After dismissing the idea that innate traits of personality predispose to being religious, a theory of identity as resulting from a process of construction is sketched using three approaches: research in social psychology and sociology, a core-periphery model of identity, and the concept of narrative identity. The role of using religious references in the construction of identity is then illustrated by empirical research in three areas: the formation of religious identity in the transition to adulthood, the resources for coping with difficulties in the life course, the role of narratives in the construction of religious identity. The presentation concludes with the resulting social responsibilities, showing what psychological impact public governance in these areas can have.