How did William James connect religious experience with the existence of divinity?

William James approached the question of divinity through an empirical lens, prioritizing the study of religious experience over abstract dialectical arguments. Rather than seeking to prove God’s existence through traditional logic, he examined the practical, psychological, and moral impact of religious belief on human life.12

James concluded that the existence of divinity is supported by the record of religious experiences, which he interpreted as evidence of "a more of the same quality" as the individual self. He viewed these experiences as encounters with reservoirs of consciousness-like energies—or a plurality of "saving powers"—with which a person can make contact during times of crisis.1

Furthermore, in his essay "The Will to Believe," James argued that individuals have a reasonable right to hold metaphysical or religious beliefs when those beliefs provide vital psychological benefits, when evidence is balanced, and when the choice is forced and momentous. For James, the "truth" of such beliefs is found in their functional value—their ability to open up worthwhile directions for human thought and action.21