Religious upbringing and the manner in which it is carried out constitute one of the primary concerns of the followers of monotheistic religions. A central and shared element across all these faiths is the establishment of a connection with God. Fundamentally, every relationship a person forms is rooted in their perceptions and attitudes; thus, the quality of one’s relationship with God is deeply influenced by their personal understanding, perception, and attitude toward Him.

One of the key psychological constructs in this regard is the God image—a term used to describe an individual’s mental representation of God. The proper development and reinforcement of a healthy God image is considered one of the most crucial components in fostering a meaningful and spiritually sound relationship with God, and, by extension, in religious upbringing.

Research indicates that one of the essential tasks of religious educators is to identify the existing God images held by their students and to intervene when those images are distorted or maladaptive.
The present study seeks to explore the concept of the God image, and, based on psychological findings and analyses, to articulate an ideal mental perception of God as reflected in Islamic teachings—particularly the teachings of Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him). By doing so, the study aims to highlight the significance of an individual’s perception of God in religious education and to establish clear criteria for distinguishing between a healthy and a distorted God image, drawing from both psychological literature and the insights of Imam al-Reza (A.S.).