Die Religion der Religionspsychologie Potentiale, Funktionen und Ambivalenzen eines alternden Begriffs

The concept of religion is of utmost importance for the foundation of the psychology of religion as a scientific discipline, but is rarely taken to critical task with regard to its academic and public functions and implications. As a critical analysis of research examples set against the background of the discipline's history discloses, this is an indispensable element of the self-reflective clarification of presuppositions underlying all research in the realm of the psychology of religion. Since the 90s, the concept of religion has faced increased opposition from the concept of »spirituality«. This situation compels to further clarify the area of research of that branch of applied psychology, which refers to the psychological and social consequences of the belief in an ultimate reality.