Calamus Extension
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Unit number: RIS
225
Unit title: Varieties
of Religious Experience
Credit value: 3 credits
Description: This unit offers a study of the classic text by William James, Varieties of Religious Experience (1901-02), including comments on the relevance of this study for today. James, as a psychologist, studied first-hand accounts of religious experiences, especially those of people who expressed their religion in new ways. James divided religious experiences into two kinds: (a) a religion of healthy-mindedness and (b) a religion of morbid-mindedness or the sick soul. Type (a) is perhaps similar to some of today’s New Age expressions, and Type (b) can be found today in Evangelical Christianity. “Healthy-minded” approaches tend to deny real evil and suffering, “morbid-minded” approaches recognize that people have fundament flaws (sin) and need spiritual help (salvation) to overcome them.
Key textbook: James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience. Barnes & Noble Classics Edition, 2004.
Copies of this book are widely available second-hand in many editions – see www.amazon.com www.amazon.co.uk www.abebooks.com www.abebooks.co.uk - also look on eBay. However, we recommend the edition listed above, because it includes valuable explanatory notes by Wayne Proudfoot, Professor of Religion at Columbia University.
There are also various free on-line or downloadable versions of the text and you can search for them by entering the book title on Google.
Comments:
Amendments may be made to the details and provision of units at any time.
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