ReligiousExperience

Question 1

William James’ definition of religious experience

Answer 1

‘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 2

James’ criteria of a mystical experience

Answer 2

Passive, Ineffable, Noetic, Transient

Question 3

Passive

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Ineffable

Answer 4

Cannot be described / difficult to put into words

Question 5

Transient

Answer 5

Experience does not last long but its significance is out of proportion with its duration

Question 6

Noetic

Answer 6

Provided new knowledge or insight

Question 7

Conversion

Answer 7

A change of heart and turning around of one?s priorities, following a new direction.

Question 8

Corporate religious experience

Answer 8

A religious experience shared with many people

Question 9

Swinburne’s Principle of Credulity

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Swinburne’s Principle of Testimony

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is a religious experience?

Answer 11

It can be divided into claims of direct experience of the divine or God, and claims of indirect experience of God through aspects of ordinary experience.

Question 12

What three terms summarise Jame’s approach?

Answer 12

Pragmatism, Pluralism and Empiricism

Question 13

What is pragmatism?

Answer 13

A concept is considered true if it works satisfactorily in practice; looks at the practical consequences or effects

Question 14

What is pluralism?

Answer 14

Values all religiouns and none

Question 15

What is empiricism?

Answer 15

Knowledge / truth is found through observation, experience and the senses

Question 16

What are St Theresa of Avila’s two criteria of a genuine religious experience?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is James’ conclusion about religious experiences?

Answer 17

‘The only thing that it unequivocally testifies to is that we can experience union with something larger than ourselves and in that union find our greatest peace.’

Question 18

What types of conversion does Starbuck name?

Answer 18

Volitional and self-surrender

Question 19

What is a volitional conversion?

Answer 19

A gradual change and slow development of new moral and spiritual habits.

Question 20

What is a self-surrender conversion?

Answer 20

A sudden, pivotal or crisis experience (physical / emotional) followed by a change of life in which the subject ceases struggling against and surrenders to the new psychological center.

Question 21

When did Starbuck argue that most conversions took place?

Answer 21

Between the ages of 15 and 24

Question 22

What did Starbuck suggest about the psychological reasons for conversion?

Answer 22

‘conversion is in its essence, a normal adolescent phenomenon’

Question 23

What is a corporate religious experience?

Answer 23

A relgious experience that happens in a group

Question 24

Give three examples of corporate religious experiences.

Answer 24

Toronto Blessing, Children of Medjugorje and Pentecost (Acts 2)

Question 25

What is the Toronto Blessing?

Answer 25

It is described as a move of the Holy Spirit and manifests in various ways including speaking in tongues (unlearned languages), animal noises and uncontrollable laughter.

Question 26

How has the Toronto Blessing been criticised?

Answer 26

It could be mass hysteria (psychological or sociological factors) or demonic activity.

Question 27

What are the positive outcomes of the Toronto Blessing?

Answer 27

Changed lives, healings (spiritual and physical) and strengthened marriages

Question 28

Why do critics of the Toronto Blessing say it leads to a God unworthy or worship?

Answer 28

They question why God chooses to act on a small group rather than the persecuted church or those starving etc

Question 29

How can St Paul’s conversion be explained psychologically?

Answer 29

He felt guilty about persecuting Christians and had a nrevous breakdown, hightene anxiety which caused it

Question 30

How can St Paul’s conversion be explained physiologically?

Answer 30

It could have been epilespy, as bright light, collapse and blindness can be symptons

Question 31

What is Freud’s psychological challenge?

Answer 31

It is caused by the need for a father figure; religion is an illusion and neurosis

Question 32

What is the challenge from subjectivity?

Answer 32

Religious experiences tend to be private and can only be subjective and of value to the individual

Question 33

What is the challenge from physiology?

Answer 33

Biological or neurological factors, such as electrical activity in the brain could account for the emotions and sensations of religious experience.

Question 34

What did the Hardy Institute find out?

Answer 34

30-45% of Britain?s population claim they have been aware of a power or presence beyond themselves.

Question 35

What is John Hick’s “experiencing as” argument?

Answer 35

We may all experience the same things, but simply perceive things in different ways.

Question 36

Why does Kant say it is logically impossible to experience God?

Answer 36

Because God is a noumenal reality and we are rooted in the phenomenal world of the senses.

Question 37

What does James say are the most important factors in a religious experience?

Answer 37

The fruits of a religious experience - the effects that can be observed

Question 38

Name four fruits of a religious experience (James)

Answer 38

A conviction of something beyond; elation/freedom; met a friendly power; change in the emphasis of life