A Psychology of Religion via Thick Phenomenology in Thin Places

ABSTRACT Prof. Ralph Hood’s career can be approached from many angles. One such perspective is that his work has consistently engaged in-depth interactions with people to understand the thick, rich, details of their individual stories. The context for these investigations has been predominately one of mystical or ineffable experiences that occur in “thin spaces” involving decisive moments with regard to identity and behavior. In this paper, we explore the emergence of these themes in his work and conclude by observing how his thinking suggests opportunities for additional cross-disciplinary conversations.