The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature; Being the Gifford Lectures on Natural Religion Delivered at Edinburgh in 1901-1902 (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

William James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0265157382 ISBN 13: 9780265157381

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Explore how personal religious experience shapes belief, behavior, and life impact.

This classic study investigates the inner workings of faith, doubt, and spirituality through psychological lenses. It presents vivid examples, from converts to mystics, and asks how religious feelings translate into real-world change. Grounded in careful observation, it offers a framework for understanding why people sustain, transform, or abandon their beliefs.

The book frames religion as a personal, lived phenomenon rather than a set of abstract doctrines. It examines different temperaments, the role of emotion, and the ways experiences of the divine can alter character. While it surveys wide ranges of religious life, it remains accessible and focused on practical questions about meaning, happiness, and ethics.

• Learn how feelings, motives, and social factors interact to shape religious life
• See case studies of conversions, sanctity, and spiritual struggles
• Discover criteria for judging the personal value and fruits of religious experiences
• Explore debates on mysticism, psychology, and the foundations of belief

Ideal for readers curious about the psychology of religion, personal faith, and how religious experiences influence everyday life.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0265157382
• ISBN 13: 9780265157381
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 546