The Varieties of Religious Experience

Synopsis

'By their fruits ye shall know them, not by their roots.' The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902) is William James's classic survey of religious belief in its most personal, and often its most heterodox, aspects. Asking questions such as how we define evil to ourselves, the difference between a healthy and a divided mind, the value of saintly behaviour, and what animates and characterizes the mental landscape of sudden conversion, James's masterpiece stands at a unique moment in the relationship between belief and culture. Faith in institutional religion and dogmatic theology was fading away, and the search for an authentic religion rooted in personality and subjectivity was a project conducted as an urgent necessity. With psychological insight, philosophical rigour, and a determination not to jump to the conclusion that in tracing religion's mental causes we necessarily diminish its truth or value, in the Varieties James wrote a truly foundational text for modern belief. Matthew Bradley's wide-ranging new edition examines the ideas that continue to fuel modern debates on atheism and faith. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Reality of the Unseen

* Argues that the reality of the unseen is a fundamental human experience, based on evidence from mystical and spontaneous religious experiences.
* Example: The experience of feeling a presence or connection to something greater than oneself.

Chapter 2: The Sick Soul

* Explores the nature of psychological distress and its potential role in religious experience.
* Example: The case of a man who found meaning and healing in religion after struggling with anxiety.

Chapter 3: The Divided Self

* Discusses the concept of the divided self, where conflicting impulses or desires create inner tension.
* Example: The struggle between one's spiritual aspirations and worldly temptations.

Chapter 4: The Religion of Healthy-Mindedness

* Examines the optimistic and upbeat religious perspective that emphasizes the goodness of life and the power of positive thinking.
* Example: The belief that prayer can heal all things or that God is always a source of love and comfort.

Chapter 5: The Religion of Sick-Mindedness

* Contrasts with the religion of healthy-mindedness, focusing on the darker aspects of human experience and the need for redemption or liberation from suffering.
* Example: The belief that the world is a sinful place or that God is a wrathful judge.

Chapter 6: The Value of Mystical Experience

* Discusses the transformative power of mystical experiences, arguing that they can provide insights into the nature of reality and the meaning of life.
* Example: A report of a mystical experience that left the individual feeling more connected to nature and the cosmos.

Chapter 7: The Varieties of Mystical Experience

* Classifies mystical experiences into various types, based on their characteristics and the insights they offer.
* Example: The distinction between monistic mysticism (where one feels unity with the universe) and dualistic mysticism (where one encounters a separate divine being).

Chapter 8: Religion and Social Consciousness

* Explores the social and ethical implications of religious experience, arguing that it can both inspire compassion and lead to fanaticism.
* Example: The role of religion in the abolitionist movement or in the rise of nationalism.

Chapter 9: The Empirical Approach

* Advocates for a scientific approach to the study of religious experience, based on observation and careful documentation.
* Example: The collection of case studies and surveys of religious experiences.

Chapter 10: The Interpretations of Religious Experience

* Discusses the various ways in which religious experiences have been interpreted, from psychological to theological perspectives.
* Example: The debate over whether mystical experiences are evidence of supernatural reality or psychological projections.