Psychology of Religion: The Varieties of Ecstatic Experience

Visions, spirit possession, near-death experiences—experiences of ecstasy are universal in the history of religions. Psychology of religion attempts to explain such experiences using current understandings of the mind. At times, the study of ecstatic experiences has led psychologists to posit revised, even novel, models of the mind. This course examines the dialectic between ecstatic experience and psychological theory. Starting with the work of William James, the course surveys writings on the psychology of ecstasy from the late nineteenth century up to contemporary authors like Tanya Luhrmann, Jeffrey Kripal, and Gananath Obeyesekere. We read a mix of psychoanalysis, history of religions, and cognitive-neuroscience. Thematically, the course focuses on visionary events, spirit possession, revelations, and out-of-body or near-death experiences. We balance readings in theory with historical accounts of ecstatic experiences.