The Psychology of Religion and Coping: Theory, Research, Practice by Kenneth Pargament was published in the United States in 1997.

Although it lacks any biological or psychiatric focus, I highly recommend it to colleagues who desire to organize their thoughts about religion."

Each concept is treated in careful conceptual and empirical detail, and the links that emerge testify to the importance of each, separately and jointly.

My students have responded positively to Pargament's careful exposition of his theory, the support he offers in examples from his research and clinical practice, and his engaging use of metaphor.

The book probes deeply into the complexities of the topic and is encyclopedic in its coverage of the research; it is therefore somewhat daunting in size.

By not avoiding the theoretical controversies and empirical weaknesses in this area, the conclusions are sometimes uncertain and the implications more muddy than in less open-eyed, more partisan work....