Religious Idealism

Religious sentiment had long been thought to be inferior to the concept of natural religion. The truths of natural religion were widely accepted as self-evident from the middle ages throughout the enlightenment. Only after the truths of natural religion were question and its self-evidence evaporated, did the pious find recourse with religious sentiment. This is best exemplified with the psychologist William James; he transformed religious discourse by denouncing Natural and Institutionalized religion while at the same time embracing and vigorously defending religious sentiment and experience. James' (who shares name alone) views on "medical materialism", "religious optimism", "unseen reality" and "survival theory" will henceforth be elaborated. …show more content…
James holds that religious experience is unique in that it allows for an optimistic, joyful acceptance of the universe that is not found elsewhere. The world is one of suffering and dissatisfaction and religion provides a key outlet for providing meaning in the face of this suffering. To James, the irreligious sufferer has limited options. The first is to simply accept that suffering and meaningless is endemic to the universe and become a pessimist. James has a problem with this viewpoint, as it prevents those from engaging in meaningful activities for themselves and other people. Another option is to accept the universe as the stoics did. The problem with this viewpoint in James' perspective is that this kind of acceptance is cold; it lacks the fervor and joy that is found in religious experience. The main reason why this is the case is that irreligious stoic is left to deal with the universe completely based upon their own power. A religious experience allows one to give into the forces of the universe, it is simply easier from a psychological perspective to remain useful. The irreligious sufferer is constantly forced to deal with the universe on his own, without any sense of psychological support system that can be found in religion. Religious experience gives the sufferer the faith that the universe is not entirely against …show more content…
James defines religion as an individual's feelings towards whatever he or she considers the Divine. The Divine is not strictly defined as a deity; James holds that Buddhists and even secularists can have some idea of the divine. The Divine is simply some sort of conception of a whole that exists independently of the individual. Religion to James requires some viewpoint about the universe as a whole that is neither complaint nor ridicule. This entails a kind of viewpoint that everything in the universe is not vanity and worthy of taking seriously. On the other hand, the universe is not something that can be dismissed or rejected. All religion requires the submission in some form or another to this divine in order to completely understand your relationship to it and fully realize these psychological, emotional and moral messages. The exact nature of religion helps clarify its