About This Book

      ... This landmark book, based on a series of lectures on this subject, was published in 1902, eight years before William James' death. Although the psychology is now considered dated, his work is described as "the originative matrix" for developments that are still in use today, and he continues to be regarded as America's foremost philosopher. The E-book of Part I comprises the first half of the lecture series, and the remaining lectures appear in Part II.

A selection: I am neither a theologian, nor a scholar learned in the history of religions, nor an anthropologist. Psychology is the only branch of learning in which I am particularly versed. To the psychologist the religious propensities of man must be at least as interesting as any other of the facts pertaining to his mental constitution. It would seem, therefore, that, as a psychologist, the natural thing for me would be to invite you to a descriptive survey of those religious propensities. ..."