conversions

Question 1

James on conversions

Answer 1

conversions perhaps strongest evidence for the divine bc of observable effects often life-changing.

Question 2

James- pragmatism

Answer 2

studies based on pragmatism the practical outcomes seen through how someone acted now and in the future

Question 3

James- empiricism

Answer 3

observing evidence from experience (‘fruits’)

Question 4

conversion example: Saul/Paul

Answer 4

sudden conversion- practicing jew who killed Christians and saw them as the enemy, voice spoke to him (Jesus?). he became a christian missionary

Question 5

conversion experience

Answer 5

change of heart and turning around of priorities following a new direction in life.

Question 6

pragmatism

Answer 6

the effects on and value to the individual

Question 7

James - psychological process of conversion

Answer 7

inner self aware of being divided and unhappy but during conversion to religion becomes unified and happy. religious ideals and morals previously not given much though become central tot he personal habits and consciousness

Question 8

James’ example of S. Hadley

Answer 8

‘a homeless, friendless, dying drunkard’. considered suicide, had a conversion experience and never wanted another strong alcoholic drink again. sick soul had been met, helped and unified given a new sense of purpose.

Question 9

volitional conversion

Answer 9

gradual, slow development of new moral and spiritual habits

Question 10

self-surrender

Answer 10

sudden pivotal or crisis experience followed by the change

Question 11

E.D. Starbuck’s types of conversion

Answer 11

-volitional
-self-surrender

Question 12

criticism of Paul/Saul conversion: Jung

Answer 12

emotional breakdown?, suppressed guilt of killing Christians

Question 13

strength of conversions: pragmatism

Answer 13

physical consequences that have an impact on future lifestyle. while psychological factors could be involved effects indicate divine interaction

Question 14

strength of conversions: Teresa of Avila’s criteria

Answer 14

used this criteria to determine a genuine conversion- it should fit with the teaching of the church and lead to positive changes in a person’s character

Question 15

strength of conversions: ‘fruits’

Answer 15

give significant observable evidence of the effects enable empirical evidence

Question 16

strength of conversions: disagree with Kant to an extent

Answer 16

can never be certain of metaphysical but can observe its effects that may indicate there’s something more

Question 17

weakness of conversions: Starbuck

Answer 17

psychological effects of conversion are ‘normal adolescent phenomenon’ since most happen at the same stages in life age 15-24. sense of being lost, depressed and divided before conversion similar to struggles through adolescence to personal identity

Question 18

weakness of conversions: freud

Answer 18

disagree with st teresa’s criteria as argued the church was the cause of much psychological and subconscious guilt repressed in the super-ego. for freud its a psychological phenomenon.

Question 19

weakness of conversions: kant

Answer 19

logically impossible to experience god or a noumenal reality since rooted in phenomenal world of senses