Religious Experience Flashcards
What are the 3 types of religious experience
Mystical, corporate, conversion
Who was William James
One of the leading thinkers in religious experience, 19th century American philosopher and psychologist
What were the Gifford lectures
Set of lectures given by James which were published as The Varieties of Religious Experience
How does James respond to the fact that religious experience tends to support the religion of the individual
He said that there is a distinction between the experience itself and how it is interpreted
According the James, what are the four common features of mystical religious experiences
Passive
Ineffable
Noetic
Transient
What did William James mean by fruits not roots
We should judge whether experiences are genuine based on the ye effects they have rather than what caused them
How does James’s psychological background influence his views
He accepts psychological explanations, but argues that psychology may not be the whole explanation. It may also point to the existence of something larger
What are James’s 3 key principles
Pragmatism, pluralism, empiricism
What is pragmatism
The idea that a theory must be treated as true if it works in practice. Truth isn’t fixed, but the effects make it true
What is pluralism
The idea that there is truth in all faiths
What does James say about conversion experiences
Conversion experiences are the strongest evidence for divine because their observable effects are the greatest
What is Swinburne’s principle of testimony
We should assume people are telling the truth unless we have good reason to believe otherwise e.g they are untrustworthy
What is Swinburne’s principle of credulity
Unless we have overwhelming evidence to the contrary, we should believe that things are as they seem to be
What is a mystical experience
Give us a sense of oneness, unity with God
What is a numinous experience
Causes us to feel fear and wonder, makes us aware of the transcendence and otherness of God
Who was Julian of Norwich
14th century, had a series of visions, one being Christ bleeding in front of her, caused her to feel an overwhelming sense of God’s love and went on to write Revelations of Divine Love
Who was st Teresa of avila
16th century catholic nun, experienced visions, one being a spear on fire piercing her side and leaving her with an immense feeling of elation and love
What are the two types of conversion experience
Volitional = gradual
Self-surrender = sudden
Give an example of a conversion experience in the bible
St Paul, on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians he saw jesus in a vision and then converted to Christianity
What does Edwin Starbuck say could be an explanation of conversion experiences
Most conversions occur between ages of 15 and 24, so it is simply a side effect of the anxieties associated with adolescence as people find their sense of identity
How does Sigmund Freud explain conversion experiences
They are hallucinations as a product of childhood insecurities
How did Anthony flew explain conversion experiences
Religious experiences are interpreted in terms of our background, which is why people in Britain tend to convert to christianity, whereas people in Saudi Arabia would be more likely to convert to islam
What is a corporate religious experience
Experiences shared by a group of people
What is an example of a biblical corporate experience
Pentecost - descent of holy spirit on apostles after resurrection and ascension of jesus, strong winds filled the room, they spoke in tongues
What is a modern example of corporate experiences
Toronto blessing, began in Toronto airport church and spread across the world, people spoke in tongues, made animal noises, uncontrollable laughter
What are the three ways that an individual religious experience can be understood
As union with a greater power
Psychological effect
Physiological effect
What two factors can prove that religious experience can be proved as a union with a greater power
The volume
The similarities
How did Feuerbach explain religious experiences with physiological effects
God is a psychological construct which we created through projecting and stretching human qualities to fit our desires
E.g desire for control means an omnipotent God
How can changes in hormones be a physiological cause of religious experiences
They affect brain function, which could cause hearing voices, visions or other mystical experiences
How are drugs, alcohol and vitamin deficiencies physiological causes of religious experience
They have mind altering effects which can be long lasting
Neuroscientists have linked vitamin b deficiency which can cause hallucinations
What did Richard Dawkins explain could be a physiological cause of religious experience
Religious ideas may be ‘memes’ (culturally inherited idea), which our brain accepts more readily
What did Micheal persinger do
He created a ‘God Helmet’ to stimulate the temporal lobes, he found that participants felt a presence outside themselves, suggesting that electrical activity in the brain causes religious experiences
How could st Paul’s conversion experience be explained physiologically
Experience sounds similar to symptoms of epilepsy - seeing bright light, becoming unconscious, temporary loss of sight
Who is Davey falcus
Example of modern conversion experience
Was involved in drugs and violence, then had an experience where ‘a bright light filled the room’ and jesus said ‘your sins are forgiven’, 15 year drug habit was broken instantly
Who is Nicky cruz
Example of modern conversion experience
Former gang leader, a preacher told him that Jesus loved him, Cruz then began to study the bible and prayed , then became a preacher himself
