ABSTRACT
Our discussion of the psychology of religion begins with William James’ concept of different states of consciousness, that is, different ways in which one is aware of oneself and feels oneself, together with the resultant shifts in the way one perceives the world. Nothing is more basic to religion than its valuation of some states of consciousness over others: states of joy, peace, and effective control over one’s actions are celebrated; those of fear, guilt, and depression are not. In attempting to understand such patterns we will reflect on Abraham Maslow’s “peak experience”; religion and the stages of life from childhood to age, experiences like conversion, meditation, and confession; and major psychologists who treated of religion such as Freud, Jung, and Hillman. We will also inquire into neurological understandings of religious experience.
