William James and a Science of Religions: Reexperiencing <I>The Varieties of Religious Experience</I> (Columbia Series in Science and Religion)

The "science of religion" is an important element in the interpretation of William James's work and in the methodology of the study of religion. An authority on pragmatism and the philosophy of religion, Wayne Proudfoot and a stellar group of contributors from a variety of disciplines including religion, philosophy, psychology, and history, bring innovative perspectives to James's work. The "science of religion" is an important element in the interpretation of William James's work and in the methodology of the study of religion. An authority on pragmatism and the philosophy of religion, Wayne Proudfoot and a stellar group of contributors from a variety of disciplines including religion, philosophy, psychology, and history, bring innovative perspectives to James's work. Each contributor focuses on a specific theme in __The Varieties of Religious Experience__ and suggests how James's treatment of that theme can fruitfully be brought to bear, sometimes with revisions or extensions, on current debate about religious experience. Continuously in print since its original publication a century ago, William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience is an enduring exploration of the intersection of science and religion. Yet for all its popularity, the work has not received the critical attention it deserves. In this broad-ranging collection, six eminent scholars consider the influence and continuing relevance of Varieties. To determine the meaning of God, James provocatively argued, one must consider the actual experience of religion and the effect it has on people's lives. Applying his pragmatic philosophy to the study of religion, James proposed that traditional forms of inquiry should be replaced by a new "science of religions." Such a science would study religious beliefs, experiences, and practices, creating a theory of religion based on empirical observation and evaluation, not merely theological speculation.Employing a variety of critical approaches, William James and a Science of Religions reveals new relationships between James's analysis of religion and contemporary debates in philosophy, religious studies, and the social sciences. In the first essay, David Hollinger, a historian of American intellectual life, considers James's attempt to resolve conflicts between the legacy of Protestant Christianity and the seemingly contradictory demands of modern science. Wayne Proudfoot, a philosopher of religion, examines James's ambivalence about purely naturalistic explanations of religious experience. From the perspective of a historian of religious thought, Ann Taves offers a detailed study of the psychological discoveries and theories that influenced Varieties, showing how the book was a significant step toward legitimizing a science of religion. Jerome Bruner, a leading cognitive psychologist, reflects on the prescience of James's ideas on religious experience, which anticipated many of the central preoccupations of cultural anthropology and cognitive science. Exploring ambiguities and inconsistencies in Varieties, the philosopher Richard Rorty argues that James was unclear about the compatibility of naturalism and religious belief, and about whether theism provides evidence for the existence of a divine order. Philip Kitcher, a philosopher of science, criticizes interpretations that suggest James considered religious experiences valid because they are expedient or beneficial for those who have them, and makes a compelling case for a more sophisticated reading of his thought. Continuously In Print Since Its Original Publication A Century Ago, William James's The Varieties Of A Religious Experience Is An Enduring Exploration Of The Intersection Of Science And Religion. Yet For All Its Popularity, The Work Has Not Received The Critical Attention It Deserves. In This Broad-ranging Collection, Six Eminent Scholars Consider The Influence And Continuing Relevance Of Varieties. Employing A Variety Of Critical Approaches, William James And A Science Of Religions Reveals New Relationships Between James's Analysis Of Religion And Contemporary Debates In Philosophy, Religious Studies, And The Social Sciences.--jacket. Damned For God's Glory: William James And The Scientific Vindication Of The Protestant Culture / David A. Hollinger -- Pragmatism And An Unseen Order In Varieties / Wayne Proudfoot -- The Fragmentation Of Consciousness And The Varieties Of Religious Experience: William James's Contribution To A Theory Of Religion / Ann Taves -- James's Varieties And The New Constructivism / Jerome Bruner -- Some Inconsistencies In James's Varieties / Richard Rorty -- A Pragmatist's Progress: The Varieties Of James's Strategies For Defending Religion / Philip Kitcher. Wayne Proudfoot, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References. "Continuously in print since its original publication a century ago, William James's The Varieties of a Religious Experience is an enduring exploration of the intersection of science and religion. Yet for all its popularity, the work has not received the critical attention it deserves. In this broad-ranging collection, six eminent scholars consider the influence and continuing relevance of Varieties." "Employing a variety of critical approaches, William James and a Science of Religions reveals new relationships between James's analysis of religion and contemporary debates in philosophy, religious studies, and the social sciences."--BOOK JACKET. Contents Contributors Introduction Chapter 1. “Damned for God’s Glory”: William James and the Scientific Vindication of Protestant Culture Chapter 2. Pragmatism and “an Unseen Order” in Varieties Chapter 3. The Fragmentation of Consciousness and The Varieties of Religious Experience: William James’s Contribution to a Theory of Religion Chapter 4. James’s Varieties and the “New” Constructivism Chapter 5. Some Inconsistencies in James’s Varieties Chapter 6. A Pragmatist’s Progress: The Varieties of James’s Strategies for Defending Religion When William James died in 1910, his lifelong friend, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., remarked that when James dealt with religion, he had tried "to turn the lights down low so as to give miracle a chance."