Religious Experience Flashcards
What are Williams James’ characteristics of religious experience
Ineffable - experiences that are so extraordinary that they cannot be described
Noetic - experiences which have some insight or carry some sort of message
Transient - Experiences that do not last more than 30 mins
Passive - Experiences that make people feel as if their body is being taken over
What did William James state that religious experiences may show?
Assurance of safety and a sense of peace
New zest for life and purpose
The universe being seen as more spiritual
What are William James’ principles on religious experience
Pragmatism, the idea that ‘Truth’ is different from person to person
Empiricism, we cannot truly verify the experience but if a former criminal is living a food life it can be said that it may be true
Pluralism, idea that truth can be found in many faiths
What is a Mystical experiences
Direct experience of God
What did St Teresa say was a way of testing mystical experiences
Tests to see if there is a genuine positive change within a person and if the experience fits the teachings of the church
What does William James believe about conversion
That conversion involves changing of beliefs and way of life, James’ example is of a president who fills his mind with religious thoughts on a day out fishing rather than politics
what does Edwin Starbuck believe about conversion
Edwin Starbuck had found that 14-17 year olds Go through stages of stress and struggle as they grow, until they find a ‘happy relief’ and a sense of identity, Religious conversion is just a process of growing
Main views upon conversions
William James: Effects of conversion
Edwin Starbuck: Growth and adolescence
Sigmund Freud: Wishful thinking
What is a psychological explanation o religious experiences
Sigmund Freud argued that religious behaviour is caused by childhood insecurities and wishful thinking, this causes us to lean towards religious experiences
What is a Physiological explanation of religious experiences
Richard Dawkins argues that our brain accepts things which are useful to our survival, o it accepts religious experience as a form of survival as it may be uplifting and motivating to survive
What are corporate religious experiences
Religious experiences which are shared by a group
What are some examples of corporate religious expeirences
Mass hysteria, Trivial acts
Fatima, crowd of 30,000 claimed to see the sun dancing
