William James and The Varieties of Religious Experience

<p>William James's <em>The Varieties of Religious Experience</em> was an intellectual landmark, paving the way for current study of psychology, philosophy and religious studies. In this new companion to the <em>Varieties</em>, key international experts provide contemporary responses to James's book, exploring its seminal historical importance and its modern significance. Locating the <em>Varieties</em> within the context of James's other works and exploring James's views on psychology, mysticism, religious experience, emotion and truth, the sixteen articles offer new analyses of the <em>Varieties</em> from the perspectives of postcolonial theory, history, social theory and philosophy. As the only critical work dedicated to the cross-disciplinary influence of <em>The Varieties of Religious Experience</em>, this book testifies to William James's genius and ongoing legacy.</p> <p>Acknowledgements Notes on Contributors Introduction The Centenary and the Varieties of Interpretation <strong>Section 1: James and the History of Psychology </strong>1. Metaphysics and Consciousness in James's Varieties: Origins, Meaning, and Effects 2. Psychologies as Ontology-Making Practices: William James and the Pluralities of Psychological Experience <strong>Section 2: James, Psychology and Religion </strong> 3. Listening to James a Century Later: The Varieties as a Resource for Renewing the Psychology of Religion 4. The Varieties, the Principles and Psychology of Religion: Unremitting Inspiration from a Different Source 5. Passionate Belief: William James, Emotion and Religious Experience <strong>Section 3: James and Mysticism</strong> 6. For an Engaged Reading: William James and the Varieties of Postmodern Religious Experience <em> </em>7. Asian Religions and Mysticism: The Legacy of William James in the History of Religions<em> </em>8: James and Freud on Mysticism <em> </em>9. Mystical Assessments: Jamesian Reflections on Spiritual Judgements <strong>Section 4: James and Philosophy </strong>10. Varieties of Experience and Pluralities of Perspectives <em>Ruth Putnam </em>11. The Ecumenicalism of William James <em> </em>12. James on Truth (Again) 13. Pragmatism and Religious Belief in William James <em> </em>14. William James as a Religious Realist 15. James' Arationality and its Religious Extremum in the Light of the Concept of Pure Experience Conclusion Experience and the Value of Religion: Overview and Analysis </p>