From the marine life to the ocean feeling

Alister Hardy and the study of religious experience

Authors

  • Marta Helena de Freitas Universidade Católica de Brasília
  • Prof. Bettina University of Wales Trinity Saint David

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/1676-1669.2021.26443

Keywords:

Alister Hardy, Psychology of Religion, religious experience , religion, spirituality

Abstract

A well-known British biologist, knighted for his contributions to the study of marine life, devoted his life after retiring from Oxford University in the United Kingdom, at 73 years old, to the study of the vitality of the religious phenomenon by founding a Research Unit in Religious Experience (RERU) in Oxford. The biologist was Sir Alister Hardy (1896-1985), whose stories, main works and conceptions, influences and ensuing contributions to the Psychology of Religion are the focus of this paper. It reflects the theoretical and historiographical impact of his work, written on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the RERU. Currently it is located in Lampeter, Wales, hosted by the University of Wales Trinity University since 2000, and named Alister Hardy Religious Experience Research Centre (RERC).

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Author Biographies

Marta Helena de Freitas, Universidade Católica de Brasília

Psicóloga. Mestre e Doutora em Psicologia pela Universidade de Brasília. Realizou pesquisas de pós-doutoramento em Psicologia da Religião e Psicologia Intercultural pela University of Kent at Canterbury e University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Reino Unido, e Universidade do Porto, Portugal. Professora-pesquisadora no Programa de Psicologia da Universidade Católica de Brasília.

Prof. Bettina, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Professor in Study of Religions and Director of the Alister Hardy Religious Experience Research Centre at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. President of British Association for the Study of Religion.

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Published

2021-10-22

How to Cite

Freitas, M. H. de, & Schmidt, B. (2021). From the marine life to the ocean feeling: Alister Hardy and the study of religious experience. Memorandum: Memory and History in Psychology, 38. https://doi.org/10.35699/1676-1669.2021.26443

Issue

Vol. 38 (2021)

Section

Articles

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