A Self-Centered Perspective on McIntosh's Religious Schema

Abstract

McIntosh proposes that religion can be conceptualized as a cognitive schema, and he cites clear benefits of adopting such a research paradigm. He also suggests that having a religious schema might be associated with intrinsic religiousness. Furthermore, he cites the potential interaction between an individual's religious schema and her or his overall self-schema as one area for future research. In response, I argue that religious schemas might be moderated by self-schemas (specifically, regarding personal control beliefs). Furthermore, viewing religious schemas within the context of personal control beliefs might provide a means to study the relevance of religion for all persons in the general population (i.e., intrinsic or extrinsic, religious or nonreligious). Recent research efforts supporting these hypotheses are cited.