Abstract
Psychology of religion is one of the branches of psychology that has found its place
as an official course in many prestigious universities around the world today. The
book Introduction to the Psychology of Religion, written by Dr. Masoud Azarbaijani
and Seyyed Mehdi Mousavi Asl, is the most commonly recommended book by
professors and used by students in undergraduate and graduate levels of psychology
and Islamic psychology. In this context, during the case study of this book, several
points have been made on various topics to complete, correct, and make it a more
practical resource for the psychology of religion course; including accuracy in
determining religious areas to enter the discussion of the psychology of religion;
correcting the titles of tables and some headings that are not in harmony with the
content, correctly classifying the benefits of religiosity at the macro and micro
levels, etc. Suggestions have also been made regarding the contents that should be
included in a reference book for the psychology of religion, including a discussion
of criticisms made against religious people and responses to them, the relationship
between physical and spiritual health, and introducing institutions of religious
psychology in the world.
Keywords
Psychology of religion, Islamic psychology, field of psychology, measurement of
religiosity, connection between physical and spiritual health.
Introduction
* . Assistant Professor, Institute for Interdisciplinary Quran Studies,
m_khatami@sbu.ac.ir ,09125212520.
Recived date: 22 ⁄ 4 ⁄ 2025
Accepted date: 28 ⁄ 7 ⁄ 2025
The psychology of religion is a field that scientifically examines religious behaviors
and spiritual experiences through psychological principles. Despite global academic
recognition, this discipline faces resistance both from theologians who suspect
reductionism and psychologists who question its objectivity due to researchers'
personal beliefs. In the Iranian context, where religion significantly influences
mental health, this field requires further academic attention. The book "An
Introduction to the Psychology of Religion" is widely accepted but also needs
revision and enrichment to fulfill its role effectively.
Materials and Methods
This study uses a qualitative content analysis methodology to review the structure,
content, and educational framework of the textbook. Each chapter of the book was
analyzed based on pedagogical clarity, conceptual coherence, alignment with
psychological theories, and religious integration. Comparative analysis with similar
textbooks (e.g., Spilka, Wulff, Loewenthal) was also conducted. Student usability
and academic effectiveness were taken as key criteria.
Discussion and Results
The analysis showed that the book benefits from structured lessons, study
questions, and religious references, enhancing engagement and relevance. However,
various shortcomings were identified:
Conceptual overload in chapters such as historical background and theoretical
foundations
Overgeneralized theological domains for psychologists
Ambiguities in classification tables and the application of psychological principles
Lack of coverage on critical topics such as religious criticism, spirituality-health
connection, and global institutional research Further, the book could benefit from
more concise presentation, clearer pedagogical objectives, and structured inclusion
of contemporary issues like spiritual abuse, faith and obsessive-compulsive
tendencies, and instrumental versus intrinsic religiosity.
Conclusion
The textbook is a foundational resource in Iranian academic psychology programs.
Its structured style and educational framework make it valuable; however,
enhancements are necessary to align it with global standards. Suggestions include
refining theological and psychological boundaries, updating theoretical content,
including applied and critical discussions, and incorporating international insights
and institutions. The study aims to support educators and scholars in producing more
effective and comprehensive materials in the psychology of religion.