Chapter 1: Psychopathology and Religion – Towards the
Non-Reductionist Approach
Chapter 2: Religion as a Neurosis, Neurosis as a Religion
Chapter 3: Child, Parent, God
Chapter 4:Anorexia nervosa – a Pathological Attempt at
Deification
Chapte r 5: Psychosis, Narcissism, God
Chapter 6: Demonic Possession
Chapter 7: Spirits, Soul, Immortality
Damian Janus is practicing psychologist.
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 Reviews*
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*
![]() |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
![]() |