In 1901, William James--Harvard philosopher, psychologist, and brother of novelist Henry James--authored a study that became one of the most influential books in American intellectual history. The Varieties of Religious Experience asks a deceptively simple question: what happens when someone has a religious experience, and does it matter whether that experience is "real"? James' answer helped shape everything from AA to contemporary neuroscience, from the self-help movement to America's peculiar insistence that spirituality is a private affair. In this eight-week discussion-lecture course, we will read excerpts from this book for how they illumine our experiences and anticipate themes in American life. Why does James' pragmatic approach to faith still provoke and console more than a century later? No background in philosophy or theology is required--only a willingness to engage with challenging questions about experience, meaning, and the life worth living.

COURESE LEADER
Gary Sykes devoted his career to education in America, as policy analyst and researcher, while maintaining an active interest in U.S. intellectual history.

GENERAL INFORMATION
This Evergreen Forum course offers a hybrid experience, allowing participants to join the event either in-person or virtually via Zoom. Please carefully select your registration type, as participants are expected to attend programs based on their chosen in-person or virtual status. Should your circumstances change and you wish to adjust your registration, kindly contact us at 609-751-9699. Our CMAP staff will do their best to accommodate your request based on availability.

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS are available. Please submit a request form by following the link here to apply.

Any general questions or concerns about this event should be directed to CMAP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 609-751-9699.

REFUND INFORMATION
If you are no longer able to attend an event/program, we invite you to donate the program fee to CMAP — call us for more information.

If you do need a refund, checks are issued for cash, check, and credit card payments; electronic payments are refunded electronically. Refund processing takes approximately 2 weeks. Refunds requested up to 6 business days before class are issued minus a $15 processing fee; no refund is offered 5 business days or less before class begins. No refund is offered for programs costing $15 or less, and a $15 processing fee applies to those who register for the same program more than once.