Comprehending Incomprehensible: Comparative Approach in Qualitative Psychological Studies of Religiosity

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of methodological problems in psychological studies of religiosity and offers a new comparative approach to qualitative research of religiosity as a component of human life. The authors demonstrate the possibility of combining ideas of religious philosophy (Christian and Islamic) with J. Lacan's psychoanalytic idea of a multidimensional subject in the psychological interpretation of biographical interviews of believers. The essence of the authors' approach to interpretation is repeated re-reading of the interview texts from the theological (close to the respondent's denomination), psychoanalytic and reflective positions, which provides methodological triangulation of qualitative analysis and creates opportunities for a richer understanding of the meanings of the stories. The analysis of two semi-structured interviews with Muslim and Orthodox women are presented. The authors discuss the possibilities of applying their methodological approach to the explorations of religious experience and the relationship between deep psychological and spiritual aspects of such experience.