Gollnick (psychology of religion, U. of Waterloo, Canada) focuses on implicit religion, whatever seems to function like a religion although it is not in the conventional sense, and its role in the major stages of life. He begins by examining how psychologists have viewed the issue of religion, explains the modern definitions of religion and spirituality, describes how they have become separate entities. He describes how religion and spirituality in their modern sense find their foundations in childhood, and how they figure in the adolescent search for identity and in the decisions of young adulthood. He shows how both can be important to the sense of passage and transformation in midlife, and integral to the spiritual journey often experienced in late adulthood. In each stage, implicit spirituality can change and grow with the person to meet their emotional needs at the time. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
