Genealogy of Psychological Theories of Self-Actualization and Their Relationships to Religion : Salvation, Self-Actualization, and Healing

This article surveys the theories of prominent psychologists of religion - W. James, S. Freud, C. G. Jung, E. Promm, A. H. Maslow, and E. H. Erikson. It shows that they are concerned with the process of self-actualization though not all of them use that term. Finally, their theories of self-actualization are considered in relation to religion. The psychologists of religion delineated the process of human psychological growth in analyzing religion as a research object, whether presenting an authentic way of religion or criticizing an actual way of religion. Despite of their differences and their uniquenesses, the processes they described are so similar that one can include them under the title of self-actualization. Self-actualization is the process by which one leaves one-sided ego and actualizes the authentic self or gradually approaches the genuine self. Its significant feature is the ultimate concern to the Self. The psychological thought movement, which regards self-actualization as a norm, should be understood as one example of what Bellah calls "modern religion," the last stage in his scheme of religious evolution. Thus referring to Bellah\u27s discussion, it can be made clear that the psychological thought movement in modern advanced countries represents a new spirituality, although those who are concerned would claim it to be different from religion. In the last part of this paper, the author focuses on the motif of recovery of totality in the theory of self-actualization and points to the fact that the motif is expressed as "healing" in the recent scene of the movement