Science and religion
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.

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