author
James H. (James Henry) Leuba
1868–1946
A pioneering psychologist of religion, this Swiss-born American scholar explored belief, mysticism, and religious experience with a skeptical, scientific eye. His work helped shape early debates about how faith could be studied through psychology rather than theology alone.
1 Audiobook
The Psychological Origin and the Nature of Religion
by James H. (James Henry) Leuba
About the author
Born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in 1868, James H. Leuba later moved to the United States and built his career in psychology. He studied under G. Stanley Hall at Clark University and went on to teach for many years at Bryn Mawr College, where he became known as an important early voice in the psychology of religion.
Leuba is best remembered for examining religious belief and mystical experience as subjects for psychological study. Rather than treating religion only as a matter of doctrine, he asked how belief works in human life and mind. That approach made his writing influential, especially for readers interested in the meeting point of science, philosophy, and faith.
His books often challenged conventional religious assumptions, which gave them a lively and sometimes controversial edge. Even now, his work stands out as part of the early effort to understand religion in modern, empirical terms.