| Summary: | While there is no shortage of literature in the field of psychology of religion, much of this has been approached from a theoretical and often subjective point of view, rather than from an empirical or objective one. This is particularly true in the area of child development, where no long-term studies exist, despite the relevance of these to the religious formation of children. The present study is based on the results of a religious projective test for use with adolescent girls. Typical patterns of conflict and idealism emerge, especially within the family and social context, but the relation of religion is found to be an indirect one, in either their production or their resolution. Differences emerge according to the age and social background of the girls, most problems being found with both the older and the more intelligent younger ones, while an immature function of religion seems to be more found with the less able, pre-school-leaving group. The analysis of the results is related to the wider field of child development studies at all ages, and in particular to the aims and methodology of catechetics. It is argued that much of the failure to convey religious ideas effectively, as well as the tendency to produce religious conflict, has been due to a faulty understanding of the basic psychology of the child, of his needs and learning processes at any given stage. In the course of the study several criteria of "religious content" are explored, including some specific to the present work, but none are felt to be entirely satisfactory from either standpoint, religious or psychological. A hope is expressed that future studies will emerge that will be equally acceptable on each of these lines.
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