Religious Experience Key Words

conversion experience

an experience which produces a radical change in someone’s belief system

corporate religious

religious experiences which happen to a group of people

ineffable

too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words

mystical experience

experiences of God or supernatural which go beyond everyday experiences

naturalistic explanation

an explanation referring to natural rather than supernatural causes

neurophysiology

an area of science that studies the brain and nervous system

noetic

intuition

numinous experience

an indescribable experience which invoke feelings of awe

passive/ passivity

acceptance of what happens

pathology

the science of the causes and effects of diseases

Pentecost

the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension

physiology

the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts

Pragmatic theory

the theory of truth that the truth of a statement consists in its practical consequences (James)

principle of credulity

We should usually believe what our senses are telling us (Swinburne)

principle of testimony

We should trust that people are telling the truth unless we have good reason not to (Swinburne)

psychology

the scientific study of the human mind and its functions

transient

lasting only for a short time; impermanent

veridical

the degree to which an experience