Religious Experience

Question 1

Swinburne’s 5 Religious Experiences

Answer 1

Public: (1,2) Private: (3,4,5)

1. Takes place in public object / scene
2. Breach of natural law
3. One that can be mostly described through language
4. One that cannot (Ineffable)
5. Constant feeling of God’s presence

Question 2

Main classifications are

Answer 2

1. Visions
2. Conversions
3. Numinosity
4. Mystical Experience

Question 3

Visions

Answer 3

• Intellectual: Brings knowledge of God (E.g Julian of Norwich: Everything owes existence to love of God)
• Imaginary: Strengthens faith / seen with mind’s eye (Matthew’s Gospel: Dream warns Joseph to get M/J to Egypt)
• Corporeal: Figure is externally present (St Bernadette’s vision of Mary)

Question 4

Numinous

Answer 4

• Presence of a greater being (feeling of nothingness)
• Otto: religion must derive from being separate from world.
• In the presence of such a being: Numinousity

Question 5

Conversion

Answer 5

• Two types: Voluntary / Non-Voluntary
• Types: Intellectual, moral, social
• Examples: St Paul, Davey Falcus, Nicky Cruz
• How permanent is it?

Question 6

Mystical Experience

Answer 6

• Recipient feels a sense of ‘union’ with the divine.
• James: Passive, Ineffable, Noetic, Transcient
• Happold: Two types (mysticism of love and union) and (mysticism of knowledge and understanding)
• Happold: Three aspects Soul Mysticism, Nature Mysticism and God-mysticism