Religion & Sex: Studies in the Pathology of Religious Development

This work opens a careful inquiry into how science, especially psychology, can illuminate the development and sometimes the disorder of religious belief. The author argues that while scholars have mapped myths and traced ancient origins, they have largely ignored the mental‑health dimension of faith, treating it as either wholly sacred or entirely irrational. By proposing a “pathology of religion,” the book invites readers to consider how normal and abnormal mental processes intersect in spiritual life.

Written just after the First World War, the book reflects a period when traditional authority was being questioned and new scientific methods were expanding into every field of human experience. Its tone balances rigorous analysis with an awareness of the sensitivities surrounding religion, acknowledging the inevitable resistance from established theologians. Listeners will come away with a structured, thought‑provoking sketch of a territory that invites further exploration rather than claiming final answers.