Antecedents to the Conflict between Psychology and Religion in America

Abstract

Conflict models persist in the modern study of psychology and religion. The antireligious sentiments of Sigmund Freud and Albert Ellis symbolize this interpretive tradition best. Yet few researchers concern themselves with examining the historical and intellectual antecedents to this development. In an attempt to help fill the gap, this article begins with a description of the amiable character of antebellum science and religion, proceeds to chronicle the insubordination of science in the 19th century, and concludes by identifying the modern antireligious impulse in psychology as meaningfully related to the “divorce” of science from religion.

Human interaction with the divine, the sacred, and the deceased: topics that warrant increased attention by psychologists

“…This distancing included doing the opposite of what James and others did (i.e., not doing psychological research on prayer or on why people might attempt to communicate with gods and people who have died). More broadly, the relationship between psychology and religions has been strained (de Jesüs Cortés, 1999;Richardson, 2006). Professional and scientific psychology highlighted empirical evidence, whereas religiousness and spirituality were seen as something that cannot readily be studied in a rigorous, experimental, and empirical manner (Carter, 1977).…”