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Feb. 3 - Notes - REL 304 William James - Humanistic Approach To Religion

The document summarizes William James's philosophical and psychological approach to religion. It outlines that James took a humanistic and empirical approach, focusing on describing religious experiences rather than developing theories of religion. It discusses James's principles of pragmatism and radical empiricism, and how he applied these to judge religion based on its practical consequences and importance of direct experience. Finally, it notes that James studied exceptional individual's religious experiences to understand religion as a natural human impulse arising from personal temperament and the potential for religious conversion to bring healing.

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71 views2 pages

Feb. 3 - Notes - REL 304 William James - Humanistic Approach To Religion

The document summarizes William James's philosophical and psychological approach to religion. It outlines that James took a humanistic and empirical approach, focusing on describing religious experiences rather than developing theories of religion. It discusses James's principles of pragmatism and radical empiricism, and how he applied these to judge religion based on its practical consequences and importance of direct experience. Finally, it notes that James studied exceptional individual's religious experiences to understand religion as a natural human impulse arising from personal temperament and the potential for religious conversion to bring healing.

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Feb.

3rd Notes REL 304 William James humanistic approach to religion (primarily a philosopher, not psychologist) (first and only American mentioned in this class) The varieties of Religious Experience (book) More interested in describing religion and people who are religious, not developing theories of religion

Principles of Jamess Philosophy 1. Pragmatism a philosophical stance that judges ideas on the practical consequences they have on daily existence a. Think of pragmatism as practical(ism) b. For a pragmatist, truth is reality, what is true is what we can experience and works in reality 2. Radical Empiricism an approach to knowing that stresses the importance of direct personal experience a. How do you know it works, you know because you experienced it. b. Radical because abstract rational kinds of thinking miss whats important to life i. Ex. Science can teach you what water is, but you dont know what water is, go swimming. Jamess Philosophy of Religion 1. Pragmatism and religion religion is to be judged in light of its practical value for living. (James found religious experience to be personally and socially beneficial) a. James was not religious 2. Empiricism and Religion religious experience (Personal religion) and not religious doctrines, rituals or organization (Institutional religion) holds the fundamental meaning of religion and is the proper object of study. a. He had no interest in studying churches, doctrines, beliefs - Every religion begins with the personal religious experience of its founder. - Every religion continues because of the personal religious experience of believers James def. of religion - Religion is the feelings, acts and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider divine James Psychology of Religion - Subject: humankinds religious impulse and the experiences that arise from its functioning o He believe religion was natural - Method: Examine personal documents of religious experiences of exceptional individuals. o As a pragmatist, he wants to know exactly what people experienced.

He also wants to ignore everything except those considered exceptional (ex. Saints) No Muslim had experiences like Muhammad, no Christians walked in Jesus shoes Psychology: A personals temperament colors their experiences; temperament is the habitual mode of emotional response one has to life. o Temperament colors experiences Healthy minded a person who sees everything in life as good and tends to happiness and optimism Sick soul a person who is sensitive to lifes discordances (suffering, evil and death) and tends toward anxiety and melancholy. o James would argue that the sick soul leads a fuller richer deeper life and is the better of the two Healthy minded religious person vs. Sick soul religious person o Sick souls find the deeper portion of religion, they could feel Gods love James: Subconscious vs. Conscious o Subconscious contains higher impulses (wisdom and creativity) o Conscious contains lower impulses A sick soul has a divided self, communication creates the self Religious conversion brings about healing, wholeness of the (divided) self

Jamess Views on Religious Truth and Origins - The truth of religion is supported by its practical usefulness in personal and social life (pragmatism) religion is clearly practical and useful (pragmatism) - The truth of religion is supported by its being a universal phenomena encountered through direct personal experience (empiricism) - The principle of continuity suggests a connection between the human religious impulse and a true unseen reality. (empiricism) o The unseen reality is James example or explanation for God.

Protestants do not believe there is anything like free will.

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