Tracing the History of the Discipline of Psychology of Religion, Major Developments and Methodological Differences Utilised By Scholars in America and Europe

The psychology of religion has stemmed from mainstream psychology. Due to the increased interest by psychologists to study religion from a scientific perspective, gave rise to the study of religion from a psychological point of view. This essay endeavours to establish the history of psychology of religion; the major historical developments and methodological approaches used by the American and European scholars. The essay acknowledges the interesting journey the field of psychology of religion and spiritualties has taken from a philosophical conception to psychology. It highlights the methodological challenges it has and still faces from the American and European perspectives. The psychology of religion is both an interesting and challenging field, which has undergone a lot of changes, denials and shortcomings because of the nature of religion and spiritualties. However, this article establishes that a tremendous job has been done in both American and European efforts.

Understanding “Hijrah and Atonement” among Indonesian Celebrities: Social Psychology and Psychology of Religion Perspectives

This article aims at understanding “hijrah and Atonement” from the perspectives of psychology in particular psychology of religion. This article focuses to investigate the phenomena of young people who conduct hijrah and the process of their hijrah? This article is part of the qualitative studies on religious conversion among young generations including those are among Indonesian celebrities. Data and information are gathered from various online news and social media particularly from YouTube as the main source. Two main figures of Indonesian celebrities are chosen to be subjects of the study by using their life stories and statements about religious conversion in various online news and social media, and then those of stories and statements are analyzed with thematic analysis technique. This paper finds that the choice of religious conversion takes place through a long psychological and social process. Starting from a psychological crisis in a personal and interpersonal context and ending with a strong commitment and acceptance facing the consequences of their decision. The pivotal conclusion of this study addresses that hijrah is a long process of seeking God and constructing meaningfulness. Keywords: emigration, psychology, conversion, millennial Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk memahami fenomena hijrah dari sudut pandang ilmu psikologi, terutama mencaritahu mengapa anak muda pesohor Indonesia tertarik untuk berhijrah dan bagaimana proses mereka berhijrah? Tulisan ini adalah hasil studi kualitatif tentang konversi agama di kalangan generasi milineal terutama di kalangan pesohor Indonesia. Data dikumpulkan dari berbagai berita online dan media sosial terutama Youtube sebagai sumber informasi. 2 tokoh pesohor Indonesia papan atas dipilih sebagai subyek studi dengan mengkaji pengalaman hidup dan pernyataannya terkait konversi agama di pemberitaan online dan media sosial lalu dianalisis dengan teknik analisis tematik.. Studi ini menemukan bahwa pilihan melakukan konversi keagamaan berlangsung melalui proses psikologis dan sosial yang panjang. Dimulai dari krisis psikologis dalam konteks personal dan interpersonal dan berakhir dengan komitmen yang kuat dan penerimaan konsekuensi dari keputusan berhijrah. Kesimpulan penting dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa hijrah merupakan perjanalan spiritual yang panjang dalam mencari Tuhan dan Kebermaknaan dengan segala cobaan dan tantangan yang mengikutinya. Kata Kunci: hijrah, psikologi, konversi, milineal

Neutrality in religiosity studies in Indonesia

Religiosity studies in Indonesia is an interesting topic; however, one of the biggest challenges in studying religiosity in Indonesia is the neutrality of the researcher regardless of their attitudes toward religion. This editorial note will explore the meaning of neutrality in religiosity studies. Specifically, it emphasizes the responsibility of the researchers to understand the complexity of religion by acknowledging that religion can have a positive impact and/or negative effect on believers. Furthermore, the present note describes how studies on the psychology of religion in Indonesia can contribute to the body of knowledge not only at the local level, but also at the global context.

Michel Foucault on Methodius of Olympus (d.ca.311) in Les aveux de la chair: Patrick Vandermeersch’s analysis contextualised

This article presents a contextualisation of Belgian philosopher and historian of psychiatry and sexuality, Patrick Vandermeersch’s (1946–), unpublished analysis of French philosopher Michel Foucault’s (1926–1984) interpretation of Methodius of Olympus’ (d.ca.311) views on virginity and chastity, in Histoire de la sexualité 4 (Les aveux de la chair), published in February 2018 at Gallimard in Paris under the editorship of Frédéric Gros. The article contributes to the reception and the ongoing analyses of Les aveux de la chair by exploring Foucault’s reading while highlighting both the importance of Vandermeersch’s analysis and the sexological-historiographical significance of his broader oeuvre that spans over four decades. Vandermeersch shows that Foucault, as many other commentators of Methodius, did not substantially engage Methodius’ explicit indebtedness and persistent references to Plato (already evident in the title Symposium but especially regarding the Phaedrus). Platonic homoeroticism is, according to Vandermeersch, as a consequence often too hastily, and therefore problematically, transposed on contexts of female virginity. Likewise, Foucault, when indicating already at the end of Histoire de la sexualité 2 (L’usage des plaisirs 1984), the particular relevance of homoeroticism in the development of Western sexuality, seemed to adhere to this transposition. Could ‘beautiful boys’ truly be transposed onto ‘female virgins’ without severe sexual-discursive complications? And could Methodius’ encomium of virginity in any way be understood independent of his understanding of the ‘resurrection of the body’, with the integrity of its (virginised) sexual desire intact? These are among Vandermeersch’s valid and challenging questions to both Foucault and his contemporary readership.Contribution: Foucault’s reading of the church- and desert fathers in Histoire de la sexualité 4 (Les aveux de la chair) impacts early Medieval philosophy, early Medieval history, church history, patristics, philosophy of religion, psychology of religion and sociology of religion. Since these proximate disciplines are drawn towards Foucault’s text, they may well note its ongoing examinations. Foucault’s direct impact on these disciplines is illustrated in Vandermeersch’s significant analysis of Foucault’s reading of Methodius in Les aveux de la chair. Vandermeersch’s broader oeuvre in philosophy, theology, psychiatry, psychology, psychology of religion and the history of sexuality is concurrently contextualised as of ongoing contemporary importance for these disciplines.

1949-1982 Yılları Arasında Din Psikolojisi Alanında Yazılan Eserlerin Doküman Analizi Nitel Bir Değerlendirme

It has been tried to do document analysis together with content analysis about some terms in the works written between 1949 and 1982, which is assumed to be the first period of the psychology of religion. The terms researched are “şuur (consciousness)” and its derivatives in Ottoman, and “consciousness”, “subconscious”, “unconscious” terms which is the modern usage of the term “şuur” and “adolescent, puberty” terms of Western origin which correspond to the meanings of “ergen ve argenlik”. The frequency of the use of these terms in the books was determined and it was examined whether there was a change in time, and the scientific language in using the terms of the psychology of religion was tried to be understood in line with the qualitative method. As a result, the psychology of religion changes some of these terms over time, while others still use them. By examining whether the purposes and bibliographies of the early psychology books were similar or different, it was understood that these terms used in the books of the early psychology of religion kept pace with the language and psychology science language of that period and their changes over time. In addition, it is understood that the works written by theology-based religious psychologists do not only serve the science of psychology of religion, but also they have an individual, educational, political and social goals. Keywords: Psychology of Religion Books, Consciousness (Şuur), Ottoman Compositions, Terms of Western Origin, Document and Content Analysis.

Searching and Caring for the Sacred: Psychological Perspectives on Caring for People’s Spiritual Needs

We present knowledge from the field of psychology of religion for professional clinicians. The model “Search for the Sacred” and other concepts of psychology of religion are introduced: Sacred core and ring, sanctification, spiritual emotions, spiritual relationships, spiritual pathways, and sacred moments. These are discussed in relation to different concepts of theology for broadening the understanding and application of these concepts. Interviews with Danish Christians facing a crisis illustrate the application of the theoretical perspectives.