2.2 Influence Of Religious Experience As An Argument For The Existence Of God

Question 1

Name Swinburnes two principles

Answer 1

1) principle of testimony (unless there is evidence otherwise, we should believe the testimony that people give regarding religious experience on the basis that people generally tell the truth).
2) principle of credulity (unless there is evidence otherwise, we should believe that things are as they seem to be).

Question 2

Give the name for the type of argument which gains credibility with accumulation of testimony

Answer 2

Cumulative argument - an argument which increases in likelihood with the more evidence given in its favour

Question 3

Give the four common reasons given by Davies for rejecting for rejecting inductive arguments

Answer 3

1) experiences are frequently deceptive e.g. hallucinations, tricks of the light
2) psychological or social pressures can lead to religious experiences e.g. group hysteria
3) there is no way of verifying such claims
4) there is no ‘uniformity of testimony’ - accounts of religious experiences vary considerably