James H. Leuba

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James Henry Leuba (1867-1946) was an American psychologist, best known for his contributions to the psychology of religion. His work in this area is marked by a reductionistic tendency to explain mysticism and other religious experiences in physiological terms. Philosophically, his position may be described as naturalism. His work points to analogies with certain drug-induced experiences. He argued for a naturalistic treatment of religion, which he considered to be necessary if religious psychology was to be looked at scientifically.

[edit] Bibliography

Leuba, J. H. (1909). The Psychological Nature and Origin of Religion, London: Archibald Constable, reprinted 1978 Folcroft, Pa: Folcroft Library Editions.
Leuba, J. H. (1912). The psychological study of religion: Its origin, function, and future. New York: Macmillan.
Leuba, J. H. (1916). The belief in God and immortality. Boston: Sherman, French.
Leuba, J. H. (1925). The psychology of religious mysticism, New York: Harcourt, Brace. (1925 UK edition. London: Kegan Paul, Trench & Trubner)