The Toronto Blessing (Religious Experience) Flashcards
What are corporate religious experiences?
A phenomenon in which a religious experience occurs simultaneously to a number of people
What is the most notable corporate religious experience?
The Toronto Blessing in 1994
What happened at the Toronto Blessing?
Large numbers of people reported feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit which manifested itself through the holy laughter, speaking on tongues, ‘drunkenness’, animal noises and rolling on the floor
What is an example of religious experience in the Bible?
Pentecost
What does Richard Swinburne say?
It is likely that with religious experiences, God exists.
What does Swinburne say about the principle of credulity?
Other things being equal, we have good reason to believe people are telling the truth and are correct
What does Swinburne say about the principle of testimony?
It is reasonable to believe what someone tells you
What does William Alston say?
We should use our senses to know whether a corporate experience really happened and was God
Who explained the way small groups and individuals react to different circumstances?
Kurt Lewin
What did Bales say?
If individuals are unsure in a situation, they tend to look towards the leader of the group
How does 1 Corinthians 14 criticise the Toronto blessing?
Holy Spirit does not bring disorder to public worship
How can the Toronto blessing be criticised?
Are there actual truths about God to be found in the Toronto Blessing experiences?
Was direct knowledge of the divine actually revealed?
The Toronto Blessing appears to have a great effect on the body and emotions but does it have an effect on the mind?
How does the Toronto blessing violate God?
The claims of holy laughter, rolling around on the floor and making animal noises – is a God who uses his powers to do such things whilst children in Africa starve really worthy of our worship?
How does the Toronto blessing not tie in with Pentecost?
They prayed first and then the Holy Spirit manifested itself
