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History of the Psychology of Religion, East and West: Theoretical and Practical Principles for New (and Old) Histories

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Abstract

History is a central part of any academic discipline, as how scholars write and think about the history of their field helps define its identity. This paper presents an overview of the key issues involved in writing histories of the psychology of religion, particularly as these issues appear in the Chinese context. Attention to these issues will help Chinese scholars write rich histories of their field that acknowledge their connection to Western research while appreciating the powerful distinctive characteristics of the Chinese situation. The paper provides a number of practical suggestions that may help Chinese researchers in this process.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, 46383, USA

    James M. Nelson

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Nelson, J.M. History of the Psychology of Religion, East and West: Theoretical and Practical Principles for New (and Old) Histories. Pastoral Psychol 61, 655–670 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-011-0405-0

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