Religious Experiences - Influences Evaluation

Question 1

(Strength) Religious experiences and beliefs are difficult to _ if RE are understood to refer to experiences that are recognisably religious.

Answer 1

separate

Question 2

(Strength) The practice of _ itself can be a religious experience, it is about communion with God so its impact upon religious belief is significant

Answer 2

praying

Question 3

(Strength) _ is an example whereby Buddhists aim to reach nirvana for example, even non-theistic religions’ religious experiences are the foundation of their practice

Answer 3

Meditation

Question 4

(Strength) participation in rites of passage such as _ can be a religious experience for participants

Answer 4

baptism

Question 5

(Strength) In christianity, the _ is recited in worship, and it was formulated from key religious experiences

Answer 5

creed

Question 6

(Strength) RE can influence events such as _ experiences, which help affirm faith and unite communities

Answer 6

conversion

Question 7

(Strength) William James emphasised the _ of religious experiences as evidence they impact positively on a persons life

Answer 7

fruits

Question 8

(weakness) Simply participating does not make it a religious experience, it could be a _ act such as saying the Lord’s Prayer without feeling it

Answer 8

mechanical

Question 9

(weakness) Participation requires proper intent for it to become a religious experience, blind _ even when recited communally doesnt make it a RE

Answer 9

repetition

Question 10

(weakness) in the 21st century, many questioned past claims of RE e.g: the virgin birth is often viwed today as a _ or symbolic event

Answer 10

mythological

Question 11

(weakness) RE are not _ and communal events like worship have value in reinforcing bonds even without them

Answer 11

necessary

Question 12

(strength) The foundation of faiths at its core has some sort of religious experiences to show the _ of the founder, such as Jesus’ resurrection or Abraham’s covenant experience

Answer 12

authority

Question 13

(strength) Private religious experiences such as prayer/meditation are central to a religious community. The experience of present religious followers as they gather for worship every week can be _ as a religious experience

Answer 13

viewed

Question 14

(weakness) RE can be seen as _ in that they are only accorded to a few and they are extremely rare

Answer 14

divisive

Question 15

(weakness) some religious experiences can be open to different _ which imply they are not solely adequate grounds for belief

Answer 15

interpretations