authors/teachers assertions!Avoiding Engler's Orientocentric & Eurocentric extremist views, both authors walk the Middle Path as illustrated in the "parable of the White Path."Thus, pp. 64-5: Spiegelman-"For the Freudian we find the face just after we were born...For the Buddhist, it is the face before we were born...For the Jungian, it is both of these.The link with collective, inner & outer, & the discovery of our Selves.So the Jungian might be the intermediary between the two; the psychotherapy which aims at healing, love, & work, & freeing from illusion, but at Enlightenment too" & p. 168: Miyuki-"The individuation process shares, in my opinion, many of the same underlying processes as found in Zen.I fully agree with Jung, therefore, when he says that Zen `can be understood as an Eastern method of psychic healing, i.e. making whole'" & p. 172: "It is my view that C. G. Jung's Analytical Psychology has provided the West with the first meaningful psychological avenue to approach Buddhism & other Asian religious experience."Finally, Miyuki argues the applicability of psychology to Buddhism: p. 127: "All human experience is essentially psychological, in the sense that immediate `reality' is perceived & apprehended in & through our psyches" as well as Buddhism to psychology: p. 172: "Buddhism aims at transformation of the ego in order to help an individual to overcome the `dis-ease' of life brought about by impermanence."

Nice book
A series of essays relating the two subjects, but seemingly more focussed on Buddhism than Jung. Overall quite good, if somewhat repetitive. Spiegelman's essays superior to Miyuki's. Self/Ego illustrated in context of Buddhism in Spiegelman's analysis of the Ten Oxherding Pictures, in which Ego symbolically brings Self into harmonious relationship, with boy/man as Ego, and Ox as Self. ... Read more

Product Description
This book surveys the major theoretical positions in the psychology of religion.William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Gordon Allport, Abraham Maslow, Erich Fromm, Alan Watts, and Viktor Frankl are each accorded an entire chapter.A chapter is devoted to such further developments in the field as the investigation of the God-image by object relations theorists and the empirical scaling of religiousness.In this new edition, three additional chapters consider in turn the feminist psychology of religion, neuroscience and religion, and the evolutionary psychology of religion.This book, thus seen as both wide-ranging and current, offers illuminating and in-depth coverage of major theorists and approaches.While its breadth makes it an excellent place to begin an exploration of the psychology of religion, its depth and detail provide the opportunity for a serious and rewarding immersion in the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent overview of this topic
If you are looking for a good overview of thought on this topic, this is an excellent book to have.
I used it for a research paper and ended up getting my own copy to have on hand. Best volume I've found
if you want to know what 8 major minds in the field of psychology said on this subject, along with other
theories and new developments. For good information organized in one place look no further.

An excellent reference book and an interesting read.

The worst book ever written
Put quite simply, this is the worst book I have ever had the painful experience of enduring.

This book, while grammatically correct, has the worst sentence structure and syntax I have ever seen. Meant to be a book to teach and instruct, it turns out to be a book that is infuriating, frustrating, and irritating. The author does an absolutely abysmal job of conveying meanings and interpretations of the original psychologists. He convolutes, overstates, and ruins any useful ideas by turning them into his own pompous and over written babbling.
I truly believe that this author was far more concerned with spouting his terrible ideas and awful language than he ever was about teaching anything. I am quite sure that this self-important, arrogant professor brags constantly at dinner parties about his book deal, and how he was published. Likely, all the while, oblivious to the fact that he has done a serious disservice to society and students with this monstrosity of garbage.
Throughout the period I had to read this book, I found myself yearning for a even a 5 minute break to return to organic chemistry texts. I would, quite literally, rather press tacks into my skin than read this abomination.I know I not alone in these feelings either, having found similar viewpoints from all of my fellow classmates.

Do yourself a favor. Do anything in your power to avoid reading this book.
... Read more

Product Description
Learn why the Church has gone out of the religion business. Discover why America's churhes are failing.

No doubt controversial, this is certainly a thought-provoking and challenging look at current practices of both Christian religion and modern psychology. As Peter wrote (I Peter 3:15) "Be always in readiness to make an answer to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is with you, yet with gentleness and reverence." It is with this in mind that author, Richard Cox, takes a close look at what has happened to the modern church and the role psychological practices play in the life of the church.

The thesis of the book, as John Allan Loftus, SJ, PhD (Regis College, University of Toronto) puts it, is a simple one: "The church has allowed itself to be overwhelmed with psychology. What others have called the 'superstition of materialism' ascribes all power and glory to science and its accomplishments. And the church has capitulated and lost its own identity by allowing (and often encouraging) the norms and diagnoses of contemporary psychology to replace the gospel."

Richard Cox pulls no punches and spares few "sacred cows" (in either psychology or theology) and his arguments are passionate. But be forewarned: this book is not for the faint-hearted pop-psychologist or armchair theologian. This is a book that will surely challenge your opinions and exercise your passions.

It is Cox's opinion that our current postmodern world tends glorify and give all power to the accomplishments of science. Little credit is given to faith or belief. While the most decorated and respected of scientists look toward elements of faith and belief in their own work, the Church, which ahs been the primary tabernacle of belief, has allowed itself to be overwhelmed with psychology. As Cox puts it, "When the church uses the language, philosophies, and assumptions of psychology, it has forsaken the religion business and has taken up the business of religion."

Learn what it is we really want and need from our churches. Discover that there are answers and the problems our churches face can be fixed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A hard look at alternative salvations
As in Dr. Cox's past books, he rings the bell again with Sacrament of Psychology.His experience and background in both theology and psychology allows him to move effortlessly - but mindfully - between both disciplines.An illuminating read for anyone who wants to turn a critical eye to our present cultural assumptions about the nature of the human being and our hope.

Sacrament of Psychology
This is a book which should be read by theologians and psychologists although it is not too kind to either.The premise of the book is sound and could cause either theologians or psychologists to choose a defensive posture.However, if the book is read carefully one will see the quarrel is a lover's quarrel by one who believes either discipline could be better than it is.This is not an easy book to read and it needs a careful reading in order to get the full impact.Of course, I think I like the book because he underscores and highlights my own bias.I'm sure I will re-read it.

SACRAMENT???Maybe. Let's think about it !!
You'll probably swing two ways (at least) before a firm opinion sets in. Keep the possibilities open -- a second reading after a reasonable time has elapsed could change your opinion. Are we really considering a church (a relatively small building with a congregation of friends almost all of whom we know) "THE" CHURCH (whatever big organization of which we are a small part) or just (me, myself, and how I relate to 'my' religion / theology)?Or all the above.?

Let your reaction be reactions. Let the ideas, new and old, stir and mix. As you consider the thoughts being presented, know that you will be more aware of a myriad of new possibilities in your life, and how you can use new ideas, the jargon, and the theology you choose to believe to guide yourself in appropriate living.

It's a complicated, challenging, book. You don't have to grasp all the meaning and subtlties at first reading. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Moral Psychology: Historical and Contemporary Readings is the first book to bring together the most significant contemporary and historical works on the topic from both philosophy and psychology.

• Provides a comprehensive introduction to moral psychology, which is the study of psychological mechanisms and processes underlying ethics and morality
• Unique in bringing together contemporary texts by philosophers, psychologists and other cognitive scientists with foundational works from both philosophy and psychology
• Approaches moral psychology from an empirically informed perspective
• Explores a wide range of topics from passion and altruism to virtue and responsibility
• Editorial introductions to each section explain the background of and connections between the selections