Religious Experiences

Question 1

William James’ definition

Answer 1

“the feelings, acts and experiences of individual men in their solitude”

Question 2

James’ PINT

Answer 2

These are the characteristics of a genuine religious experience. Passive; the person is taken over and the experience cannot be created. Ineffable; the experience is difficult to describe. Noetic; the experience carries a message and reveals new knowledge. Transient; the experience does not last long but has long lasting effects.

Question 3

James’ Fruits

Answer 3

These are the consequences of a religious experience. 1. A conviction of something beyond themselves. 2. Leaves the individual with an immense feeling of freedom. 3. Feeling of having met a friendly power. 4. It changes the person’s life they become more spiritual, charitable, morally aware and leaves them with a sense of wonder at the universe.

Question 4

James’ conclusion

Answer 4

Although religious experiences can be explained psychologically, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of the divine. “I feel bound to say that religious experience cannot be cited as unequivocally supporting” but he does go on to say that it does point to the possibility of union with something.

Question 5

Teresa of Avila

Answer 5

Firstly, the experience must fit in with the teachings of the church. Secondly, it must leave the person’s character changed.

Question 6

Mackie’s criticism of James

Answer 6

If mystic experiences can be explained psychologically; we have no authority to challenge this. People who believe these experiences are authoritative (true or make a difference) are insufficiently critical.

Question 7

Otto and Numinous

Answer 7

Mysterium tremendum et fascinans. Mystery of God, God has ultimate importance and leaves the person with fear and excitement (they want more of the experience). Numinous means awe-inspiring holiness, these are when the individual gains a new and deeper understanding of reality. “it is the emotion of a creature, submerged and overwhelmed by its own nothingness in contrast to that which is supreme.”

Question 8

Schleiermacher and Numinous

Answer 8

“Feeling of absolute dependence” upon the divine at their core, it needs no other testing. Religion is a “sense and taste for the infinite”. Christianity is the highest of religions because in Jesus there is an example of complete God consciousness totally obscured.

Question 9

Types of Visions & Examples

Answer 9

Three types: intellectual - the minds eye (like Teresa of Avila) ; corporeal, a physical vision (Mary and Bernadette at Lourdes); and imaginative vision where it occurs in a dream (Joseph’s dream about trusting Mary).

Question 10

Voices

Answer 10

Voice of God conveys a message like when God’s voice calls Samuel to be a prophet. Disembodied voice, revelation from God and authoritative voice. Example of God speaking at Jesus’ Baptism “you are my son, the beloved.”

Question 11

James’ Conversion definition

Answer 11

“the process…by which a self, hitherto divided…becomes unified”

Question 12

Starbuck

Answer 12

2 types of conversion: volitional type, a gradual change; self- surrender type, a sudden change. “Conversion is in its essence, a normal adolescent phenomenon.” This is just teenagers trying to find their sense of identity. Most conversions occur in people aged 15 to 24. It is just a psychological coping mechanism to deal with growing up. Supported by the example of Nicky Cruz.

Question 13

Toronto Blessing

Answer 13

First occurred in 1994. The congregation started laughing, barking, dancing etc which led to inner healing, feeling of freedom and made the individuals feel committed to God. (Fits in with James’ 2nd Fruit).

Question 14

Critique of Toronto Blessing

James, Swinburne, Sociological, Freud

Answer 14

It doesn’t fit in with James’ definition of individual men in their solitude. It also is not noetic as there is no message involved. Surely God has something better to do like helping the millions of starving people in Africa?
Swinburne supports with argument from evidence; the more evidence (testimonies) you have of an experience, the more likely it is that it occurred. Principle of Testimony also supports this. This could have a sociological explanation as people are influenced by majority influence and pressure to conform. This is also linked to mass hysteria where you get pulled along with the crowd (like at concerts). Psychological explanations; Freud- religion is a neurosis caused by Oedipus complex (desire for a father figure). Your subconscious can create illusions based on this desire.

Question 15

Anthony Flew (criticism of Swinburne’s evidence)

Answer 15

A series of weak arguments does not make a strong one. Ten leaky buckets does not equate to a good one.

Question 16

Physiological explanation (and counter)

Answer 16

It could be a mental illness and for St Paul’s conversion it could be explained by epilepsy.
However, not everyone who claims to have had a religious experience has an illness. The few that do, maybe God created them with these “neurological blips” to facilitate these experiences.

Question 17

Feuerbach

Answer 17

“God is man written in large letters” - a human projection of our desires.

Question 18

Freud

Answer 18

Religion is a neurosis caused by Oedipus complex where our mind creates illusions based on desires.

Question 19

Kant

Answer 19

Our senses only experience the phenomena, this means that we cannot experience God through sense experience.

Question 20

Alston and Broad’s counter to Kant

Answer 20

Alston - Religious experiences are very similar to normal sensor perception, so we should be able to experience God through sense experience like normal.
Broad - gave an analogy of a blind society, if some one in the society evolved the capacity to see the blind would be skeptical of the new experiences.