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Tpe Ao1 > Religious Experience > Flashcards

Religious Experience Flashcards

1
Q

What is the ao1 spec for religious experience

A

The nature and influence of religious experience including mystical and conversion, different ways in which individual experiences can be understood

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2
Q

What is the ao2 spec for religious experience

A

Whether personal testimony or witness is enough to support the validity of religious experience, whether corporate experiences are more reliable than individual, whether religious experiences provide a basis for belief in God or a greater power

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3
Q

What are the 3 types of religious experience

A

Mystical, corporate, conversion

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4
Q

Who was William James

A

One of the leading thinkers in religious experience, 19th century American philosopher and psychologist

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5
Q

What were the Gifford lectures

A

Set of lectures given by James which were published as The Varieties of Religious Experience

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6
Q

How does James respond to the fact that religious experience tends to support the religion of the individual

A

He said that there is a distinction between the experience itself and how it is interpreted

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7
Q

According the James, what are the four common features of mystical religious experiences

A

Passive
Ineffable
Noetic
Transient

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8
Q

What did William James mean by fruits not roots

A

We should judge whether experiences are genuine based on the ye effects they have rather than what caused them

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9
Q

How does James’s psychological background influence his views

A

He accepts psychological explanations, but argues that psychology may not be the whole explanation. It may also point to the existence of something larger

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10
Q

What are James’s 3 key principles

A

Pragmatism, pluralism, empiricism

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11
Q

What is pragmatism

A

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

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12
Q

What is pluralism

A

The idea that there is truth in all faiths

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13
Q

What does James say about conversion experiences

A

Conversion experiences are the strongest evidence for divine because their observable effects are the greatest

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14
Q

What is Swinburne’s principle of testimony

A

We should assume people are telling the truth unless we have good reason to believe otherwise e.g they are untrustworthy

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15
Q

What is Swinburne’s principle of credulity

A

Unless we have overwhelming evidence to the contrary, we should believe that things are as they seem to be

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16
Q

What is a mystical experience

A

Give us a sense of oneness, unity with God

17
Q

What is a numinous experience

A

Causes us to feel fear and wonder, makes us aware of the transcendence and otherness of God

18
Q

Who was Julian of Norwich

A

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

19
Q

Who was st Teresa of avila

A

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

20
Q

What are the two types of conversion experience

A

Volitional = gradual
Self-surrender = sudden

21
Q

Give an example of a conversion experience in the bible

A

St Paul, on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians he saw jesus in a vision and then converted to Christianity

22
Q

What does Edwin Starbuck say could be an explanation of conversion experiences

A

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

23
Q

How does Sigmund Freud explain conversion experiences

A

They are hallucinations as a product of childhood insecurities

24
Q

How did Anthony flew explain conversion experiences

A

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

25
Q

What is a corporate religious experience

A

Experiences shared by a group of people

26
Q

What is an example of a biblical corporate experience

A

Pentecost - descent of holy spirit on apostles after resurrection and ascension of jesus, strong winds filled the room, they spoke in tongues

27
Q

What is a modern example of corporate experiences

A

Toronto blessing, began in Toronto airport church and spread across the world, people spoke in tongues, made animal noises, uncontrollable laughter

28
Q

What are the three ways that an individual religious experience can be understood

A

As union with a greater power
Psychological effect
Physiological effect

29
Q

What two factors can prove that religious experience can be proved as a union with a greater power

A

The volume
The similarities

30
Q

How did Feuerbach explain religious experiences with physiological effects

A

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

31
Q

How can changes in hormones be a physiological cause of religious experiences

A

They affect brain function, which could cause hearing voices, visions or other mystical experiences

32
Q

How are drugs, alcohol and vitamin deficiencies physiological causes of religious experience

A

They have mind altering effects which can be long lasting
Neuroscientists have linked vitamin b deficiency which can cause hallucinations

33
Q

What did Richard Dawkins explain could be a physiological cause of religious experience

A

Religious ideas may be ‘memes’ (culturally inherited idea), which our brain accepts more readily

34
Q

What did Micheal persinger do

A

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

35
Q

How could st Paul’s conversion experience be explained physiologically

A

Experience sounds similar to symptoms of epilepsy - seeing bright light, becoming unconscious, temporary loss of sight

36
Q

Who is Davey falcus

A

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

37
Q

Who is Nicky cruz

A

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

Tpe Ao1 (12 decks)

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