Psychology and religion in secular society.

摘要

Charles Taylor writes that identity emerges from the reflection upon, and articulation of one's lived experience. This account of identity precludes psychology from taking a natural science approach to the study of 'identity', or 'the self'. With the emergence of psychology within secular society, the relation between psychology and religion is examined here. This examination clarifies the role of psychology as an authority on identity. This thesis proposes that the role of psychology is to promote articulacy about the ideal of authenticity. In this way, psychology can address problems arising from individualism in modernity, and can serve as an authority on identity, complementing the other possible authorities on identity present in secular society, including religion.