The Influence Of William James On Religion

813 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What is the role of religion in human societies

In William James” Lecture XX, conclusions” he has argued on various aspects of “Religion”. The whole concept of religion seems to be in accordance to the facts of mankind’s biological operation, still according to him its doesn’t makes it true. Universe itself has a very strong connection to religion of any kind. Nature of Universe is interconnected to human spirit and to the existence of God. James states that “Visible world is part of a more spiritual universe from which it draws its chief significance”, which means that Universe relationship with the religion can be seen through the connection of human and religion. Religion is practically all-inclusive foundation in human culture. It is found in all social orders, over a wide span of time. All the …show more content…

There is no society without religion. James has also states that religion is “personal destiny”, which means that it existence is infinite in human life. Human lifestyle has been influence by the religion, so religion is a principal factor in universe. Religion is based on different believes and practices of humans which is totally understandable, despite of difference in religion people have same shared belief of putting their God above the others and shows the love and affection toward it. God has created this universe, the specious around us is the sign of his existence.
James states that the human nature can be only concluded through the profound judgment as it were. He expresses his opinion as openly “No” on the individuality of human nature and on the lives of men whether they share an identical religious element. The reason that he has mentioned is that he does not see how can it be possible for human with different nature and different culture can share exactly same duties and power. Every person has his own views and believes when we are taking such a strong topic into account. Everyone has their unique way of dealing. Religion can be dealt in two ways either it can be

Show More
Related

  • Paul And James: The Book Of James

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    For centuries it has been debated whether Paul and James contradict each other’s theology. At times, they do seem to make opposing statements. The Book of Galatians affirms over and over that we are justified by faith in Christ alone, not by works of our own. Most evangelical Christians agree to that concept of sola fide. We are faced with an interesting dilemma when James famously says, “faith without works is dead.” Martin Luther, himself, felt that the Book of James should be removed from the canon of scripture because of such statements. When one looks at the context of these verses, we realize that the theology of both books complement rather than contradict each other. Although they both deal with the relationship between faith and

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Will To Believe

    1405 Words  | 3 Pages

    The main way James defends our will to belief is in his argument of the human

    Read More

  • Viking Religion

    1916 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion comes from religare, which means have a reunion. Aneel Baquer says that humans have a need to connect with others, the ability of myths and thoughts of religion is a desire that humans need to bond. In most civilizations, religion is the reason why civilizations are successful. Religion give, people a motive to survive or do what they do. Sometimes the religions actually make their civilization expand and even more successful. not only does religion give us a motive to survive. Still today, religion is one of the biggest factors in modern civilizations. In several religion motives are used for example, christianity. In christianity to meet with god, you must do good. Religion can change a persons personality by aiding from stress, to giving hope. Religion can also reduce the fear of death. In ancient civilizations, egyptians did not fear death. In their religion they believed that living on earth was the beginning of life. Once dead it sends you to the beginning of happiness or horrible. Religion can also expand. If you have a strong connection to your religion, some people spread the word of their religion to other people. It also teaches manners and the difference between the good, and the evil. Vikings were such a significant civilization than any other because of their religion. Religion for the vikings have given them motivation to expand territories, learn between the good and the bad, and not to fear death but to welcome death; reasons why are from being taught was from viking mythology, heroic people and their warlike god.

    Read More

  • Eastern vs. Western Religion

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion, “part of the human experience that has to do with a god or gods, a higher power, or the ultimate values of life” (Cason & Tillman 6-7), is one of the most controversial and interesting subjects for humanity. It has been around for as long as anyone can recall and they have difference and similarities in their founders, beliefs, and history. Religion has served to give some sort of a meaning to life and everything around it. In modern society, some religions have grown and expanded significantly. These larger religions have been classified as world religions. In addition, these world religions have been split into two categories known as Eastern and Western religion.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion is considered as a pervasive force in this world. It shapes people as to how they behave and interact with almost everything present in the society. Influencing behavior, character formations, ideals, policies, standards are just among the dimensions and societal perspectives affected and impacted by religion. Because of these applications and implications in human lives and existence, religion should be understood deeply, particularly, on how it affects the world. Looking at the American perspective of the term "religion," it could be simply

    Read More

  • Analysis: James Williams Does Not Justify Religious Faith

    295 Words  | 1 Pages

    James Williams does not justify religious faith. One argument Williams made for believing in God was: If you believe god and he exists you go to heaven, if you believe and he doesn’t exist you just die. If you don’t believe in god and he exists you go to hell, and if you don’t believe in god and he doesn’t exist you just die. My counter to this is that, what happens if you follow Christianity but the God that exists is the Muslim version of God? Will a Christian still go to heaven? Someone may respond that by just believing in God that is enough and by at least adhering to a religion is enough to go to Heaven. My response is that every religion has core values that are the foundation of the religion, a Christian would not follow the core values

    Read More

  • Religion In Brave New World

    1213 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though no choice is given in formulating the beliefs of the World State a core group of common beliefs still exists giving the people a sense of religion to latch onto. Mustapha Mond viewed religion as something that, “isn’t compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness,” (210). It is something that can get in the way of the society. Mustapha claims there is no religion, but there still is in a sense, just not in the way seen today. There is religion, without god, but one still

    Read More

  • Comparing James and Jung's Perspectives on Religious Experience

    1372 Words  | 3 Pages

    For William James, his perspective on religious experience was skeptical. He divided religion between institutional religion and personal religion. For institutional religion he made reference to the religious group or organization that plays a critical part in the culture of a society. Personal religion he defined as when an individual has a mystical experience which can occur regardless of the culture. James was more focused on the personal religious experience, “the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine” (Varieties, 31), and had a sort of distain for organized and institutional religion.

    Read More

  • Ancient Greek Religion

    1554 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion is needed in a culture so they have some kinds of rules or beliefs that they have to follow. Without religion people would have just done what they wanted and it would have been chaos, and it gave the living gods and goddesses power over the rest of the people. Between 800 and 300 B.C.E., there were four philosophical and religious revolutions that

    Read More

  • Converting the Umuofia People to Christianity in Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion has many effects in any society. It can either destroy it by proving customs wrong or it can guide it like it guides converts to believe in the religion. Religion creates two different societies and while it guides one to become stronger it will destroy another at the same time. Religion guides societies and destroys them.

    Read More

  • The Philosophy Of Religion By Chad Meister

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Introducing Philosophy of Religion, Chad Meister asserts “there are several components (that) seem to be central to the world religion: a system of beliefs, the breaking in of a transcendent reality, and human attitudes of ultimate concern, meaning and purpose” (Meister 6). Throughout my life, I feel that religion is one of the core social belief systems that people use to maintain what they feel is a good way to live. Giving them a sense of purpose or fulfillment during their earthly life, most hoping whatever beliefs that have will help them after death. Even though there are many different religions or religious value systems, everyone has most likely been exposed to one or more. There is only 15% of the world’s population that do not believe in one type of religion or another (Meister, 7).

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Christianity And Islam

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion is an organized collection of beliefs and cultural systems that entail the worship of a supernatural and metaphysical being. “Religion just like other belief systems, when held onto so much, can stop one from making significant progress in life”. Together with religion come traditions that provide the people with ways to tackle life’s complexities. A subscription to the school of thought of great scholars

    Read More

  • Relevance of Religion in Today's Society

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religions have always played a vital role between humans and its society especially in terms of what is good and proper in the society. In modern world, people have become increasingly dissociated from religion and spirituality.

    Read More

  • Religion and Civilization

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion helps establish mankind’s place in the order of the universe. As civilization began to be established through the domestication of animals, the irrigation and cultivation of agricultural crops, and life became more complex (moving from mainly a hunter/gather existence to one that could settle down and have more time to consider advanced ideas) people began to consider questions such as, where life comes from, is there a creator or creators who helped make the world, and what happens after we die. Religion helped answer some of these questions. It gave people purpose, meaning, and perspective. Religion helped establish nations in the case of religious theocratic governments. In many of the ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, the Mayans, and even Mesopotamia, the priests and other religious leaders played prominent roles in help shaping the laws and government of these civilizations. As his...

    Read More

  • Religion Reflection Essay

    1358 Words  | 3 Pages

    So many of our principals and morals are based off of our religions that I’m not sure if people would be able to live without a religion. Going back to the idea I keep bringing up, people want an answer to those big questions and I am just not quite sure if people are just able to sit back and not give any thought to it. If there were no religions I believe the world would be sort of similar to today. It might be more violent and hostile with more differing views as there would be another thing that a person could not connect with others. There would be many disagreements, as every person believes their own thing. Religion just seems to be such an important part in lives today and factors into so many decisions that I just couldn’t see the world without

    Read More

More about The Influence Of William James On Religion

Open Document