William James' The Varieties of Religious Experience revisited.
Journal of religion and health December 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-008-9200-3 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractWilliam James' classic work, The Varieties of Religious Experience, was shaped by his familial, religious, and cultural context, particularly the influence of his father, Henry James, Senior. A severe cardiac condition also motivated James to undertake and complete his exploration of religious experience. The essay examines The Varieties and highlights how James' use of narrative contributes to the study of mind-body medicine.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 6 |
| Key finding | The familial and religious context, especially the influence of Henry James, Senior, and James' cardiac condition, were crucial to the writing of The Varieties of Religious Experience, and James' narrative approach is important for mind-body medicine. |
Abstract
This essay addresses the familial, religious, and cultural context for the writing and presentation of William James' classic work The Varieties of Religious Experience. The essay emphasizes the importance of the impact of Henry James, Senior, upon his son. This relationship along with a severe cardiac condition contributed to James' taking on and carrying through with his exploration of religious experience. The article explores The Varieties and concludes with a discussion of the importance of James' use of narrative to the study of mind-body medicine. This paper was originally presented at the Richardson Research Seminar in the History of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.