arguments against religious experiences

Question 1

Freud’s Explanation

Answer 1

rel exp are similar to dreams; hallucinations caused by subconscious

Question 2

Ineffability

Answer 2

you can’t analyse something that can’t be described

Question 3

Conflicting Truth Claims

Answer 3

rel exp that allegedly demonstrate truth of a faith occur in a no. of religions, can all be true?

Question 4

Verification & Privacy

Answer 4

rel exp are private; can’t be analysed empirically even if their effects can and it’s not possible to dis/prove someones feelings

Question 5

Swineburne’s Principles

Answer 5

• rel testimonies unlike daily ones. You can see helicopters & understand them but cannot conceive God, so possibilty for error is high

Question 6

Betrand Russel - Physiological

Answer 6

• if you eat too little you see visions, and if you drink too much you see snakes

Question 7

Edward Starbuck - Psychological

Answer 7

drew parallels between finding out identities as adolescents. Most rel exp occur between 15-24 - cldn’t conversion just be a change in some1s life, just decided to attribute it to God

Question 8

Jean Paul - Interpretation

Answer 8

example of a boy who had a setback after setback and claimed a failure; interpreted it as sign from God, that his route is rel.

Question 9

Kant - Finite

Answer 9

humans are finite, and exp throught five senses, cannot exp the infinite (God/ otherworldy)