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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.Amazon.com Review
"I am neither a theologian, nor a scholar learned in thehistory of religions, nor an anthropologist. Psychology is the onlybranch of learning in which I am particularly versed. To thepsychologist the religious propensities of man must be at least asinteresting as any other of the facts pertaining to his mentalconstitution. It would seem, therefore, as a psychologist, the naturalthing for me would be to invite you to a descriptive survey of thosereligious propensities."

When William James went to the University of Edinburgh in 1901 todeliver a series of lectures on "natural religion," he definedreligion as "the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men intheir solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand inrelation to whatever they may consider the divine." Consideringreligion, then, not as it is defined by--or takes place in--thechurches, but as it is felt in everyday life, he undertook a projectthat, upon completion, stands not only as one of the most importanttexts on psychology ever written, not only as a vitally seriouscontemplation of spirituality, but for many critics one of the bestworks of nonfiction written in the 20th century. Reading TheVarieties of Religious Experience, it is easy to see why. Applyinghis analytic clarity to religious accounts from a variety of sources,James elaborates a pluralistic framework in which "the divine can meanno single quality, it must mean a group of qualities, by beingchampions of which in alternation, different men may all find worthymissions." It's an intellectual call for serious religioustolerance--indeed, respect--the vitality of which has not diminishedthrough the subsequent decades. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Truly absorbing discussion about the psychology of religion
I wanted to read this book because I heard it discussed by Mervyn Bragg and a panel of academics on BBC radio4. Although written at the beginning of the 20th century, the series of lectures which make up the book, seem to address some of the preoccupations routinely highlighted today among scientists who dispute the validity of religious experience, and its enduring importance in all human cultures. James did not set out to prove the existence of God when he took up the appointment of Gifford Lecturer on Natural Religion at the University of Edinburgh in 1902. As a psychologist his main focus of interest was to be 'the religious propensities of man' which he considered to be just as interesting as any other human mental experience.James describes the nature of religious conversion, with special emphasis on its startling suddenness, especially in relation to former sinners. In another lecture he considers the experiences of mysticism, and in others he looks at the characteristics of sanitliness, devotion and asceticism. In all these deliberations James combines a scientific detachment with a keen absorbtion in his subject matter.This attitude is what makes the book so interesting, despite the fact that it is written in a discursive and extended style characteristic of that period in history.

Classic
If you are a student of theology, this book is a must have classic.It is cited by almost all serious studies. Don't settle for someone else's excerpts, read the whole treatise.If you are simply seeking a work to inspire you to a world view, however, don't get it.It is a book to examine the subject, to explore the psychology of different aspects of theology, not to inspire the reader.But for the serious student, it is a must read in the subject.

A great book
This one book has done more to change the way I look at religion than any other work I have ever read.What I truly love about this book is the way that William James looks at the micro instead of focusing on the macro.He looks at the individual experiences with religion instead of looking at the group.This gives the reader the much more personalized view of religion, and how it interacts with the individual.His interviews with a broad range of people with an equal range of differing religious experiences gives the reader a rich assortment of the varieties of religious experience.

The most important aspect of this book, though, is the method of analysis used by James.Looking at religious experiences through psychology allows the reader to not only look at the personalized religious experience, but also lets us see that experience broken down by one of the world's foremost experts of his time and one of the greatest minds in U.S. history.This is the strength of this work.

The only criticism I will offer is that some of the material can become redundant.After James describes a particular religious experience he then provides numerous personal examples of this experience.This allows the reader to see the similarities along with the subtle deviations as well between individual experiences of religious phenomenon.The problem is that sometimes he provides more of these personal experiences than needed which makes certain sections seem a bit tedious and redundant.This problem is easily remedied by the reader if he/she will simply read enough of these experiences to get a good understanding then skip the rest of these when they start to become redundant.

This book was an invaluable contribution to my own understanding of religion.This greater understanding has enriched my life, and helped me to become much more understanding of the people around me.While I am not religious, this book has helped me understand those who are in a whole new way, and it has also informed my own agnosticism.I would recommend this book for anyone even remotely interested in religion.

Varieties of Religious Experience
The book is presented in a difficult form to read because of large pages, many small type quotations, and a book that will not lie flat when opened.As to the contents, they are fine, especially since the book was written over 100 years ago.

Varieties...
It took me sometime to finish this book, when I did I felt like I truly knew different perceptions of how others view religion...anyone who wants to see anothers view should read this and anyone who is trying to understand their own view should as well. I feel that we all have different views, and no one can judge another..for all our paths seem to go toward the same place...this not only gives facts and truths to this but enlightens anyone who picks it up...
blessings~ ... Read more

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This guide introduces the documentary heritage of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. A companion to Prince's A Presbyterian Bibliography, it locates and describes the unpublished papers of PCUS ministers. It also documents the larger southern tradition by including selected materials from the antebellum period and from other Presbyterian denominations. The result: a listing of resources for the study of the PCUS and Presbyterianism. The purpose: to promote and encourage research, and to emphasize this materials' continuing relevance in contemporary church life. ... Read more

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Increasing accessibility of Tibet has provided important new insights on the history and context of Tibetan art. This book discusses the impact of Tibetan patronage on Buddhist artistic monuments from both the heartland of Tibet as well as its far (cultural) borders.

A score of experts here explore the dialectic between local and "foreign" traditions. Thus the role of Indian artistic traditions, the merging with Chinese, Kidan and Turkic artistic features come to the fore, while at the same time Central Tibet gets ample attention.

Recent field research and the study of previously neglected primary literary (inscriptional) evidence make clear that the study of Tibetan art is still in its infancy. This edited volume is the first comprehensive guide to emerging new insights on the intricate context in which Tibetan art emerged and flourished. ... Read more

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Esta primera edicion critica bilingüe de los textos hititas realizada en Espana a partir de las ediciones cuneiformes constituye una obra de gran interes no solo para indoeuropeistas y filologos clasicos, por las abundantes coincidencias entre mitologia hitita y mitologia griega, sino para todos los estudiosos del Oriente Proximo antiguo, y en especial para los biblistas por las conexiones establecidas con textos del Antiguo Testamento. Su autor, doctor en filologia clasica por la Universidad de Oviedo, se especializo en lingüistica indoeuropea en la Universidad de Dresde, donde tambien ha impartido cursos de sanscrito clasico y de griego. ... Read more