Psychology & Religion

The course will begin with a discussion of the relationship between psychology and religion. It will then explore the relationship between religion and psychology -- history, methodology, research and application. It will review psychological theories and research on personality and their relationship to spirituality, religious behaviour, individual differences and abnormality, and review research on religious development. These findings will then be applied within the context of the social and organizational psychology of the church. Students will be asked to write several reports on assigned readings and a longer essay for the end of the term. A previous course in introductory psychology would be helpful but not essential.