Religious Melancholy and Protestant Experience in America: (Religion in America)

This original examination of the spiritual narratives of conversion in the history of American Protestant evangelical religion reveals an interesting paradox. Fervent believers who devoted themselves completely to the challenges of making a Christian life, who longed to know God's rapturous love, all too often languished in despair, feeling forsaken by God. Ironically, those most devoted to fostering the soul's maturation neglected the well-being of the psyche. Drawing upon many sources, including unpublished diaries and case studies of patients treated in nineteenth-century asylums, Julius Rubin's fascinating study thoroughly explores religious melancholy--as a distinctive stance toward life, a grieving over the loss of God's love, and an obsession and psychopathology associated with the spiritual itinerary of conversion. The varieties of this spiritual sickness include sinners who would fast unto death ("evangelical anorexia nervosa"), religious suicides, and those obsessed with unpardonable sin. From colonial Puritans like Michael Wigglesworth to contemporary evangelicals like Billy Graham, among those who directed the course of evangelical religion and of their followers, Rubin shows that religious melancholy has shaped the experience of self and identity for those who sought rebirth as children of God.

Review :
"The topic of melancholy and depression is certainly a central one for American Protestants and others, and this book provides an historical overview that will be of interest and use to many people in various professions."--Philip Greven, Rutgers University "A fascinating, thought-provoking book....Should spur considerable debate."--Christian Century "Historians will appreciate the insight that Rubin brings in his fresh reading of selected materials from American religious history."--History "A valuable scholarly contribution."--Journal of American History "A masterly piece of research. All credit must go to Julius H. Rubin for the way he has marshalled his evidence to validate his thesis. This evidence consists of well documented historical biography and autobiography, unpublished diaries, fascinating case studies of patients treated in nineteenth century asylums and other material old and new that he has carefully unearthed."--Churchman "The topic of melancholy and depression is certainly a central one for American Protestants and others, and this book provides an historical overview that will be of interest and use to many people in various professions."--Philip Greven, Rutgers University "A fascinating, thought-provoking book....Should spur considerable debate."--Christian Century "Historians will appreciate the insight that Rubin brings in his fresh reading of selected materials from American religious history."--History "A valuable scholarly contribution."--Journal of American History "A masterly piece of research. All credit must go to Julius H. Rubin for the way he has marshalled his evidence to validate his thesis. This evidence consists of well documented historical biography and autobiography, unpublished diaries, fascinating case studies of patients treated in nineteenth century asylums and other material old and new that he has carefully unearthed."--Churchman "I strongly recommend this book."--The Journal of Religion "This book should raise considerable debate and refinement of [Rubin's] thesis and for this reason should be considered a welcome addition to the scholarship of American Evangelical Protestantism."--The Cresset "[A] thought-provoking book....This fascinating book has created a fresh new perspective on the Protestant experience. Rubin moves easily between social science theory and an intriguing array of case studies....An important interdisciplinary study. Religious Melancholy and Protestant Experience in America sheds new light and will inspire considerable debate on the relationship between psychology and religious experience in the American Protestant past."--Journal of Social History "[A] fascinating study..."--Religious Studies Review