Introduction to Special Issue in Honor of Ralph W. Hood, Jr.

Most anyone who studies psychology of religion has encountered the name Ralph W. Hood, Jr. His perennial presence at research conferences and many contributions to the psychology of religion have now spanned more than five decades. This observation and his recent anniversary of 51 years at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) are timely reasons for dedicating a special issue to honor him in the journal he co-founded in 1992, with Laurence B. Brown and H. Newton Malony as co-editors, and himself as book review editor. Thus, we present this issue in recognition of Ralph and his considerable accomplishments in the psychology of religion. The six articles included here represent but a small sample of areas and people his research has touched. For those who have seen Ralph at research conferences, two things readily stand out: first, his trademark jeans, tie-dyed tee-shirt, and ball-cap are elevated to formal attire by the addition of a sports coat; and second, his conference presentations are always extemporaneous, enormously stimulating, and reflective of a well-read mind not only in psychology, but also in other disciplines. He can be seen conversing with established scholars on matters of research or shared personal interest, but also with young scholars who are striving to find their way into an academy that sometimes can be less than welcoming. Succinctly put, Ralph is a regular and unmistakable presence at these meetings. In his career, Ralph has served in many capacities, including president of APA Division 36, editor/co-editor of several journals (e.g., IJPR, the Archive, JSSR, etc.), editorial board member for numerous journals, and chair/member of multiple committees in professional organizations. He also has received a number of awards for his service and research contributions from APA Division 36 and other organizations. According to Bernie Spilka and Kevin Ladd (this issue), he “has been one of the most productive and innovative researchers in the psychology of religion.” He indeed has been prolific in authoring/coauthoring some 14 books (not to mention his textbook), over 65 book chapters and encyclopedia articles, and more than 160 journal articles. But perhaps the significance of his contribution to the psychology of religion is most emblematic in his longtime partnership with Bernie Spilka – another giant among us – as coauthor of The Psychology of Religion: An Empirical Approach, which was first published more than 35 years ago (Spilka et al., 1985). Since then, this work has dominated the field internationally as “the” textbook for students and scholars alike through five editions that critically summarize theories and empirical research (e.g., Hood et al., 2018). Ralph has influenced untold students and scholars in the psychology of religion. The many who know him personally can offer stories from treasure troves of memorable experiences that illustrate his deep concern for the welfare and professional development of others. His kindness and patience with his undergraduate and graduate students have inspired them to emulate the same excellence they observe in him. He supports his students by shepherding them along the way, although he also challenges them to discover their own path as researchers. As former student Job Chen (Chen & Patel, this issue) remarked, “Ralph led me to see what I can achieve and let me explore my own ways.” Ralph challenges both students and professionals to excel, and helps them advance in their careers, whenever possible. He also has positively influenced seasoned scholars. For example, Peter Hill (this issue) learned from Ralph that “we need to be more intellectually humble” as psychologists, respecting the religious perspectives of our research participants. On an international level, his personal relationships and research collaborations have done much to enhance the relations between American and European, Middle Eastern, and Asian psychologists of religion. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION 2021, VOL. 31, NO. 3, 153–155 https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2021.1940531