At the heart of living religion is the idealization of everyday objects. Such idealizations provide much of the transforming power of religious experience, which is one of the positive contributions of religion to the psychological life. However, idealization can also lead to religious fanaticism, which can be very destructive. Drawing on the work of various contemporary relational theorists within psychoanalysis, this book develops a psychoanalytically informed theory of the transforming and terror-producing effects of religious experience. It discusses the question of whether or not, if idealization is the cause of many of the destructive acts done in the name of religion, there can be vital religion without idealization.".
Separating theory and practice creates problems for thinking about religion. Current neuropsychological research helps the religious person by returning theory to practice, opening new avenues of religious knowing and showing that reason is on the side of those who choose a religiously lived life"--
An exploration of the spiritual search as a way to answer our deepest longings and find our true selves ; weaves together personal stories of a psychologist's patients.
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