The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature (Penguin American Library)

Standing 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' 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. Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time'The Varieties of Religious Experience is certainly the most notable of all books in the field of the psychology of religion and probably destined to be the most influential [one] written on religion in the twentieth century,'said Walter Houston Clark in Psychology Today. The book was an immediate bestseller upon its publication in June 1902. Reflecting the pluralistic views of psychologist-turned-philosopher William James, it posits that individual religious experiences, rather than the tenets of organized religions, form the backbone of religious life. James's discussion of conversion, repentance, mysticism, and hope of reward and fears of punishment in the hereafter--as well as his observations on the religious experiences of such diverse thinkers as Voltaire, Whitman, Emerson, Luther, Tolstoy, and others--all support his thesis.'James's characteristic humor, his ability to put down the pretentious and to be unpretentious, and his willingness to take some risks in his choices of ancedotal data or provocative theories are all apparent in the book,'noted Professor Martin E. Marty.'A reader will come away with more reasons to raise new questions than to feel that old ones have been resolved.'

Paving the way for all modern spiritual thought, The Varieties of Religious Experience was revolutionary in its view of religious life as centered not within the Church, but solely within the person. James, a vivid, subtle stylist writing for the skeptical, nonspecialist reader, was the first to define spirituality as "the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude." In this edition, scholars Taylor and Carrette bring a new understanding to James's life and his determination, in the cold, scientific face of the Industrial Revolution, to reaffirm the power of individual belief.

One hundred years after its publication James's work remains even more vital than before. Beyond its influence on the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, beyond its influence on launching the American pastoral counseling movement, and beyond its role in spawning the psychology of religion, it remains a book that empowers individuals and inspires readers with erudition, insight, and kindness. No discussion of current religion - from the fundamentalist revival to the New Age movement - is complete without an appreciation of this groundbreaking work.

First published in 1902, The Varieties of Religious Experience initiated the psychological study of religion, paving the way for Freud and Jung as well as for clinical and paranormal branches of psychology. Written with humour and erudition, its theories of conversion, saintliness, ecstasy and mysticism continue to provoke controversy and inquiry. The book remains the best introduction to James's thought, demonstrating his characteristic insistence upon the importance of personal experience and his almost devotional respect for the mysteries of the human mind. Richly illustrated with personal accounts of belief and possession, intoxication and near-death experience, it is of central importance not simply to an understanding of religions, but to modern psychology and psychiatric medicine.The Routledge Centenary Edition, entirely reset from the original 1902 edition, is prefaced with a specially commissioned foreword by the author's grandson, Micky James, and with new introductions from James specialists Eugene Taylor and Jeremy Carrette. It also includes a new and expanded index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Foreword to the Centenary Edition by Micky James Page......Page 12 Editors' preface by Eugene Taylor and Jeremy Carrette......Page 14 Introduction by Eugene Taylor: The Spiritual Roots of James's Varieties of Religious Experience......Page 16 Introduction by Jeremy Carrette: The Return to James: Psychology, Religion and the Amnesia of Neuroscience......Page 40 Preface from the 1902 Edition......Page 70 RELIGION AND NEUROLOGY......Page 72 CIRCUMSCRIPTION OF THE TOPIC......Page 91 THE REALITY OF THE UNSEEN......Page 111 THE RELIGION OF HEALTHY-MINDEDNESS......Page 131 THE SICK SOUL......Page 168 THE DIVIDED SELF, AND THE PROCESS OF ITS UNIfiCATION......Page 197 CONVERSION......Page 215 CONVERSION;concluded......Page 236 SAINTLINESS......Page 268 THE VALUE OF SAINTLINESS......Page 320 MYSTICISM......Page 359 PHILOSOPHY......Page 398 OTHER CHARACTERISTICS......Page 419 CONCLUSIONS......Page 440 POSTSCRIPT......Page 466 INDEX......Page 472 Marked by a rare combination of penetrating thought and virtuosic style, the writings of William James represent one of America's most original contributions to the history of ideas. Ranging from philosophy and psychology to religion and politics, James composed the most engaging formulation of American pragmatism. This collection presents Pragmatism in its entirety, James's seminal set of lectures in which he argues in his witty and limpid style for the "reasonableness of ordinary experience." Also gathered here are selections from James's other formative works, including The Meaning of Truth, Psychology, The Will to Believe, and Talks to Teachers on Psychology. Throughout these essays the fecund power of imagination is restored to the operations of rationality by James, whom George Santayana hailed as "an impulsive poet: a master in the art of recording or divining the lyric quality of experience." Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Foreword to the Centenary Edition by Micky James Page 12 Editors' preface by Eugene Taylor and Jeremy Carrette 14 Introduction by Eugene Taylor: The Spiritual Roots of James's Varieties of Religious Experience 16 Introduction by Jeremy Carrette: The Return to James: Psychology, Religion and the Amnesia of Neuroscience 40 Preface from the 1902 Edition 70 RELIGION AND NEUROLOGY 72 CIRCUMSCRIPTION OF THE TOPIC 91 THE REALITY OF THE UNSEEN 111 THE RELIGION OF HEALTHY-MINDEDNESS 131 THE SICK SOUL 168 THE DIVIDED SELF, AND THE PROCESS OF ITS UNIfiCATION 197 CONVERSION 215 CONVERSION;concluded 236 SAINTLINESS 268 THE VALUE OF SAINTLINESS 320 MYSTICISM 359 PHILOSOPHY 398 OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 419 CONCLUSIONS 440 POSTSCRIPT 466 INDEX 472

the Varieties Of Religious Experience Is Certainly The Most Notable Of All Books In The Field Of The Psychology Of Religion And Probably Destined To Be The Most Influential [one] Written On Religion In The Twentieth Century' Said Walter Houston Clark In Psychology Today. The Book Was An Immediate Bestseller Upon Its Publication In June 1902.

jaroslav Pelikan

the Old Cliche That Henry James Wrote Novels As Though They Were Philosophical Treatises Whereas William James Wrote Philosophic Treatises As Thogh They Were Novels, While Unfair To Henry, Describes...the William James Of The Varieties Of Religious Experience Very Well. Believers And Unbelievers (and Semibelievers) Will Continue To Find It Both A Resource And A Challenge.

Standing 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 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' 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 one the individual and the divine This is one of the most remarkable books ever written about religious experience. James captures the reader’s attention with vivid instances of religious experience collected from diverse sources, including classical religious texts, newspaper articles, and clinical studies. In this collection of Gifford lectures given in Scotland in 1901, James analyzes religious experience, using wonderful examples, penetrating psychological analysis, and memorable typologies. First published in 1902, this centenary edition, includes a new preface, introductions on the book's history, philosophical influence and modern relevance, and new indexing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this landmark text. William James ; With A Foreword By Michael James ; And New Introductions By Eugene Taylor And Jeremy Carrette. Originally Published: Longmans, Green And Co., New York, 1902. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of "the most influential book written on religion in the twentieth century," Routledge will proudly publish a major new edition of William James's turn of the century classic