The Varieties of Religious Experience: Complete and Unabridged (Illustrated)

A great study spoiled by poor formatting...This kindle version of William James’ fabulous study into the varieties of religious experience does not have an active TOC. It is therefore rather pointless, as it is impossible to navigate between chapters and sections in the book.

Text written in 3 columns across each page rendering completely impractical to read.. returned at own expense for refund

It was referenced by Bill W in his Big Book as being an inspiration to him. Still relevant today in a pluralistic world

good

A wonderful attempt to put religious experiences on an empirical basis and to interpret them through the understanding of the unconscious.

This book could have been written yesterday. James's view of spirituality is as a sort of superhuman monism...He blend the mysticism of the East and the saintly asceticism if the West into a single whole to show how we can connect to something 'other' - the overwhelming consciousness of selfless love we call God. He does not shy away from its aberrations or excesses; nor does he avoid the question of when mysticism bridges into insanity. Rather he notices that the intense subjectivity of consciousness reveals other ways of being, that are equally 'real' however long they last. Consciousness is a 'sense'. Just as suddenly seeing the ultraviolet spectrum would be an insight into a different, parallel, but 'true' reality, so spiritual enlightenment even triggered by near death experiences or deep meditation can be a bridge into something real. It"s measured, wise and provocative. Great read.

An honest, well informed and well discussed treatment of religious belief and the human experience. A classic work and highly recomended.

as previously rated, anything Wm James wrote is fascinating on many levels. Hurrah for Radical Empiricism