Mysticism Flashcards
Theme 4B
What has mystical experiences done to demonstrate rich and diverse history?
Used as evidence for the most ancient religious traditions to prove God etc.
What are the different types of experiences?
Transcedant - Not within human thought ie space and time
Ineffable - indescribable
Noetic - Conveys truth
Ecstatic - Filling soul with peace
Unitive - Uniting soul with reality
What did FC Happold do?
Suggested that mysticism is split into two branches of love and union and knowledge and understanding
What are the 3 aspects to mystical experience?
Soul - Self-fulfillment and trying to find the soul and ourselves
Nature - Finding the vastness of nature through numinous experiences
God - A focus of unity with God
Journey from darkness into light.
What did Paul Tillich say about the 2 stages in mystical experiences?
The event/encounter
The special understanding of that as a result of ecstasy which reveals its religious significance.
What did David Lukoff say about mystical experiences?
Mystical experiences are transient, extraordinary marked by feelings of being in unity harmonious relationships to the divine
What did James say regarding mystical experiences?
Feelings, acts, experiences … in relation to the divine”
What did James write about for religious experiences?
Religious experiences are psychological phenomena that could be used for evidence as invalidity of experience
What did he argue in terms of criticism towards validity?
It still gives us a better understanding about humans which helps soul-mysticism trying to fulfil the soul.
How did James try to understand religious experiences?
He believed there was commons features in existence directed to those experienced.
James uses a variety of experiences and accounts and placed accounts as central to understanding
What did James acknowledge about the experiences?
It is hard to define such things and therefore came up with 4 criteria
How did James say it was a psychological phenomena?
Used psychology and neurology and believed there could be a supernatural elements.
What was 3 Key Principles that James employed?
Empiricism, Pluralism and Pragmatism
What is empiricism?
Case studies with empirical evidence of the effects can give clues to aspects of supernatural actions
What is pluralism?
The idea in religion that truth is found in many faiths
What is pragmatism?
An account of truth stating that its not fixed but whatever has a value and works for us.
What did James conclude via these 3 key principles?
There is truth to religion.
What was James’ 4 criteria?
PINT
Passive - An experience that is inactive and you are taken over, with a superior authority present
Ineffable - A state of expression that cannot be defined adequately and hard to express
Noetic - Revelations are given with universal and eternal truths with insight and intellect is gained in the process (knowledge)
Transient - It is a impermanent experience which is profoundly important with a big impact.
What are some examples of religious mysticism?
Meditation for Buddhism
Rumi for Islam
Mysticism is for Hinduism
Genesis 22: 1-19 for Christianity etc
Question:
To what extent is mysticism made irrelevant in an empirical world?
Proponents of mysticism can be deceptive
We live in a world based on reason, logic and scientific enquiry
Mysticism has no end or purpose
They often lack empirical evidence. Mystics themselves tend to live away from society are so are no relevance to them
Psychology and science offer alternative and realistic explanations.
Mystical experiences can be confusing and therefore devalue empirical worth
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Mysticism can deepen faith and promote understanding between religious communities
In religious traditions, seeking unity with the divine is encouraged
Mystics claim truths that cannot be discovered in any other ways
It challenges a material view in the world
Significant religious traditions are founded on mystical religious experiences
It can increase individual and corporate understanding on spiritual development
It can strengthen religious belief.
What is the definition of a numinous experience?
Experiences of awe and wonder in the presence of an almighty and transcendent God
What did Rudolf Otto say regarding numinous experiences?
Experiences are numinous in nature regardless
All experiences are emotional and God is a wholly others who is completely distinct to us
We are unable to know unless revealed
We feel an overwhelming awe when he is revealed.
What is mysterium tremendum?
It is a mystery with a sense of fear due to the power
What did Otto say about humans and spirituality?
Humans have a natural inclination to go to the spiritual realm where we have a natural yearning for the non-rational.
What did Friedrich Schleiermacher say about religious experiences?
Religious experiences are primarily emotional where every person has a conscience on the divine and it is self authenticating where it is priority over doctrine and text because of the consciousness of the divine.
What was Martin Buber’s views?
Distinguished between “I-It” relationships where it is impersonal and “I-Thou” relationships where it is personal and cannot be understood scientifically.
