Contemporary Varieties of Religious Experience: James's Classic Study in Light of Resiliency, Temperament, and TraumaFirst published in 1902, William James's Varieties of Religious Experience is considered a classic in religious studies and the psychology of religion. But how has James's classic study weathered decades of development in psychology and behavioral sciences? Do the assertions about religious experience in the Varieties still ring true in light of neuro-cognitive and neuro-hormonal research, resiliency studies, studies of temperament, and traumatic studies? By extending William James's own research throughout the century since its publication this volume seeks to answer those questions. In doing so, it revolutionizes our understanding of James's own view of psychology and reveals the extraordinary value of James's perspective for religion, psychology, and spirituality today. In doing so, it offers vital insights for pastoral care and faith development at both the individual and congregational level. From the Introduction by James Fowler: Drawing on the authenticity of her own experience, Bridgers carries us into a remarkably clear and well documented account that traces William James's evolution as a psychologist, philosopher, and a deeply engaged inquirer into the dynamics of spiritual development and transformation... This book has a major contribution to make. Bridgers's study illumines the horizons of contemporary research in the study of religious experience, in all its varieties, and in the context of globalization. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Beginning Where We End | 3 |
The Importance of The Varieties of Religious Experience | 6 |
Examining Jamess Method | 8 |
William James a Century Later | 15 |
Evolution of a Pluralist | 21 |
From Principles to Varieties | 22 |
Mysticism and Monism | 28 |
Monks | 101 |
Describing the Monk | 102 |
James Phenomenological MethodLectures VI VII and VIII | 106 |
Phenomenological Evidence1902 to 2002 | 107 |
Conclusion | 127 |
Mystics | 133 |
Describing the Mystic | 134 |
Jamess Phenomenological MethodLectures X and XI | 140 |
The All and the Each | 30 |
Characterizing Religious Experience | 31 |
Benefits of Jamess Perspective | 36 |
Jamess Conversion Typology | 43 |
The Religion of HealthyMindedness | 47 |
The Sick Soul | 48 |
Rediscovering Jamess Perspectives | 52 |
Kagans Temperament Studies and Jamess Typology | 54 |
Prophets | 67 |
Describing the Prophet | 68 |
Jamess Phenomenological MethodLectures IV and V | 70 |
Phenomenological Evidence1902 to 2002 | 71 |
Conclusion | 93 |
Phenomenological Evidence1902 to 2002 | 142 |
Conclusion | 169 |
Between Me and My God | 179 |
Consolidating Christian IdentityProphetic Beginnings | 181 |
The Sick SoulAugustine of Hippo and the Monastic Tradition | 185 |
Redefining Christian IdentityThe Spontaneity of the Spiritual Innovator | 190 |
Implications for Contemporary Religious Communities | 199 |
Conclusion | 201 |
209 | |
221 | |
About the Author | |
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abrupt conversion activation Adversus haereses amygdala Ann Taves anxiety disorders Aron associated Augustine behavior believes century chapter Christian church cited consciousness contemporary depression differences dissociative dissociative disorders Dysregulations Edith Stein emotional emphasizes ence Eugene Taylor faith fear feeling Fox and Davidson Freud Galen's Prophecy healing healthy-minded Hemispheric Highly Sensitive Person human idea individual inhibited children Irenaeus James's perspective James's phenomenological James's typology Janet Jerome Kagan lectures lives Mary Baker Eddy mental mind mind-cure movement monastic Myers mystical notes Pentecostal phenomenological philosophical Pierre Janet Pluralistic Universe practice prayer prophetic psychological PTSD reactive recognize reflect relationship religion religious experience response Right Brain role Schore Science sick soul spiritual Starbuck subconscious subliminal suggests surrender temperament theology theory Thought and Character tion Trances transformation trauma unconscious unification Varieties of Religious William James writes York