THE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS BEHAVIOR ACCORDING TO AL-GHAZALI, MICHAEL ARGYLE AND FEIERMAN

Abstract

Psychologists have conducted empirical studies and observations to explain the development of religious behavior. Psychologists in this field such as Micheal Argyle, Feierman and Ghazali have certainly give their own theories and views in explaining the stages of development of religious behavior. This has certainly been found in many of their books. However, it would be useful to conduct an analysis to find out the views of these religious psychologists and thus be able to conclude about the development stages of religious behavior. Therefore, the objectives of this paper analyzes Argyle, Feierman and Ghazali books which is discusses the question of religious behavior. This study uses qualitative methods through document analysis approach to the work of Religious Behavior from Argyle, Biology of Religious Behavior from Feierman and Ihya Ulum Al-Din from Ghazali. The discussions of all these religious psychologists were analyzed thematically to answer the objectives of the study. The results show that the level of development of religious behavior discussed by Argyle and Feierman is through the stage of development of age from childhood stage to adult’s stage. Meanwhile, for Ghazali, he explained that the development stage of religious behavior is through the strength development of soul. The importance of this study is to find out how and why religious behavior is performed by humans.