THE VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

A Study in Human Nature



BY WILLIAM JAMES




To
E.P.G.
IN FILIAL GRATITUDE AND LOVE


CONTENTS

LECTURE I
RELIGION AND NEUROLOGY
Introduction: the course is not anthropological, but deals with
personal documents-- Questions of fact and questions of value--
In point of fact, the religious are often neurotic-- Criticism of
medical materialism, which condemns religion on that account--
Theory that religion has a sexual origin refuted-- All states of
mind are neurally conditioned-- Their significance must be tested
not by their origin but by the value of their fruits-- Three
criteria of value; origin useless as a criterion-- Advantages of
the psychopathic temperament when a superior intellect goes with
it-- especially for the religious life.