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Religion and the Individual
Hardback Book
Written by C. Daniel Batson, Patricia Schoenrade, and W. Larry Ventis
Over 420 pages
Copyright © 1993 by Oxford University Press, Inc.
" Never discuss politics or religion. Far from indicating a lack of interest in these topics, this familiar maxim suggests much interest but much difference of opinion. Given the interest and controversy, one might think that religion would have received considerable attention from social psychologists. It has not. With a few notable exceptions, they have carefully adhered to the maxim of never discussing religion. We think this is unfortunate and offer this book as a step toward the development of a social psychology of religion. "
" More than a body of information, social psychology is the application of a particular method, the scientific method, to study the behavior of individuals in society. The scientific method includes two key elements: (1) development of explanatory theories based on empirical observation; and (2) testing these theories through subsequent empirical observation. This book reports our attempt to apply this method to the study of religion. Our concern is with the role of religion in the life of the individual - its origins, development, dynamics, functions, and consequences - rather than with religion as a social institution. It is for this reason that we speak of individual or personal religion. Our goal is to provide a clear and coherent social-psychological picture of individual religion, a picture that does not do violence to its diversity and mystery yet is still scientifically sound. "
Contents include:
" 1. Toward a Social Psychological of Religion
PART I: SOURCES OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S RELIGION
2. Social Sources of Personal Religion
3. Individual Development and Religion
PART II: NATURE OF INDIVIDUAL RELIGION
4. Religious Experience and Personal Transformation
5. Facilitators of Religious Experience
6. Dimensions of Individual Religion
PART III: CONSEQUENCES OF INDIVIDUAL RELIGION
7. Personal Freedom or Bondage?
8. Mental Health or Sickness?
9. Brothers-and-Sisters or Sheep-and-Goats?
10. Concern for Others or Self-Concern?
PART IV: IMPLICATIONS
11. Is Religion on Our Side?
Appendix: The Scientific Method and Social Psychology of Religion
References (indexed)
Subject Index
This book is in very good condition with minor wear to the cover.
The previous owner's name is stamped on the first blank page and also on the top and side edges of the pages.
No torn or ripped pages.
No other markings or writing.
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