The Religious ConsciousnessReligion is not a theory about reality; it is a reality. And yet we must not forget that it is a reality, which includes a theory. ~ ~ ~ In The Religious Experience philosopher James Bissett Pratt attempts to describe religious consciousness as an unprejudiced observer who has no thesis to prove. He demonstrates the universality of religious experience, however varied the verbal descriptions employed by persons who have had it. Topics covered in the book include the Religion of Childhood, the Belief in Immortality, the Cult and its Causes, and the Place and Value of Mysticism. JAMES BISSETT PRATT (1875 -1944) was strongly influenced by his deeply religious mother who awakened him to the phenomenon of religion and one's personal relationship with God. Pratt obtained his doctorate from Harvard University under the aegis of William James, who influenced his philosophical development, and became a mentor and good friend. Shortly afterwards he was hired by William College, where he became a professor of philosophy. Although raised an American Protestant, he did his best to experience Roman Catholicism in Europe, and Hinduism and Buddhism in India, Burma, and Sri Lanka. |
Contents
1 | |
4 | |
45 | |
SOCIETY AND THE INDIVIDUAL | 68 |
THE RELIGION OF CHILDHOOD | 91 |
VI | 103 |
ADOLESCENCE | 107 |
Two TYPES OF CONVERSION | 122 |
OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE WORSHIP | 290 |
PRAYER AND PRIVATE WORSHIP | 310 |
THE MILDER FORM OF MYSTIC EXPERIENCE | 337 |
THE MYSTICS AND THEIR METHODS | 363 |
THE ECSTASY | 368 |
THE MYSTIC LIFE | 372 |
THE PLACE AND VALUE OF MYSTICISM INDEX PAGE 1 | 399 |
22 | 405 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action adolescent asceticism attitude become Brahman Buddhist Catholic Chap chapter Christian Christian mystics Church co-conscious common conception consciousness conversion course crowd psychology cult definite described desire divine doubt ecstasy ecstatic emotional explanation expression fact faith feeling glossolalia Hence Hindu Hinduism human ideal ideas imagination imitation important individual influence instinct intellectual intense Jainism Jour kind less Leuba ligious lives means mental merely methods mind moral mystic experience nature object one's over-belief philosophy pray prayer present primitive Professor psychology of religion question questionnaire quoted reality reason religious belief respondents revival ritual seems sense social sort soul spiritual Stanton Coit Starbuck subconscious suggestion supernatural symbol tendency Theologia Germanica theology things Thomas à Kempis thought tion Tirthankaras true truth Upanishads words worship writes York