In January 2002 The Psychologist published a masterly review article by the late distinguished social psychologist Michael Argyle, entitled 'State of the art: Religion'. Nine years later, following the events of 7 July 2005 and the rise of 'new atheism', religion and the related concept of spirituality have become more prominent in public consciousness. There are now more British psychologists involved in the study of religion, as researchers, teachers or practitioners. It is therefore timely that the field is reviewed, this time by several writers in this single issue of The Psychologist.
