Religious Experience

Question 1

who wrote the varieties of religious experience?

Answer 1

William James

Question 2

what is the aim of James’s book?

Answer 2

to survey the types of religious experience as a psychologist and to present the findings of this survey and it’s implications for philosophy

Question 3

how does James define religion?

Answer 3

“the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine”

Question 4

For James, what stand as the very heart of religion?

Answer 4

religous experience

Question 5

what is ‘second hand religion’ according to James?

Answer 5

Religious teachings, practises and attitudes. these develop later as individuals reflect on their common experience

Question 6

what did James view conversion as?

Answer 6

a transformation from a divided or imperfect self to a more unified conscience

Question 7

what is a mystical experience?

Answer 7

an experience where God is revealed directly and there is a sense of oneness with the divine, or ultimate reality

Question 8

what are the criteria for a mystical experience?

Answer 8

PINT—Passive
Ineffable
Noetic
Transient

Question 9

Ineffable

Answer 9

The experience is beyond proper description. No adequate description can be given in words

Question 10

Noetic

Answer 10

Despite the ineffability, mystical states are not just feelings, the experience gives the mystic a deep and direct knowledge of God.

Question 11

Transient

Answer 11

the experience is a temporary. one that cannot be sustained although it’s effects may last a long time. It can develop and deepen with each subsequent experience.

Question 12

passive

Answer 12

The experience is not initiated by the mystic but rather they have a sense that something is acting upon then

Question 13

how does James draw in his knowledge id psychology and neruology?

Answer 13

he accepts that religous experiences are psychological phenomena that occur on our brains. however, this does not mean that are souley this, they may well have supernatural elements as well as a physical element. James conclusion rests on 3 key principles; empiricism, pluralism and pragmatism

Question 14

how does Jane’s conclusion rely on empiricism?

Answer 14

James is commited to an empirical approach. the many cases he has studied have produced emirocal evidence of the effect this experience has had on people’s lives.

Question 15

what does James say in response to those who say he is interpreting the data?

Answer 15

that we all interpret out experiences

Question 16

what is a quote for James on what the empirical evidence of religous experience shows?

Answer 16

“they point with reasonable probability to the continuity of our consciousness with a wider, spiritual environment form which the ordinary man is shut off”

Question 17

what did James argue for pluralism?

Answer 17

he observed that experiences in different faiths were similar. he believes everyone is experiencing the same ultimate reality, which is then interpret into the “second hand” religous belief structure most faimilar to them

Question 18

how does James argue pragmatism?

Answer 18

as a pragmatist, James believes that truth was not fixed and that what is true is whatever has meaning or great value for us. and so in observing the effects, we have to conclude their is truth to be found in religion “be ready now to judge the religious life by its results exclusively”

Question 19

how does James argue pragmatism?

Answer 19

as a pragmatist, James believes that truth was not fixed and that what is true is whatever has meaning or great value for us. and so in observing the effects, we have to conclude their is truth to be found in religion “be ready now to judge the religious life by its results exclusively”