how can religious experiences be understood?

Question 1

union with a greater power

Answer 1

• part of any mystical exp seems to be a union with some being or power infinitely greater than ourselves
• to feel oneself in the presence of God is not like being in the presence of another human being; the mode of sensation must be different
• don’t see God as friends/family nor of equals, although sense a feeling of closeness (over whelmed by greatness)

Question 2

psychological effect - an illusion

Answer 2

• because they’re so unusual, they may be interpreted as illusions
• people w/ psychological orders believe what they see; same can be said for nomal ppl, they can sense feelings like love etc.
• the dire want/need of something drives one to think what they are imagining IS reality - prone to many perceptual errors, that those wanting to see God may see him in their imaginings

Question 3

a physiological effect (Betrand Russel)

- our mental states are deply affected by our physical states -

Answer 3

remarked Beatrice Web - socialist thinker - keen on fasting, ‘𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬’ drinks, drugs, fatigue, illness, depression, fasting & dehydration all change the way we think & exp the world

Question 4

a physiological effect (Theresa of Avila)

Answer 4

• prior from her visions, suffered from illness and was given to intense self-mortification
• if we deprive some1 of sleep, they’ll start to have hallucinations
• many of the great mystics underwent periods of fasting and such disciplines