The relationship between spirituality and psychology

Ali Hossein Ranjbar[2]

Abstract:

Religious psychology examines the phenomenon of religiosity from a psychological point of view. The element of spirituality is common in religion and the new religious-spiritual movements. In this research, we are looking at the evolution of psychology from the point of view of spirituality to clarify the relationship between psychology and spirituality. Investigating this relationship can open the way for using psychology to promote spirituality, as well as paying attention to the issue of spirituality,  will be a great help in the science of psychology and psychotherapy. At the beginning of this research, we survey the definition of spirituality and the relation between spirituality and religion. Then, we examine the historical course of psychology from the point of view of spirituality and the introduction of humanistic psychology and transpersonal psychology as a branch of humanistic psychology. Spirituality is a significant element in both religion and psychology which makes some common issues between them. The subject of both is human and the goal is health, prosperity and felicity and human salvation. Both are advised to achieve to this salvation. The common purpose of spirituality and psychology is to reduce human suffering.

Key Words: Spirituality, Psychology, New Spiritual Movement, Religion.

[1]. دانشجوی دکتری تصوف و عرفان اسلامی دانشگاه ادیان و مذاهب.

[2] . Ph.D. Student of Sufism and Islamic mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations.