Religious experience Flashcards
What are the key issues for this topic?
Can the R.E be empirically tested?
Should people be believed?
Are they proof of God’s existence or do they support belief?
Do they support the attributes of God?
For Otto, what are the features of a numinous experience?
A realisation that God is incomprehensible (mystery). One might meet God and see his work but will never fully understand God.
God is recongnised as being of ultimate importance.
During a religious experience God will be both attractive and dangerous. The person will feel privileged to have had the experience but will recognise that God can not be controlled.
What does James say about conversion?
Religious ideas become central. Psychology could only partly expalin conversion experiences. Fruits - the person is happier, kinder, more loving - show it is more valid - Christian support - fruits of the Holy Spirit e.g. love, joy, faith - St Paul
How does Swinburne group religious experiences?
Experiencing a normal non-religious object or event that is seen as the handiwork of God e.g. night sky
Experiencing a very unusual public object e.g. resurrection of Jesus.
Experiencing private sensations that can be described e.g. Joseph’s dream of the angel. Muhammad and the night of power
Experiencing private sensations that are not easy to describe e.g. Nicky Cruz
Non sensory experience. Can’t explain what it was in particular that made them think it was God, it just felt like it.
What does it mean to be a pragmatist?
Interested in the practical effects of a religious experience.
What does it mean to be a subjectivist?
True for the person who has experienced it, not for anyone else.
For William James, what are the four hall marks of a genuine R.E.?
Noetic, passive, transient, ineffable.
For James how does the testimony supply good evidence for the person themselves?
The sheer certainty of the testimony. Individuals were left in no doubt that they had had a religious experience. “They are as convincing to those who have them as any direct sensible experience can be”.
For James, how do the Fruits provide good evidence for the person themselves?
The fruits of a religious experience were proof. The individual becomes less selfish, calmer and more loving. This links to one of his hall marks - transciency - it has a long lasting effect.
How does the noetic aspect of a R.E. provide good evidence?
People learn noetic truths which would be difficult to learn through an ordinary experience.
If a R.E. is ineffable and passive, what does that show?
The experience is ineffable and so shows it was not an ordinary experience and has come from God. The person is passive and so that shows that God has taken control of them.
Define each of James’ hall marks.
Ineffable - can’t be explained.
Noetic - learn spiritual truths
Passive - not in control/can’t make it happen
Transcient - experience is short but effects are long lasting.
What are some general criticisms of James?
People who claim religious experiences can not be believed as they are often neurotic. People of different faiths have different experiences and portray the being that appeared to them differently so there can not be a common cause. Religious experiences are to do with emotion and so can not be empirically tested.
How does James respond to the idea tha people who have religious experiences are often neurotic?
James says that we don’t usually question the mental balance of an artist, we just accept their art. We should do the same with those reporting Religious experiences. Also, he says a neurotic person is more likely to accept the experience as it is and not explain it away, so they make good subjects for a religious experience.
How does James respond to the fact that people often see different beings?
People of different faiths will explain their experience using their own beliefs and cultural tools. It does not mean that people did not experience the same God.
How does James respond to the fact that R.Es are to do with emotion and so can not be empirically tested.
Religious experiences can be tested by their “fruits” i.e. the lasting impact.
What are some criticisms of James’ hall marks?
Some are not transient e.g. Muhammad - 26 years of revelations. Underhill - not passive - mystics put themselves in a position to have a religious experience. And are not ineffable - some are able to describe in detail what has happened to them.
What is Swinburne’s principle of testimony?
Must believe what someone is saying unless we know they have not spoken truthfully in the past.
