 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~
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