Psychopathology and Religion: Structural Convergences between Mental Disorders and Religion

Janus uses a multidisciplinary approach and draws on his experience as a practicing psychologist in Poland to connect psychology, philosophy, and religion in this translated text. He looks at the structure of mental disorders and their counterparts in religion and, early in the text, draws upon philosophical and psychological theorists, including Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Mircea Eliade, Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Erich Fromm, and Ludwig Feuerbach, among others. Mental disorders covered include neuroses, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, psychoses, and eating disorders. After several chapters exploring these psychologically based phenomena, Janus moves on to consider phenomena of a more religious nature: demonic possession and spirits, the soul, and immortality. The text is engaging and possibly controversial; still, its approach is serious, with a scholarly apparatus that includes detailed chapter notes, a curated bibliography, and an index. The text is best suited for advanced students and specialists but may interest a wider public. Summing Up: Recommended. (CHOICE)

Psychopathology and Religion is an insightful look at how religion often supplies a horizon upon which to understand the concrete experience, interpretation, and treatment of various forms of psychopathology. It is also a reminder that Freud has made important contributions to the philosophy of religion. (Patrick M. Whitehead, Associate Professor of Psychology, Albany State University, USA)

“In a captivating manner, Damian Janus presents unique, creative, and informative conjunctions between psychopathology and religion, including commentary conjoining religion with neurosis, anorexia nervosa with aspirations for godliness, psychosis and narcissism with religiosity, demonic possession, spirits, souls, and immortality with psychopathology.” (Marvin P. Osman, New Center for Psychoanalysis)

Damian Janus is practicing psychologist.