✅Religious Experiences Flashcards
1
Q
What are the types of religious experiences
A
Dreams Voices Visions Miracles Conversion Corporate
2
Q
Examples of dreams
A
Virgin Mary, Joseph, Jacobs ladder
3
Q
Examples of voices
A
Job hearing god
4
Q
Examples of visions
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Moses and the burning bush. Mary and the angel
5
Q
Example of miracles
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Raising of lazareth, feed the 5000, water into wine
6
Q
Examples of conversion
A
Saul to Paul
7
Q
Examples of corporate
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Pentecost, feeding the 5000, Toronto blessing
8
Q
Definition of a religious experience
A
An encounter with the divine, a non empirical occurrence that brings with it awareness of something beyond ourselves
9
Q
What does Thomas Hobbes say about religious experiences
A
What is the difference between a man saying that god spoke to him in a dream, and a man dreaming God spoke to him?
10
Q
What does Bertrand Russell say about religious experience
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Some men drink too much and see snakes, while others fast too much and see god
11
Q
What does John Hick think about religious experiences
A
That the world can be experienced in DIFFERENT ways.
2 people watch a film, one finds it funny and the other doesn’t. Same with a. Sunset, one finds it divine and the other just a natural event. There is a difference in experience, if you apply this to religious experiences, we can see why some might evidence God and others not.
12
Q
What does Vincent brummers think of religious experiences
A
Pointed out the duck and the rabbit picture. It’s just a line drawing, focused on interpretation, the issue isn’t experience but the interpretation of the event
13
Q
Who is William James?
A
1842-1910
American philosopher and psychologist.
14
Q
What is William James book called
A
1902 Varieties of religious experience.
Chapter 9, 10, 16 17 and 20
15
Q
Why does James look into religious experiences?
A
RE are fundamental to religious faith, at the epistemological role
RE holds faith in place and keeps it occurring
RE can change someone’s life
16
Q
What does Ninian Smart say about religious experiences
A
A religious experiment involves some kind of interpretation of the invisible world that some visible person or thing is a manifestation of the invisible world.
17
Q
What does Martin Buber say about RE
A
God reveals himself to people on a personal level as they experience him in life and in the world,
18
Q
What does Paul Tillich say about RE
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A RE is a feeling of ultimate concern.
19
Q
Who said “ religious language draws on the common range of emotion, happiness, fear and wonder but they are directed at the divine.
A
William James
20
Q
What does Richard Dawkins quote about Re
A
The argument for personal experiences is one that is most convincing, to those who claim to have had one. But it is the least convincing to anyone else, specially anyone knowledgeable to psychology.
21
Q
What are William James key characteristics to Re
A
PINT
Passivity, ineffability, noetic, and transient
22
Q
What does passivity mean
A
Losing control to something greater than you
When the experience is at its highest form. Individual is left with a feeling of hopelessness.
23
Q
What does ineffability mean
A
Can’t describe it in normal language. Beyond the ability of words
It’s isn’t possible to describe to any other person.
24
Q
What does noetic mean
A
Gives you knowledge unlike any knowledge of any human existence
Exeorienec is beyond expression, but it allows insight into the faith of the person
25
What does transient mean
Experience for a very short time, but the effects of the experience are life changing.
Lasts more that 30 minutes, James calculated.
26
Who is Nicholas lash
Catholic theological who disagreed with James
27
What is lash’s book called
Easter is ordinary
28
What does lash think of James argument
Argues that we learn to experience god in all things, we experience him in every day life. We are not grasped from without by god, instead we learn to see the world as full of god.
Religious experience is only the way the world is seen, we are trained to see the world in religious way.
29
What does lash’s argument link with?
Anti realist explanation of a religious experience
30
Strengths of William James theory
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Swinburne, points to probability
Pluralism, looks at lots of religions
Sets up clear views
Allows different interpretations of RE
Hay argues religions based on RE are widespread
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31
Weaknesses of James argument
Freud, wish fulfilment
Gale, normal expiernces can fit in James criteria
Lash, one learns to experience god from havin a belief in the religion
Russell, the fact that. A belief has a good moral effect is no evidence whatsoever in its favour
Hume, a wise man proportions his belief according to the evidence
Mackie, people who believe in mystical experiences are in sufficiently critical
Dawkins- RE are simply the manifestation of mental or psychological needs and can’t convince others
32
Who said a wise man proportions his belief according to the evidence
Hume
33
What does Russell say about James argument
the fact that a belief has a good moral effect is no evidence whatsoever in its favour
34
William James case study
Stephen Bradley
I thought I saw the savour, by faith, in human shape, for about one second in my room, with arms extended saying come.
I began to feel my heart beat very quickly, convinced me pit was th wholly spirit from the effect it had on me. I began to feel exceedingly happy and humble.
35
Can RE prove the existence of god?
They cannot be tested by other, so many say no. James believes experiences could be tested for validity. The real test if what happened is the long term change in the person.
Bertrand Russell bevaives the face that a belief has a good moral effect upon a ,am is no evidence whatsoever in favour of its truth
36
Criticisms of James argument
Language analysis has made James work obsolete.
Flew said in theology and falsification 1950, statements which cannot be tested empirically are meaningless,
Hume took with regard to the cosmological and teleological arguments for gods existence- there are other causes for RE
37
What said “the fact that’s a belief has a good moral effect upon a man is no evidence whatsoever in its favour
Bertrand Russel
38
What is Swinburne argument?
He suggests there NO claims to RE should be treated any differently to ordinary experiences.
2 principles:credulity and testimony
39
What is the principle of credulity
Must accept what appears to be the case unless we have clear evidence to the contrary
40
What is the testimony principles?
Unless we have positive evidence are misleading and untrustworthy
41
What does James define religious as?
“The feelings acts and experiences “ RE stands at the heart of all religion
42
What does Rudolph Otto hunk about mysticism
The belief that direct knowledge of god spiritual truth or ultimate reality can be achieved through subjective experience. As insight of the divine
They are intense
43
What is rudolfs idea of holy?
Calls RE numinous and divine. “Numinous is a mysterious but nevertheless real substance or object of experience , which evokes feelings of awe and wonder”
44
What are the three quotes that make up ottos ideas?
It would be unreasonable to suppose they must all be deluded
RE are self authenticating, they prove themselves only to you
Experiences of meeting god are self authenticating. Make unbelief logically absurd
45
What did John Wesley say about his RE
I felt my heart strangely warmed
46
What did Isaiah say about his RE
And yet my eyes have seen the king
47
What is the numinous?
Becomes reference point and believer interprets the world through RE
Idea that god develops when a believer reflects on RE
Otto influences by Kant, recognised that god couldn’t be known through sensory experience
48
What does Nubian smart think about ottos ideas
Supports then, “so we have a good reason to accept ottos thesis that RE cannot simply be reduced to be other forms of discourse “
49
What is swinburnes book?
Is there a god?
50
What are swinburnes 2 properties?
Credulity and testimony
51
What does Swinburne think of RE
They should be treated like ordinary experiences.
52
Saul to Paul story
Road to Damascus. Blinded light and Jesus said why do you persecute me? God revealed who he was to sail and sail because a new man and changed his name to Paul.
53
Enlightenment of the Buddha story
He went outside and saw horrible events, of suffereing and death. Also met a monk and decided he wanted to see the true world. Started studying among religious men.he practised high meditation. He found the middle way, after 49 days he finally achieved enlightenment and become Buddha
54
St Marie Bernarde soubirous story
Millers daughter whose idioms led to the founding of the shrine of Lourdes. A very beautiful lady appeared to her above a rose bush, she fell to her knees and took out her rosary and began to pray. She say multiple visions of Virgin Mary.
55
St Teresa Avila story
When Teresa was 14, he mother died and this promoted her to embrace Virgin Mary as her mother. She was convinced that she saw JC in body form. “I saw him in his hands, a long spear of gold and fire. He thrusted it into my heart, the pain was so great it made me moan”
56
What are the four stages to ascent by Teresa of Avila?
Devotion of the heart, peace, union and ecstasy
57
Nicky cruz RE story
Rough areas of Puerto Rico. Son of Satan. Gangs etf. Killed and tortured people. The preacher David Wilkerson told him “Jesus loves you and will never stop loving you”
For the first time, he felt guilty for the pain he caused. Prayed for forgiveness
58
Medjugorie in Bosnia case study
Apparition of the Virgin mart appeared a hill to six children. Now, pilgrims come to see Virgin Mary and pray
59
Toronto blessing story
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the people of tonronto airport Christian fellowship church
1994
Wild laughing dancing and shaking. State of paralysis
Party of the holt spirit
60
What is the challenge of psychology to RE
| 2 people involved
Ludwig feurebach : idea of god is just human projection. Anthropomorphic projection, attributes to god are in our nature as human aspiration
Sigmund Freud : Oedipus complex was behind belief in god, “god is our unconscious with for s father figure”
61
Challagesfor RE
Carl Jung: RE and real. Spiritual nature is what we keep ourselves whole with
James: are psychological but didn’t screen that means re were just that.
62
Physiological challenges to RE
Neurophysiological mechanism, shows on brain scans with meditating Buddhists etc.
Michael persenger- dealt of the malfunction in temporal lobe
Patricia chruchland - RE is illusion in the brain
63
What is mysticism
The belief that direct knowledge of god spiritual truth or ultimate reality can be achieve through subjective experience and insight of the divine,
64
What are the challenges to the physiological argument?
Swinburne
, looks at them differently. They should be looked at like the same
Neurological blips, some thinks have suggested our brains are constructed, wired by god
65
What are the difficulties in interpretation?
Why do catholic’s see Mary and Hindus see Ganesh? They can’t be actual experiences if the experience changes depending on the religious. And if so, which one is right?
Not public ally observed therefore not reliable.
66
What does hare say about the difficulty of interpretation?
Analogy of the lunatic in the university. Believes everyone is going to kill him, there’s nothing you can do to reassure him that they aren’t. Blik- unverifiable, unfalisble way of looking at the world.
67
What are the challnages to the interpreting response?
Interpret every experience, therefore doesn’t mean false. May be genuine experience of realise, but then expressed through belief of different faiths. The ultimate experience has the same meaning.
68
Arguments of logically impossible to experience god
| Kant
Kant, says god is beyond the world, and therefore we cannot reach out to him.
69
Arguments of logically impossible to experience god
| Alston
Same as normal. Parts of the brain which links to gOd,
70
Arguments of logically impossible to experience god
| c D Broad
Blind people- some can see the world by using their hands and bodies, those who are blind would be sceptical. Because we haven’t witnessed it, we doing know if it is real or not. However to those who have obviously experiences it, it is real.
71
Who did William James agree with?
Teresa of Avila. The acid test of RE is in the actions of the person following the experience. Believed the persons experience should be marked by a saintliness and holiness which rises from the personal.
72
What are the 4 fruits of religious experience?
Awareness;
experience leaves the person with an awareness of something beyond
Leaves the person with the feeling of having come into contact with divine
Elation- person is left feeling high
Person experiences a change in the emphasis in their lives
73
What are the criticisms of “varieties of religious experience”?
In the Pentecostal movement, house cherishes began to establish themselves which Christians became dissatisfied with overly formal nature of traditional Christian worship.
Dislikes strict approach, baleful church and began meetings in houses, Toronto blessing-hallmark of the worship amount house churches
Badge of belonging that seemed only to be granted to certain members in the community
74
What was rudolf s Otto book
The idea of the holy
| 1923
75
What were ottos 4 characteristics of Re
Awe, wonder, fascination and mystery
76
Who said myserium tremendum et fascinans
Otto
77
What is Teresa of Avila three fold test?
| 1
The experience conforms to the teaching of the church.
Any experience that tells the person to act in a certain way should be easily tested by this one. Must FIT WITH THE BIBLE
78
What is Teresa of Avila three fold test?
| 2
The exerpience results in increases charity and humility
| They shouldn’t be arrogant or forceful about the experience. They shouldn’t seems advancement or celeb status.
79
What is Teresa of Avila three fold test?
| 3
Experience meets with the approval of a spiritual director
80
Who is randy Clark?
He is a preacher at the Toronto airport vineyard church.
81
What happened in 1994?
The Toronto blessing. Members of the audience were overcome by fits of uncontrollable laughter, dancing and animal like roaring.
82
Who is Margaret poloma?
Sociologist
83
Why was the Toronto blessing bad?
If you belief something and are one to it, the music increases throughout the whole service, deceptable to what’s happening. What hitler did with his people.
84
Who is Rodney Howard Browne?
South African preacher, who is accused of intimidating his congregations and bullying them into experiencing the Blessing.
85
What is Starbucks sociological argument.
Research suggests that there’s a strong correlation between age and conversion experiences which peak during adolescence,
86
All the weaknesses of RE
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Ignores alternative explanations
Circular argument
Non-specific god
Problems with pragmatism
Meaningless
Too subjective
Anti realist challenge
Conflicting Claims challenge
Not universal
Ignores differences
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87
What does lash say about Re
Bad. Rejects James theory, Re doesn’t play an epistemological role and isn’t primary. It is a production of faith and people are brought up to believe in god
88
What does Brian Davies think about Re
Experiencing god isn’t logically as he is non corporeal and spacious temporal.
(Broad and Alston would disagreed)
89
What is David hays research?
Religious experience today 1990 book as a result of research. Variety of types:
Sense of patterning of events, sense of presence of god, answered prayer, presence not called god, sense of the dead, presence in nature, sense of evil, expeirnve that all things are one
90
What is David hays conclusion
Often triggered my music prayer, beauty of nature cherish services, watching kid splay or reading the bible. People who have Re are better edculated and are happier.
91
Strengths of Re
Synthetic approach- wide evidence, etc research
Common features
Modest claim
Effects that the have
Expeirnve of god is just like other experiences
92
What are sociological challenges!
Found in society and upbringing. Religious is a form or oppression and control the society, heaven and hell teaches us to work as an opium etc. People better off withough religion , just like drug addicts are better without drugs
Not from god, fRom society
93
What does Marx think?
Religious is a form of alienation from one’s true self. Religious ins about myth logical beliefs and an unreal god that distracts People form their own reality.
94
What are the replies to Marx thoughts?
For many, religion is a conform, not a drug. It’s a relationship. Religious has been a force for change, eg Martin Luther king.
Greta source of strength and hope and comfort.
95
Visions examples and explanations
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Enlightenment of Buddha
St Marie of Bernarde
Teresa of Avila
Isaiah
Ephesus seeing heaven
3 different types.
Experience in which god is seen or observed.
```
96
What are the 3 types of visions
Intellectual- st Teresa etc. Experience rather than observed
Corporeal- actual action, involve bodily movement
Imaginative- occurs in dreams, don’t have any, other than those in the bible. Maybe only dream S
97
Types of conversion and definition
Saul to Paul, Nicky Cruz etc.
One which a person laters her way of life from one set of convictions to another.
William James- assumes conversion to religious life.
C S Lewis- conversion really didn’t want to believe in god, but realises it was real.
98
Voices definition and examples
Voices with reference to god and Re. Usually commute messages,
Moses, Samuel.
3 features; disembodied voices, communication revelation from god, and authoritative,
99
What does Peter sutcliffe say about voices?
Claimed god had told him to kill prosititues
100
Corporate definitions dn examples
Toronto belssing 1994.
When many people seem to undergo th same experience and demonstrate same responses.
Pentecost, hajj, etc Glossalalia: ability to speak in different tongues.
Megjugorje: 6 lung claimed to see virgin Mary 1981
Taizém use of music and candles and lights.
101
What are William James 4 conclusions?
Commonality doesn’t mean this real, but suggests it is genuine and a true experience
Arguments claim they should be tested, rule out possibility of mind altering substances
Experiences take place in conceptual frame which they have been grown up
Cultural differences, causes conflict.
