Jan van der Lans
Encyclopedia
Johannes Maria van der Lans (July 10, 1933-2002) was a Dutch professor in the psychology of religion
at the Catholic University of Nijmegen
(now called Radboud University Nijmegen).
. After his secondary education he studied from 1953 until 1960 philosophy and theology at the abbey
of Berne in Heeswijk
. He was a member of this monastery until 1968. He started studying psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen in 1961. One of his teachers was Han Fortmann. In 1967 he was accepted as a full-time employee of the university. In 1978 he received his doctorate
for his dissertation on Religious experience and meditation (Dutch: Religieuze ervaring en meditatie).
s. In 1979 he instigated a European platform of psychologists of religion and until 1997 he was chairperson of the International Committee of European Psychologists of Religion. In 1992 he became a professor in the psychology of religion at the university. Van der Lans was involved in the International Association for the Psychology of Religion (German: Internationale Gesellschaft für Religionspsychologie) and as of 1998 part of its executive committee. He was also a member of the Commission Internationale de Psychologie Religieuse Scientifique.
According to one of his colleagues, his work was not without theological preferences and bias, but he presented himself as an empirically oriented psychologist.
, an organization that undertakes its activities from a Christian inspiration), and wrote several books commissioned by them.
Psychology of religion
Psychology of religion consists of the application of psychological methods and interpretive frameworks to religious traditions, as well as to both religious and irreligious individuals. The science attempts to accurately describe the details, origins, and uses of religious beliefs and behaviours...
at the Catholic University of Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen is a public university with a strong focus on research in Nijmegen, the Netherlands...
(now called Radboud University Nijmegen).
Education
Van der Lans was born in The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. After his secondary education he studied from 1953 until 1960 philosophy and theology at the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of Berne in Heeswijk
Heeswijk
Heeswijk is a Dutch town. It is located in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands.Heeswijk was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with the adjacent village of Dinther. Since 1 January 1994 it has been part of the larger municipality of Bernheze, which...
. He was a member of this monastery until 1968. He started studying psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen in 1961. One of his teachers was Han Fortmann. In 1967 he was accepted as a full-time employee of the university. In 1978 he received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
for his dissertation on Religious experience and meditation (Dutch: Religieuze ervaring en meditatie).
Research
From 1977 onwards he did research among followers of new religious movementNew religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
s. In 1979 he instigated a European platform of psychologists of religion and until 1997 he was chairperson of the International Committee of European Psychologists of Religion. In 1992 he became a professor in the psychology of religion at the university. Van der Lans was involved in the International Association for the Psychology of Religion (German: Internationale Gesellschaft für Religionspsychologie) and as of 1998 part of its executive committee. He was also a member of the Commission Internationale de Psychologie Religieuse Scientifique.
According to one of his colleagues, his work was not without theological preferences and bias, but he presented himself as an empirically oriented psychologist.
Professional associations
From 1997 to his death, he was chairperson of the Netherlands-based Catholic Study Center for Mental Health (Dutch Katholiek Studiecentrum voor Geestelijke Volksgezondheid, usually abbreviated as KSGVKSGV
The KSGV is a Dutch association that organizes conferences and publishes articles and books related to faith, religion and mental health, undertaking its activities from a Christian inspiration...
, an organization that undertakes its activities from a Christian inspiration), and wrote several books commissioned by them.
English
- Lans, J. van der Therapeutic Importance of Yoga and Meditation. Gedrag: Tijdschrift voor Psychologie 3, no. 2 (1975): 49-62.
- Lans, J. van der . Religious Experience and Meditation Psychology 14 (1979): 154-164.
- Lans, J. van der (1987) The Value of Sundén's Role-Theory Demonstrated and Tested with Respect to Religious Experiences in Meditation in the "Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion", Vol. 26, No. 3 (Sep., 1987), pp. 401–412
- F. Derks, Lans, J. van der " Post-cult syndrome Fact or Fiction? ", paper presented at conference of Psychologists of Religion, Catholic University Nijmegen, 1981, also appeared in Dutch language as Post-cult-syndroom; feit of fictie?, published in the magazine Religieuze bewegingen in Nederland/Religious movements in the Netherlands nr. 6 pages 58–75 published by the Free University of Amsterdam (1983)
- Derks, Frans, and Jan M. van der Lans. 1983. Subgroups in Divine Light Mission Membership: A Comment on Downton in the book Of Gods and Men: New Religious Movements in the West. Macon edited by Eileen BarkerEileen BarkerEileen Vartan Barker OBE, born in Edinburgh, UK, is a professor in sociology, an emeritus member of the London School of Economics , and a consultant to that institution's Centre for the Study of Human Rights...
, GA: Mercer University Press, (1984) - Lans, Jan van der and Frans Derks Premies Versus Sannyasins originally published in Update: A Quarterly Journal on New Religious Movements, X/2 (June 1986)
- Richardson, James J.James Richardson (sociologist)James T. Richardson is a Professor of Sociology and Judicial Studies, and the Director of the Master of Judicial Studies Degree Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Richardson specializes in social and behavioral science evidence, Sociology of Religions and New Religious Movements, Sociology...
, J. van der Lans, and F. Derks. 1986. "Leaving and Labeling: Voluntary and Coerced Disaffiliation from Religious Social Movements]]." Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change. 9:97-126. - Janssen, J. Lans, J. van der, & Dechesne, M. (2001). Fundamentalism. The possibilities and limitations of a social-psychological approach. In Henten, van W.-J. Religious identity and the invention of tradition. New NOSTER series (STAR).
- Janssen, J. Prins, M., Lans, J. van der, & Baerveldt, J. (2001) The structure and variety of prayer. An empirical study of Dutch youth in Journal of Empirical Theology
Dutch
- Derks, F. and J.M. van der Lans (1983) Het post-cult-syndroom: feit of fictie? in Religieuze bewegingen in Nederland, 6, 58-75.
- Derks, F. and J.M. van der Lans (1985) Van het pad gevallen: de gevolgen van uittreding uit nieuwe religieuze bewegingen in Religieuze bewegingen in Nederland, 10, 66-103.
- In de spiegel van de mythe herken ik mijzelf. In: Religieuze symbolen in psychotherapie (Dutch language) (1987)
- Jan van der Lans, Cécile Nijsten & Margo Rooijackers: Culturele zingevingssystemen en subjectief welbevinden. Een onderzoek onder allochtone jongeren. In: Wat baat religie? (Dutch) (1998)
- Ten geleide. In: Alleenstaan. Een onderbelichte vorm van samenleven (1999)
- Janssen, J., Maerten Prins, Cor Baerveldt & Jan van der Lans: Structuur en varianten van bidden. Een onderzoek bij Nederlandse jongeren. In: Wat baat religie? Nijmegen: KSGV, 67-96. (Dutch language) (1998) Nijmegen: KSGV, 67-96.
- Ten geleide. In: Zin op school. Zingeving in het voortgezet onderwijs (Dutch) (2000)
- Ten geleide. In: Spiritualiteit in psychotherapie? (Dutch) (2001)
- Prins, M., Lans, van der J. & Janssen, J. (1998) The house of God: religie en extase. Psychologie en Maatschappij, 22 (3), 252-263. (Dutch)
External links
- Professor dr. Jacques Janssen at the website of the Radboud University