Published in:
01-09-2006
Fruits of Health; Roots of Despair: William James, Medical Materialism and the Evaluation of Religious Experience
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2006
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In The Varieties of Religious Experience, William James introduces the term “medical materialism” to describe the fallacious attempt by some scientists to argue against the value of spiritual ideas. Two literary case studies will be considered for purposes of better understanding James’ idea. What’s more, it will be shown that, in addition to James’ three criteria for the appropriate evaluation of religious experience, there is another factor not made explicit, namely that of hopefulness. This factor serves to distinguish ordinary from pathological morbid-mindedness, the latter of which has no religious significance.