3D Influence of Religious Experience on Practice and Faith

Question 1

Who set up the Religious Experience Research Unit in Oxford, when, and what was its purpose?

Answer 1

• Alister Hardy - marine biologist
• 1969
• To examine the extent/nature of r.e. in UK

Question 2

What was Alister Hardy’s view of religious experience?

Answer 2

• He had a biological approach to how religion had ‘evolved’; saw it as a development in response to “another dimension to life”
• Obvious that there = a huge variety of such experiences
• “the everyday world is not the whole of reality”
• “it alters behaviour and changes attitudes”

Question 3

What was Alister Hardy’s view of religious practice?

Answer 3

• It includes ritual, ceremonies, festivals, duties, reflections
• Ritual = a r.e. + a trigger for further r.e.
• Festivals = celebrations of a past event grounded in r. significance from r.e.; e.g. Ramadan - verses of the Qur’an revealed to prophet Muhammad

Question 4

What do most thinkers regard faith as?

Answer 4

• A mix of action of will and trust/belief in a body of truths expressed in statements/propositions

Question 5

What does Aquinas regard faith as?

Answer 5

• Rational and supported by statements
• But, reason alone cannot discover truths/insights
• Divine revelation = required + is stronger than human reason

Question 6

What is the difference between ‘belief-that’ and ‘belief-in’?

Answer 6

• ‘Belief-that’ makes a claim that is directly true/factual
- E.g. “I believe that Guru Nanak was the first Guru”
• ‘Belief-in’ conveys an attitude of trust or commitment; turns ‘belief-that’ into a metaphysical statement
- E.g. “I believe in Jesus”

Question 7

How can you move from ‘belief-that’ to ‘belief-in’?

Answer 7

• Through a r.e., either personal or somebody else’s

-E.g. Can read about the life of Muhammad and be converted, such as Cat Stevens

Question 8

How can religious experiences encourage/strengthen faith in Charismatic Christianity?

Answer 8

• The gifts of the HS provide edification for the community of believers

Question 9

Religious experiences have a wide range of manifestations. Give the lowest and highest forms.

Answer 9

• Quiet reflection - private prayer

* Contemplation of the divine - public expressions e.g. tongues

Question 10

How does the divine become known to humanity through revelation?

Answer 10

• Any type of r.e can be a revelation communicated either directly or indirectly by G or by gaining insight
• Can be a moment of realisation at the end of a period of reflection

Question 11

What is the propositional view of revelation?

Answer 11

• Body of truths about G/ultimate reality

Question 12

What is the non-propositional view of revelation?

Answer 12

• Human attempts to understand the significance of revelatory events; spiritual significance
• E.g. OT prophets saw Fall of Jerusalem as exp. of judgement on its ppl ∵ of disobedience ∴ reflected the belief that G = active in world

Question 13

How do religious experiences provide affirmation of a belief system for a community?

Answer 13

• In most r.s, a pivotal figure = linked to founding of r ∵ usually exp. an event that starts their ministry
• Their authority derives from their r.e. - seen as confirmation of their message

Question 14

Give some examples of how religious experiences provide affirmation of a belief system for a community.

Answer 14

• Islam: Angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and commanded to write verses in the Qur’an; a passive channel through whom Allah communicated the final message to humanity
• C.ty: Revelation through angels appearing to Mary+Joseph affirms incarnation+virgin birth
• C.ty: Disciple’s exp. of the res.d J affirms belief about life after death + efficacy of J’s sacrifice to forgive sin

Question 15

How many books in the NT are attributed to Paul?

Answer 15

• 14/27

Question 16

How does God confirm the authority of some influential figures?

Answer 16

• Through r.e.s, ppl are convinced that the person is G-appointed - affirms their role + status of authority
• J = seen of SoG whose authority = confirmed by miracles, death, resurrection

Question 17

How do religious experiences promote a faith value system for a general community?

Answer 17

• R.e.s = guarantor of received revelation about doctrine + beliefs and = source of revealing ethical standards

Question 18

How do religious experiences promote a faith value system for Jews?

Answer 18

• Moses = honoured as ‘lawgiver of Israel’

• The burning bush commissioned him as a prophet + liberator of the people
• Later received Ten Comm.s + laws of covenant; included customary law + ritual ordinances which give explicit moral guidance ∴ govern behaviour of believer

Question 19

How do religious experiences promote a faith value system for Buddhists?

Answer 19

• Buddha’s enlightenment exp. = example of meditation to be emulated by others
• He placed emphasis on searching+testing for oneself

Question 20

How do religious experiences promote a faith value system for Christians?

Answer 20

• Jesus + Paul revealed/clarified ethical standards + behaviour

Question 21

How can a community celebrating a past religious exp. strengthen it?

Answer 21

• The Act of coming together to worship/commemorate an event = lifeblood of r. living

Question 22

How do gatherings provide the opportunity for further religious experiences and spiritual benefits?

Answer 22

• Strengthens community spiritually through collective worship
• Greater sense of unity through fellowship
• Establishes common identity
• Highlights a common purpose through specific events e.g. festivals
• Reaffirms faith e.g. creeds, rituals, hymns
• Expresses and shares spirituality with others e.g. testimonies

Question 23

How can a community celebrating a past religious exp. strengthen it? (Buddhists)

Answer 23

• Wesak celebrates Buddha’s enlightenment

- homes = decorated; temple services

Question 24

How can a community celebrating a past religious exp. strengthen it? (Muslims)

Answer 24

• Ramadan celebrates when the Qur’an = revealed to Muhammad
- Fasting = obligatory; spend time with family/friends
• Eid al-Adha remembers Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son when Allah ordered him to
- Prayers in mosque; gifts given

Question 25

How can a community celebrating a past religious exp. strengthen it? (Jews)

Answer 25

• Pesach remembers events of Passover

- Sedar meal w/ family+friends involves retelling story and expresses common identity

Question 26

Which Bible passage suggests there is something special to be found in gathering?

Answer 26

• Matthew 18:20 - “Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them”

Question 27

How can religious experiences restore an individual’s faith?

Answer 27

• If faith = struggling, r.e. can remove doubts; e.g. Hajj

* May come from prayer, meditation, reading of sacred text, being w/ others, pilgrimages

Question 28

How can religious experiences strengthen an individual’s faith in the face of opposition?

Answer 28

• Listen to other ppl’s r.e.s when they faced opp.
• May include account of an act of G that rescued them from a situation or when a believer = given strength to overcome opp.
• Sikhism: Story of origin of Khalsa (5 Sikhs willing to die for faith) can be a source of inspiration + trigger for r.e
• Sense of G being w/ believer enables person to stand firm + continue despite threats of persecution
• Pentecost: Disciples proclaimed about J despite facing persecution - said they could not stop (r.e); obeyed G rather than humans

Question 29

How can religious experiences lead to a renewal of commitment to religious ideals and doctrines?

Answer 29

• In most r.s, ppl can renew their commitment, often publicly; decision to do this can be a r.e. - a sense of being called
• Initiation into a faith can be a time of renewal of commitment e.g. Sikhism: Amrit ceremony
• Adult baptism/conversion = similar r.e.s - public commitment, often w/ testimony describing their journey of faith
• Festivals e.g. Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) can be occasions where believers are moved to renew commitments to a r. way of life
• Lent = renewal of commitment - fasting, repentance, self-denial, spiritual discipline; goal = develop closer r.ship w/ G
• Fasting = common feature
• Holy Places = trigger for r.e.s, leading to renewal/commitment ∵ of sacred meeting btwn the spiritual and physical