PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION.

UY REV. UK. lIAN'STON'

NATURAL HUMAN ELEMENT.

Principal Brown, of Buskin College, Oxford, and Professor Harvey of Annstrong College, Newcastle, both members of tho Society of Friends, have written an able book on " Tho Naturalness of Religion." Tho method of approach is psychological rather than theological, though they well stato tho danger ot such an approach —that of forgetting tho immaturity and uncertainty of tho science of psychology, and its tendency to seize on the abnormal in religious experience, and also to, imagine that religion can be explained away as something merely subjective. Religion is an attitude of response to a quality or spirit in tho universe that evokes the feeling of reverence that is to God. It is a normal and natural element in human beings. In sorno tho response shows itself in an abrupt concentrated change, in others is a moro gradual prowth. Salvation is the restoration to spiritual health, and wholeness,"the unification of tho human personality _as against disorder and disintegration, boil is a Reality; He is not a moro projection or construction of the human mind. Religious belief is not an illusion, even though soino affirmations about deity may havo been erroneous. Prayer is genuine confact with God. Auto-suggestion does not itself explain it, but is tho method by which it works out certain effects on the ono who prays. Because man is a being who wills, desires, and strives, his prayers will include petition, and since lie is & social being they will be also intercessory. Corporate worship is important because a shared experience is intensified and enchanced m the sharing, and group-suggestion may bo a mode of operation by which bod works. Religious faith means tho reinforcement and inspiration of moral effort, bßth as regards personal character and social relationship. Moral disease is not, tho same as moral wrong-doing. No doctrine of tho Divine forgiveness is well grounded if it cannot bo justified y human oxperienco at its highest and b^stDivine inspiration has not ceased; God still speaks: Irreligion is, fundamentally, not disbelief in certain theological dogmas but irresponsiveness to God; irreverence is brought about by a barren world-weariness of by a self-complacent and debased optimism. No normal man is, naturally, in any complete degree irreligious. Tho book is competently written, academic and technical terms are avoided, and tho argument is well sustained. It deserves to be read in these days of the pyschological attack upon religious experience as moro subjectivism. " Tho Naturalness of Religion" by Principal Brown and Professor Harvey. (Jas. Clark and Co.)