Religious Experience

Question 1

‘Religious Experience shows that we can be united with something greater than ourselves’ Discuss
All types should be rejected

Answer 1

1) Issue of privacy (Swinburne)
2) William James - PINT
3) Best to argue against (sci approach, conversion + empiricism as support)

Question 2

Individual religious experiences are never to be understood as union with a greater power. Discuss
Argue against all forms

Answer 2

1) issue of privacy in individual - Swinburne
2) William James PINT commonality
Best to argue against all forms

Question 3

Corporate experiences are less reliable than individual religious experience. Discuss

Answer 3

1) Privacy of individual REs, Swinburne
2) corporate less reliable than individual
3) William James- RE in general is unreliable

Question 4

Specification (religious experience)

Answer 4

The nature and influence of religious experience, incl. mystical experience and conversion
Different ways in which REs can be understood (union, psychologica, physiological)

Question 5

Conversions are not genuine examples of religious experience. Discuss

Answer 5

1) Swinburne principles of testimony and credulity
2) psychological and physiological explanations
3) William James (fruits not roots)

Question 6

Critically discuss the nature of mystical experience.

Answer 6

1) allow for an interpretation of reality that is not reductionist
2) William James PINT means common source
3) Fruits of mystical experience - pragmatism

Question 7

Critically assess the views of William James about religious experience

Answer 7

1) William James PINT
2) William James psychological basis
3) conversions + fruits of RE

Question 8

Nuanced conclusion for all religious experience questions

Answer 8

Caroline Frank’s Davis, cumulative frequency countered by Antony flew leaky buckets. Ultimately RE should be dismissed for atheist and theist alike, nature of God it presents is exclusionary