Ethics and morality

State of the art - Religion

Michael Argyle reviews psychological insights into religion, focusing on the Christian faith.

18 January 2002

Religion presents a range of phenomena falling outside what is usually studied by psychologists, and for which there often appears to be no psychological explanation. Religious experiences are reported by one third of the population, sacrifice is practised in most religions, sudden adolescent conversion is common for religious attitudes, and some religious beliefs are remarkably non-rational. We need to understand these things.

Download PDF for article.

Mental health, religion and culture
16 April 2011
Kate M. Loewenthal and Christopher Alan Lewis look at how mental well-being can be affected by religious practice and cultural context.
Mental health
Race, ethnicity and culture
Spirituality and religion
The cognitive science of religion
19 April 2011
Justin L. Barrett and Emily Reed Burdett on religious experience and belief.
Cognition and perception
Spirituality and religion
Religion, spirituality and therapeutic practice
12 April 2011
Adrian Coyle and Jenny Lochner offer some practical guidance.
BPS updates