Informationen zum Autor Older brother of novelist Henry James, William James (1842-1910) was a philosopher, psychologist, physiologist, and professor at Harvard. James has influenced such twentieth-century thinkers as Richard Rorty, Jurgen Habermans, Michel Foucault, and Julia Kristeva. Klappentext 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. Zusammenfassung Standing at the crossroads of psychology and religion, this work applies the scientific method to a field abounding in abstract theory. It believes that individual religious experiences, rather than the precepts of organized religions, are the backbone of the world's religious life. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction by Martin E. Marty Suggestions for Further Reading A Note on the Text The Varieties of Religious Experience

Klappentext

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.

Zusammenfassung
Standing at the crossroads of psychology and religion, this work applies the scientific method to a field abounding in abstract theory. It believes that individual religious experiences, rather than the precepts of organized religions, are the backbone of the world's religious life.

Inhalt
Introduction by Martin E. Marty
Suggestions for Further Reading
A Note on the Text The Varieties of Religious Experience