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198th out of 1,138 books
—
951 voters
Religions, Values, and Peak-Experiences
Proposing religious experience as a legitimate subject for scientific investigation, Maslow studies the human need for spiritual expression.
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
April 1st 1994
by Penguin Books
(first published 1964)
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394th out of 411 books
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423 voters
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An important statement of how Abraham Maslow, the humanist psychologist, grappled with the truth of religious experience. In the hope of retaining its beauty and wonder, he sacrificed its personality. God became non-god. In the words of Friedrich Nietzsche:
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? the holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife; who will wipe...more
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? the holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife; who will wipe...more
An important topic (the transcendental) covered by an important dude (Maslow's hierarchy of needs!) - but overall disappointing. It was disappointing for two reasons: first, Maslow first establishes this normative, value-laden definition of the transcendental experience (the "peak experience") as something beyond the small minds of "positivists" (that is, empiricists, behavioralists, etc.). But then he tries to shoehorn that very same scientific method from that very same post-Enlightenment trad...more
The long and short on this short book is that "peakers" are good and "non-peakers" are not so good. Peakers are those who in some form or another, either through momentary or sustained experiences through time, maximize their full human potential. These are the self-actualizers. As to what constitutes this potential, Maslow lists them in Appendix G (truth, goodness, beauty, wholeness, dichotomy-transcendence, aliveness, uniqueness, perfection, completion, justice, order, simplicity, richness, ef...more
Many people will find this book enlightening and that if confirms their own New Age spirituality biases, but as a scholar of comparative religion, I can't rate this book very highly. First of all, it is very dated and there is so much more that we know about the psychology of mystical experiences since it was written in the 1960s (published in 1970). Second, like Erich Fromm, he has only a superficial knowledge of religion as a subject. It seems to be a failing of psychiatrists that they can't g...more
A thought-provoking exploration of the confluence of "religion" (with a small r)and science in the latter part of the 20th Century, as evidenced by "peak experiences" (both natural and drug-induced). Maslow writes persuasively of the importance of small r "religious values" in education, and in life generally.
I first encountered Maslow studying Self-Actualization in college; Maslow included an element of "Re-Sacrilization" as an element, i.e., an ability to rediscover faith after leaving it earlier in life. He continues this respectful treatment of religion, here, while warning about the negative consequences of an unthinking faith life, or focusing in such a way as to disavow one's very humanity.
An impressive and influential book. It is relatively short and to the point. The concept of a peak experience, specifically regarding transcendent experiences, was very influential on my work.
Big effect on me when I read this back in high school. Need to read it again.
Aug 05, 2010
Peg Baker
marked it as to-read
Referenced in "Deeper than Words" (Steindle-Rast) p.80.
On request from Library 8/9/10.
On request from Library 8/9/10.
peak experiences and "peek" experiences. all good things.
Aug 31, 2011
Erik Graff
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Erik by:
no one
Shelves:
psychology
While traditional psychology has focused primarily on human disease, Abraham Maslow made a name for himself by researching psychological health, especially in its more extreme manifestations. As such, he is a refreshing read. Better than just another feel-good, self-help writer, he actually presents data, much of it his original work.
If he were a better writer, I'd give him the fifth star. Unfortunately, he is an academic writer and even his popular books have that characteristic air of detachme...more
If he were a better writer, I'd give him the fifth star. Unfortunately, he is an academic writer and even his popular books have that characteristic air of detachme...more
Zero stars. Utter new age garbage. Shocked and disappointed.
May 17, 2013
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Maslow was a psychologist who is most well known for his concept of the Hierarchy of Needs. Everyone tends to climb the Hierarchy as more basic needs are met. The basic levels of need are
Physiological:food water sex sleep etc
Safety: security of body, employment, resources etc.
Love & Belonging: Friendship family, sexual intimacy etc.
Esteem: Self esteem, achievement, respect etc.
Self Actualizat...more
More about Abraham Harold Maslow...
Physiological:food water sex sleep etc
Safety: security of body, employment, resources etc.
Love & Belonging: Friendship family, sexual intimacy etc.
Esteem: Self esteem, achievement, respect etc.
Self Actualizat...more
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Oct 12, 2010 08:53am