Paper 1- philosophy of religion- God and the world Flashcards
What are Schleiermacher views on religious experience?
Humans are naturally religious; every experience, in some way, religious
Religious belief and experience are ‘self- authenticating’, feeling and emotion are more important than reason.
What does Schleiermacher say a religious experience is?
is an experience of ‘ total dependence’ and ‘ a sense of and taste for the infinite’.
Religious teachings are of lesser importance than personal religious experience.
What are james’ views on religious experience?
like Schleiermacher- personal experience is more important than religious rules and teachings.
The test for the validity of the religious experience is the change which it makes in the person.
Religious experiences were ineffable,noetic, transient and passive.
They do not ‘prove God’s existence’, as such it is not unreasonable to believe they point to the existence of a God.
What was Ottos view on religious experience?
Aimed to differentiate between a religious experience and just ‘ an experience’.
religious experiences- one with overwhelming senses of mystery, dangerous attractiveness and god being seen as being the ultimate importance.
Otto said the person would not be able to describe what?
would not be bale to describe the experience but could attempt to describe their feelings surrounding it.
The term ‘numinous’ for this sort of experience.
What did Swinburne argue regarding religious experiences?
If God does exist, it is not unreasonable to assume that God might want to interact with God’s creation.
What does it say in the Principle of Credulity regarding Swinburne’s view?
-If it strongly seems to you that you are experiencing God (especially if you aren’t under the influence of intoxicants/ ill)- then not unreasonable to assume that you probably actually have experienced God.
In this principle- not unreasonable to believe a trustworthy person if they report that they have experienced God.
What does Swinburne also note?
so many people over history have had their lives changed by believing in God that it is not unreasonable to believe God exists- ( the Cumulative argument)
What does Ramachandran believe about religious experience?
Neuroscientist who discusses brain activity and numinous experience.
What does Feuerbach believe about religious experience?
’ religion is the dream of the human mind’- Primarily the dream of immorality.
What does Freud believe about religious experiences?
religion is the fulfilment of the deepest urges and wishes of humans e.g to have someone superior take responsibility for our actions.
