By GORDON W. ALLPORT

Writing as a psychologist, the author traces the course of religious development in the normally mature and productive personality. Religious sentiments arise from needs, interests, temperament, rationality, and cultural response. The mature religious person can act whole-heartedly without absolute certainty, for religious aspiration is an intention to strive toward long-range goals whatever the present risks and difficulties. The crux of mental health rests upon one's beliefs, and the ability to integrate his conflicts around a master sentiment, that points beyond immediate and self-centered gratifications to larger relationships, more decisive action and deeper assurance in the realization of permanent values. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

NY.: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. 1960