Evaluation of William James LO: I will be able to give arguments for and against.

Sources A Beginner’s Guide to Ideas (Raeper & Smith). The Varieties of Religious Experience (William James). Questions about God (Clarke). Ockham’s razor

For Psychological analysis is what is needed, James does point towards some common themes to religious experiences. Strengths of his modesty – i.e. not trying to establish that religious experience definitely prove the existence of a particular religions’ idea of God.

Against James’ argument is self-defeating. If religious experiences appear to have a psychological explanation then they are not to be thought of as religious experiences. (E.g. the nature of faith.) The characteristics which James picks out show that religious experiences have a lot in common with hallucinations. Is this Reductionist? (maybe this is all they are?) Is it accurate to see religious experiences as the main source of religious belief? Religious experiences only seem to happen to the religious. - Is this accurate?

James’ analysis is purely psychological (i. e James’ analysis is purely psychological (i.e. what happens for the experiencer). It can’t tell us anything useful at a philosophical level (i.e. it reveals nothing about the metaphysics of religious experience). Too narrow minded? Psychological explanations are not the only explanations which can be given for religious experiences. E.g. Spiritual, emotional, etc. 5