William James: The Mystical Experimentation of a Sick Soul

Summary

William James is best understood as a 'sick soul' who sought and ultimately found twice-born religion through mystical experiences. While biographers suggest he doesn't fit into his own categories of healthy-minded individuals and sick souls, this analysis argues otherwise. James theorized about mystical experiences in a way that aligns with the scientific understanding of his era, and although modern science complicates the notion of direct divine input, religious experiences can still be valued for their beneficial effects.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Especially in The Varieties of Religious Experience, William James developed the polar categories of healthy-minded individuals content with their once-born religion versus sick souls who need to become twice-born in order to find religious peace. Biographers of James have concluded that he does not fit well under either of his polar categories. Drawing on both data about James’ life and on his philosophical and theological writings, I demur from the biographers’ conclusion and instead advance the thesis that the overall pattern of William James’ life is best understood as a sick soul searching for—and ultimately finding—twice-born religion in connection with mystical experiences. Notably, James attempted to theorize about mystical experiences as connecting with divine reality/ies in naturalistic ways compatible with scientific knowledge of his time. Scientific knowledge today makes it more difficult to find evidence of direct divine input in religious experiences, yet one might find value in religious experiences in terms of James’ pragmatic criterion for truth: their beneficial or adaptive effects.

Tags