The Variety of Religious Experience

The life of American philosopher William James (1842–1910), a leading representative of pragmatism and functionalism, who is considered the father of modern psychology, was not eventful, except for the fact that he was twice honored to head the American Psychological Association, founded the first applied psychology laboratory in the United States at Harvard, where he taught consistently, and in his later years became interested in spiritualism. However, after the death of the great scholar, the adventures of his theories began, which were at times disproven and dismissed, then once again elevated to a pedestal, and then conveniently forgotten—only to return to them decades later. The Variety of Religious Experience is one of James's most well-known works, in which he focuses on the psychological problems of religious and mystical experiences, sharply distinguishes the psychological nature of philosophical experience and its philosophical significance, and points out the necessity of distinguishing the practical value of any religious phenomenon from the question of its origin, rejects the idea of the superiority of science over religion, insisting on their separate and incomparable value, and creates a true classification of the most essential features of religious life—from the believer's priority of the spiritual world over the visible to his confidence in salvation.