Verifying Religious Experiences Flashcards
what specific section of science effectively challenges the legitimacy of religious experiences?
neuroscience / neurotheology
what condition do some scientists suggest can cause ‘religious experiences’ ?
temporal lobe epilepsy - patient suffers seizures when there is abnormal electrical activity in temporal lobes of brain.
What did Dr Persinger create?
“God Helmet”
helmet that produces very weak magnetic field over the subject’s temporal lobes.
Does the subject know the context of the study?
no. they think it is a relaxation experiment. they are blindfolded in a quiet chamber (no risk of suggestion)
has the helmet resulted in experiences? what type?
Dr Persinger claims it induces an experience in over 80% of subjects.
most feel a ‘sensed presence’.
how can we argue this doesn’t prove religious experiences are simply scientific?
it’s dependant on the belief system of the subjects. strongly religious subjects tend to interpret the presence as God/religious figure.
Atheists attribute the presence to trick of brain chemistry like when they have taken drugs in the past.
Summarise another example that scientifically challenges religious experiences
ELLEN WHITE,1800s. suffered a brain injury at 9 years old. began to have religious visions, started her own Christian denomination. scientists link these.
Give a religious response to the challenge of legitimacy of religious exp.
the subjective nature of religious experiences mean that they cannot be proven true nor false. however this doesn’t make it less valuable to the individual if it has impacted their life.
What were Swinburne’s 2 principles
-CREDULITY
-TESTIMONY
what does Swinburne mean by credulity?
we should believe the experience unless there is reason/evidence not to believe it
What does Swinburne mean by testimony?
we should believe other’s experiences unless we have reason not to
