Psychology of Religion: A Personal Narrative

It is humbling to be asked to contribute to what amounts to a history of the ­psychology of religion in autobiography. Many of the names in this volume occur in my story, either as friends, colleagues, or scholars who have influenced and informed my own work. Autobiographies, as we know, both conceal and reveal. Historians will accept the task of unraveling what is lasting and true in any personal narrative. In my own case, I focus on an intellectual narrative, revealing only those personal factors that helped shape my views. I do not focus on specific dates, many of which are only recollections. Nor do I cite many personal references, allowing my vita to speak for itself. It is only in looking back that I realize I was fortunate to be part of a group of scholars who championed the resurgence of the psychology of religion in the 1960s. How I came to be part of this resurgence is the story I want to tell.