this volume explores the impact of religion from a social science point of view by presenting the meaning system approach to the contemporary practice of religion, within social personality psychology and related fields; and by showing the interdisciplinary, multimethod research being conducted within this framework. religion as a meaning system sheds new light on the impact that religion has on individuals in terms of their beliefs, goals, emotions, and behaviors, as well as the influence on interpersonal and intergroup relationship, both nationally and internationally.