The 2025 IAPR Conference at the University of Birmingham: Highlighting the Cross-Disciplinarity of the Psychology of Religion

This article introduces a special edition of Archive for the Psychology of Religion dedicated to the 2025 International Association for the Psychology of Religion (IAPR) conference, hosted at the University of Birmingham from August 19 to 22, 2025. Centered on the theme “Highlighting the Cross-Disciplinarity of the Psychology of Religion,” the event fostered meaningful dialogue across psychology, theology, and related disciplines. The programme featured a preconference workshop titled “Widening the Methods Toolbox in the Psychology of Religion” and four keynote addresses covering the intersection of psychology and theology, as well as perspectives from the cognitive science of religion, developmental psychology, and health and ageing research. Attracting 245 registered participants from at least 33 countries, the 2025 IAPR conference showcased panels, oral papers, poster sessions, and lightning talks by researchers at all career stages. The Birmingham team also hosted the Psychology-Engaged Theology conference on August 18–19, 2025. This sister conference brought together 30 theologians who had completed an 18-month cross-training programme in psychology and their psychologist mentors. Post-conference survey respondents rated the overall experience, communication, and academic programming in the excellent range, highlighting IAPR 2025 as a vibrant and dynamic gathering for the global psychology of religion community.