Religious Experience

Question 1

Conversion Experience

Answer 1

A change of heart and turning around of ones priorities, following a new direction in life

Question 2

Corporate Religious Experience

Answer 2

A religious experience shared with many people

Question 3

Numinous Experience

Answer 3

Otto - the experience of the ‘wholly other’

Question 4

William James’ Definition

Answer 4

“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 call the divine”

Question 5

Principle of Credulity

Answer 5

Things are as they seem to be unless we have evidence to the contrary

Question 6

Principle of Testimony

Answer 6

We should assume people are telling the truth, unless we have good reason to believe otherwise

Question 7

Passive

Answer 7

not being in control of the experience; feeling of being of being taken over by a more powerful being

Question 8

Ineffable

Answer 8

Cannot be described

Question 9

Noetic

Answer 9

Providing new insight or knowledge

Question 10

Transient

Answer 10

Experience does not last long but holds immense significance long term

Question 11

Pragmatism

Answer 11

the effects of an experience are most important and show it holds value for the individual

Question 12

Pluralism

Answer 12

All religions are valuable and hold truth

Question 13

Volitional Conversion

Answer 13

Starbuck - gradual change and slow development of new moral and spiritual habits

Question 14

Mystical Experience

Answer 14

An experience of something beyond normal awareness

Question 15

Self-surrender Conversion

Answer 15

Starbuck -a sudden pivotal or crisis experience followed by a change of life

Question 16

James’ Conclusions

Answer 16

Religious experience highlights Gods existence but doesn’t guarantee this existence

Question 17

James used St. Teresa of Avila’s Criteria

Answer 17

Consequences should fit in with the teaching and traditions of the church and should lead to positive changes in the character

Question 18

Toronto Blessing

Answer 18

Corporate Religious Experience

Question 19

Freud - Religion is wishful thinking

Answer 19

We fear dangers in the world and religion creates the belief that a superior is actually in control (like a father figure)

Question 20

Paul - other explanations for his religious experience

Answer 20

• Mental breakdown
• Epilepsy
• Sunstroke

Question 21

Feuerbach - God is a human protection

Answer 21

God is a psychological construction of our human desires

Question 22

Religious experiences are subjective

Answer 22

• Schliermacher’s self authentication

- James individuality and solitude

Question 23

Visions are linked to fasting

Answer 23

we can make no distinction between a man who eats little and sees God and the man who drinks much and sees snakes - Russel