William James The Nature Of Religion Analysis

In the following excerpt written by William James, religion plays a big role in what he is trying to portray. We are all lead by our own believes and it plays a big role into who we are, and will become. James states, “but of each man to stay in his own experience, whate’er it be, and for others to tolerate there, is surely best”, for this to be true everyone must first have faith in their believes. If the nature of men is to be guided by their own set believes or religion, James believes that it is best to tolerate each individual for what they are. There is a divide between the “sciences of religion” and the “living religion”. Of course we are all changed based on the experiences we undergo; they are our own motivating forces whether good or bad. Therefore it is false to base everything under one roof of religion. Man is driven by their own experiences, as what people research, the so called “science of religion” is based on fact. However it cannot account for everyone under the based root of religion. Each individual or man is driven by their own “private personal destiny” or as James calls it “Survival theory” this is the nature of men.
If the image of God is to act as moral support, a friend, and an object of love, is he also the answer to happiness. If religion is based on experiences of the individual, men themselves are already acting out upon it to find their own happiness. Therefore religion cannot be roofed under one “science of religion” for every man has their own view of what true happiness is. Perhaps real religion is our own faithfulness, how far our faith is willing and will go to ensure what we do know, and possibly reveal our future happiness. The divide in the science and living religion, is what will ensure happiness, following one’s own faith as contrary to