Religious Experience

Question 1

Mystical experience

Answer 1

A way in which a person has some form of contact with the divine

Question 2

Conversion experience

Answer 2

A gradual or sudden experience in which a person’s life is changed often towards a belief in God

Question 3

Intellectual vision

Answer 3

Brings knowledge and understanding, when a person begins to realise the intervention of God. This can be felt through things such as feeling loved by God or a revelation from God.

Question 4

Imaginary vision

Answer 4

Where something that strengthens faith is seen with the minds eye. It occurs most frequently during sleep and is the representation of an object by the act of imagination.

Question 5

Corporeal vision

Answer 5

This is a supernatural sighting of an object. According to the Catholic Church, it could either be the actual substance of a being will be presented or it might be the appearance of a bright light from which the recipient may hear a voice.

Question 6

Rudolf Otto

Answer 6

A German scholar who coined the term ‘numinous’.

Question 7

Numinous

Answer 7

The feeling of the presence of something greater than yourself.

Question 8

William James

Answer 8

A leading philosopher at the time of the 19th century. Wrote a book entitled “The Varieties of Religious Experience”

Question 9

Passive

Answer 9

An experience where the person is not in control of what happens to them. Instead the experience just happens and is from God.