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Review Essay: Towards Cultural Psychology of Religion by J. E. Belzen

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Abstract

Jacob Belzen spends the first two-thirds of his 2010 book doing two things: (1) developing a cogent critique of the presuppositions that underlie mainstream psychology, especially as regards the study of religion, and (2) promoting greater use of what he calls a “cultural psychology.” The last third presents a number of religious case studies, all from the Netherlands, that demonstrate the value of cultural psychology. Although Belzen emphasizes “embodiment” in these studies, his results suggest that religion is often a “performance” for particular audiences. Finally, the applicability of Belzen’s approach to religions outside the Western tradition is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5

    Michael P. Carroll

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  1. Michael P. Carroll
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Correspondence to Michael P. Carroll.

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Carroll, M.P. Review Essay: Towards Cultural Psychology of Religion by J. E. Belzen. Pastoral Psychol 66, 387–396 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-012-0497-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-012-0497-1

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