2.5.1 Weaknesses of religious experience

Question 1

What is the significance of Michael Persinger?

Answer 1

• born 1945, the scientist Michael Persinger, constructed an electronic helmet (‘God-helmet’) which induced ‘religious experiences’ by putting small electric signals & electronic vibrations into the temporal lobes & front of the brain in the wearer
• by suppressing this part of the brain, the sense of individuality is temporarily lost; the right & left

Question 2

What is the significance of Bertrand Russell?

Answer 2

• lived 1872-1970
• the typical argument is that religious experiences are usually private experiences; an experience may convince the person of God’s existence but do nothing for those nearby
• Russell, however, rejected the argument as it is impossible to confirm or deny what is happening inside someone else
• he additionally added that his view was that believers tend to interpret the experiences in the light of their religious beliefs & traditions, so if all prove to be the truth, they cannot all be right

Question 3

Describe ideas about psychological challenges that were faced around religious experiences

Answer 3

Ludwig Feuerbach (1804-1872): the idea of God is a human projection; all the attributes of God are in our nature, they are human aspirations or desires; we create God in our image: “God is man written in large letters.” He employed the notion of seeing-as: a random series of dots & lines could be perceived as representing a particular form but each person perceives it differently

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939): human religious behaviour was a neurosis (mental illness) caused by childhood insecurities & the desire for a father figure to protect us; religious experiences are hallucinations that have a simple psychological explanation; just like dreams are caused by deep desires we are unaware of, religious experiences are also the product of our subconscious & are caused by the desire for security & meaning