Ralph Hood, Professor of Psychology and distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), spoke to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications after his presentation on Mysticism and the Relationship between Religion and Spirituality. He was speaking at the international conference on Spirituality in Society and the Professions, which took place in the Waterford Institute of Technology from 16-18 May 2019. Professor Hood discussed the relationship between psychology and religion and how their abrupt divorce came about, focussing particularly on the work and influence of American philosopher and psychologist William James.