Religion and the Individual: A Social-Psychological Perspective

Out of all the psychology of religion texts available, this one is still the best. Although it is now a bit dated, it still provides a good research foundation that reads well even for non-psychologists. Batson et al. not only summarize the relevant research, but evaluate the research and draw sometimes provocative conclusions. Readers will be provided with a good background on the relationship between "religious orientation" and other social psychological variables such as prejudice, and helping behavior.

This book, through a plethora of academic citings and analytical research, describes the many dynamics of why people choose or identify with certain religous beliefs. At times, all the discussion of research done in certain areas of religion can become a bit tedious for the non-psychologist or PhD type, but a simple skimming of these sections will give you the general idea. I am not a psychologist, but I have a strong interest in psychology and why people develop certain personality traits, behaviors, or social networks. This book does a great job of describing different types of people and why or how they evolve or identify with certain religous beliefs, organizations, or groups. The authors successfully keep their personal biases towards the benefit or detriments of passionate and unwavering religous beliefs out of their analysis and presentation of the research. They also make significant efforts to explain the weaknesses of certain research methodologies and how that would impact the findings. This is a great book!

What are the different religious orientations? How do we develop religiously? How is religious development like creativity? These are questions that Batson, Ventis, and Schoenrade try to answer in this work in the social psychology of religion. Given much attention is Batson's Quest theory of religious orientation. Batson is the leading proponent of this theory and in a number of chapters he explains and defends it against the criticisms that have naturally been lobbed against it. I believe that his theory is robust enough to be acceptable. It certainly has intuitive appeal, as well as basis in Buddhist philosophy and mystical religious traditions of Judaism and Christianity. This a laudible work in the psychology of religion. It has depth and focus not be found in other introductory works in this field of study. [This work was previously entitled "The Religious Experience" (sans Schoenrade) ]

"Religion and the Individual" has been selected for listing in "Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy." http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy