Religion And Mental Health

Features

Description

This is an interdisciplinary collection of previously unpublished papers on the much-disputed relationship between religious behaviour and mental health. Schumaker has assembled a distinguished international roster of contributors - sociologists and anthropologists as well as psychiatrists and psychologists of religion.

Taken together, the papers provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in the field, as well as shedding new light on a number of specific topics, subject groups, and interpretive perspectives. Review: an exceptionally comprehensive collection of essays, authored by leading authorities in the field and destined to be the definitive source book on religion and mental health for years to come.

David Wulff, Psychology, Wheaton College 'The chapters are well written ... The reference lists are comprehensive and inviting to further study. The attitude on the whole is strictly objective and scientific, critically evaluating what has been done so far ... I consider this book to be of great value for psychiatrists.' Eva Johanson, Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 47/6 (1993) 'The chapters elucidate widely different aspects of the very intricate connections between religion and mental health.

The chapters are well written, ... a great value for psychiatrists,' Eva Johanson. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 'This is essentially a source and reference book.' Roland Littlewood, BMAS Newsletter, Summer 1993 'This is an extraordinarily ambitious collection of twenty-four papers on the challenging subject of the relationship between religious behaviour and mental health.

The editor has skilfully drawn together an international panel of contributors ... to examine the implications of religious belief and practice for mental health ... the book is admirable in its scope and depth ... this is a fascinating and important book and one which British mental health professionals would do well to read and debate.

This book challenges many cliches about religious repression and guilt and I would particularly recommend it for those working in more multiracial, multifaith, urban environments.' Patricia d'Ardenne, Heythrop Journal