The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human NatureStanding at the crossroads of psychology and religion, this catalyzing work applied the scientific method to a field abounding in abstract theory. William James believed that individual religious experiences, rather than the precepts of organized religions, were the backbone of the world's religious life. His discussions of conversion, repentance, mysticism and saintliness, and his observations on actual, personal religious experiences - all support this thesis. In his introduction, Martin E. Marty discusses how James's pluralistic view of religion led to his remarkable tolerance of extreme forms of religious behaviour, his challenging, highly original theories, and his welcome lack of pretension in all of his observations on the individual and the divine. |
Contents
RELIGION AND NEUROLOGY | 1 |
CIRCUMSCRIPTION OF THE TOPIC | 26 |
THE REALITY OF THE UNSEEN | 53 |
THE RELIGION OP HEALTHYMINDEDNESS | 78 |
THE SICK SOUL | 127 |
THE DIVIDED SELF AND THE PROCESS OF ITS UNIFICATION | 166 |
CONVERSION | 189 |
CONVERSION Concluded | 217 |
SAINTLINESS | 259 |
Other editions - View all
The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature James William No preview available - 2019 |
The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature - Scholar's ... James William No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
abridged absolute anhedonia appear asceticism aseity attitude become believe Buddhist called character Christ Christian Christian Mysticism church consciousness conversion deity divine emotion ence eternal evil example excitement existence expression fact faith fear feeling felt fruits Gifford Lectures give God's happiness healthy-minded heart heaven Henry Alline higher Holy human ideal ideas impulses individual infinite inner intellectual J. A. Symonds kind lecture live Lord means melancholy ment mental mind mind-cure monistic moral mystical nature ness never objects one's ourselves over-belief phenomena philosophy possession pray prayer present Protestantism psychology Psychology of Religion pure question reality religion religious experience revelation rience Saint saintly seems sense sentiment sort soul speak spirit Starbuck subconscious Sufis Sufism thee theism theology things thou thought tion to-day transcendental idealism transcendentalist true truth universe whole William James words writes