CUTTING RS a level PHILOSOPHY - religious experience

content and eval

what are the four common features of religious experience, according to James

passivity, ineffability, noetic quality, transience

what is passivity

the experience is controlled by something outside of the person experiencing it

what is transience

the event may only be a few hours long, but the effects last a lifetime

does James think logic or experience is more significant in religion? use a quote

RE is had through “direct sensible experience”

what happened at the transfiguration

Jesus is praying, a bright light appears followed by Moses and Elijah. they discuss Jesus’ death. the disciples Jesus was with are afraid, but Jesus tells them not to be

summarise Schleiermacher’s argument

religious experience should be the heart of all faith, most people have “god consciousness”, religion is a “sense and taste for the infinite”, religious experiences are “self-authenticating”

summarise Otto’s argument

religious experiences involve individuals having a personal encounter with natural forces which bring about a sense of awe and wonder

3 qualities of divine experience: mystery, God is the most important, attractive and dangerous

what does numinous mean? who used it to describe RE?

a feeling of awe-inspiring holiness. Otto

what does Otto mean when he describes religious language as a “schema”

we try to use words to express the inexpressible

what did Happold conclude about mystical experience? (4 points)

mysticism underlies all religions

all mysticism has common features: an understanding that the physical world is not the whole of reality

RE is people uniting with reality - “divine ground”

the purpose of humanity is to discover the "eternal self" and unite with the "divine ground"

give an example of a vision as a mystical experience

Mary appeared to the 13 year old girl in Lourdes

summarise Swinburne’s argument

we should follow “principles of credulity and testimony”

credulity: should accept what seems to be the case unless there is counter-evidence

testimony: we should believe people unless there’s reason not to

summarise Feuerbach’s argument

RE comes from within the human mind. people project the most admirable aspects of human nature onto God: naturalistic, psychological, and antirealist

summarise Freud’s argument, using a quote

people who feel the presence of God are deluding themselves, showing symptoms of “infantile neurosis”. used a psychodynamic explanation

summarise Winnicott’s argument

RE is an illusion. people need to feel assured in their faith

why might near death experiences not be valid RE’s

hormones and electro chemicals in the brain can explain the sensations felt in these experiences

James quote about conversion experience

“religious ideas, previously peripheral in his consciousness, now take a central place”

which biblical story supports the validity of conversion experiences

the conversion of Paul

give three examples of corporate religious experiences

Toronto blessings (1990s), the bible story of Pentecost, Fatima (1917)

quote from Mathew on testimony

“watch out for false prophets”

how does psychologist Starbuck explain conversion experience

as a “normal” part of growing up and finding ones identity

quote from Feuerbach arguing for projectionism

“God is man written in large letters”

quote from Russel supporting a physiological explanation

“if you eat too little, you see visions”

findings from Hays showing the frequency of religious experience

claims around 30% of people have experienced a “powerful spiritual force”

what happened in Fatima, Portugal (1917)

corporate experience of 30,000 people witnessing the sun “dancing,” as a miracle had been prophesised that day

what are the 3 key principles of James’ conclusions

pragmatic understanding of truth, empirical approach, theological pluralism

4 of James’ conclusions

the physical world is part of a wider spiritual reality, to unite with a higher power is the human purpose, religion provides meaning in life, RE creates safety and a sense of peace and love

Lewis’ 5 common stages of religious experience

dissatisfaction of current system of ideas

person searches for answers such as in the church

point of crisis, such as feeling the presence of God

sense of peace and joy

long term change