Mystic Experience Flashcards
What did William James argue that religious experiences were?
James argued that religious experiences are evidence of union with a higher power (not necessarily the christian God)
What did James see of RE in culture?
ames studied religious experiences from across the world from different cultures.
He found that mystical experiences were present in all cultures.
What was his four criteria for a RE?
Ineffable – beyond description – beyond language
Noetic – provides knowledge/insight
Transient – happens in limited amount of time
Passive – it happens to you, you don’t make it happen.
What was James’ pluralism argument?
Because these mystical experiences are found in all religions and have these 4 criteria in common – this can’t be by chance – there must really be an objective cause of that cross-cultural similarity.
How was James a pluralist?
James & Stace’s proposal of the cause is that people in different religions are all tapping into the same higher spiritual reality. So all religions are valid and true (pluralism).
What did Persinger’s ‘God Helmet’ show?
Religious experiences could be produced by unusual brain activity.
We can build on Persinger’s point, to show that since human brains are very similar, it would make sense for us to hallucinate in similar ways.
What was Feuerbach’s criticism?
Feuerbach suggested that the universality of religious experience only suggests a universal psychological need for a higher purpose.
What was James’ pragmatism argument?
James thought religious experiences could not just be hallucinations.
He pointed out that, unlike hallucinations, religious experiences can have positive and profound life-changing effects, which we can observe.
What evidence did he give for his pragmatism argument?
James pointed to the case study of an Alcoholic who was unable to give up alcohol but then had a religious experience, after which he was able to give up the alcohol. After the experience, they had gained power which they lacked before. James would argue that this is evidence for the validity of the experience, that it really came from a higher spiritual reality.
What did Dr Ramachandran say about St. Paul’s experience?
Dr Ramachandran suggests it’s possible that St Paul had epilepsy – his description was consistent with having an epileptic seizure. Epilepsy can cause hallucinations.
St. Teresa - what happened?
Levitatesa…
