Vallás és pszichológia mint közös tér az egyházi oktatásban

Tibor Galaczi

doi:10.3311/ope.40478

Authors

Tibor Galaczi

Affiliation

Tibor Galaczi Sch. P. is a Piarist friar and priest who holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology (specializing in Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Szeged, 2022) and is a Specialist Consultant Psychologist (Eötvös Loránd University, 2024). Furthermore, he has attained MA qualifications in both English and Hungarian Language and Literature (Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church, Eötvös Loránd University) and is a Certified Theologian (Sapientia College of Theology of Religious Orders). He is currently an Assistant Lecturer at the Institute of Psychology, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, and a PhD candidate at the Doctoral School of Educational Sciences, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University. He is also a member of the Religious Psychology Research Group at the Pope John Paul II Research Centre and serves as a School Psychologist at the Piarist Grammar School in Budapest. His research interests encompass the fields of Psychology of Religion, Personality Psychology, and the psychological and pedagogical aspects of sacred spaces.

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between religiosity and psychology with particular reference to their representation in church education. Despite the historical opposition between religiosity and psychology, the study points to the growing rapprochement between the two fields. Psychology is increasingly integrating religious and spiritual dimensions, while religious communities are applying psychological elements in the pastoral care of their entrusted people. The paper presents the psychological role of religious experience, models of faith development, the importance of the relationship with the sacred, and some neuropsychological aspects of religious phenomena. It highlights the positive effects of religious coping on mental health. The article stresses that religion and psychology are not exclusive fields but can be complementary realities. Shared goals such as a focus on growth, meaning making and understanding each other's experiences create opportunities for integrating the two fields. The paper concludes with an exploration of the common areas of contact between psychology and religion as well as possible ethical issues and limitations. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of dialogue between religion and psychology, especially in the context of church education, where the integration of the two fields can create opportunities for the contemporary transmission of faith and support for personal development.