Religious Experience

Question 1

Who is William James

Answer 1

Claimed religious experiences occur in different religions and have similar features. ‘Mystics’. Father of American Psychology. Pragmatist. Concern with fruits not roots of experiences.

Question 2

4 criteria of William James (PINT)

Answer 2

P -passivity. Must be passive in the experience, no control.
I - ineffability. Cannot be described.
N - noetic quality. Brings about insights or knowledge.
T - transience. Short experience with lasting impact.

Question 3

William James Key principles about religious experience (3)

Answer 3

-Pragmatism. Truth is what has value for us and works in real life. Therefore the effects of religious experience mean that we should accept it as true.
-Empiricism. Even if we cannot empirically verify the experience, we can with the effects. E.g. how someone has changed.
-Pluralism. Different faiths have similarities. Strengthens argument.

Question 4

Augustine’s 3 types of experiences.

Answer 4

-Corporeal, physical seems like real life
-Imaginative, mind or in dreams.
-Intellectual, no visual image.

Question 5

St Teresa of Avila

Answer 5

One of the most famous examples of mystical experiences. Intellectual experience.
‘neither with the eyes of the body or of the soul did I see anything’. Felt Jesus Christ.
She goes on to write that whether the experience is true or not depends on the effect.

Question 6

Numinous experience

Answer 6

Rudolf Otto. In awe and wonder in the presence of God. Experiences are mysterious and tremendous. Argues that all religious experiences are numinous in nature (like William James). Emphasis on God’s transcendence.

Question 7

Conversion example - St. Paul

Answer 7

Persecutor of Christians had a vision of a bright like and heard ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’.
Because evangelist and wrote letters trying to convert others. Changed name. Letter still continue to be read by billions - very large influence.

Question 8

Walter Stance - two types of experience (known for his writing on mysticism)

Answer 8

Introvertive - ultimate experience. ‘no sense of I’. No awareness of the outer world.
Extrovertive - Half-way to introvertive. Sense-experience is still active.

Question 9

St Bernadette of Lourdes

Answer 9

18 visions of the virgin Mary at Lourdes. Mary said ‘I am the immaculate conception’ and told Mary to drink from the spring. Water sprung where she dug. Chapel should be built. Defended these visions and became a nun. 5 million visit these sites every year. 70 miraculous healings have been recognised.

Question 10

Richard Swinburne - Principle of Credulity

Answer 10

Assume things are credible unless we have evidence that proves otherwise. (general focus on truth of what actually happened.

Question 11

Richard Swinburne - Principle of Testimony

Answer 11

Assume people are telling the truth unless we have evidence that proves otherwise. (focus on the person credibility, whether someone is lying or not)

Question 12

Swinburne quote

Answer 12

‘We ought to believe that things are as they seem to be, unless we have evidence that we are mistaken’. Like our justice system.

Question 13

Swinburne quote on senses.

Answer 13

‘Just as you must trust your five ordinary senses, so it is equally rational to trust your religious sense’.