“Religious experience is enough to prove the existence of God.” Discuss. (40 marks)

INTRODUCTION

Religious experiences are moments when people feel they have encountered God or something divine directly. These can include mystical visions, sudden conversions, group experiences in religious settings, or even near-death experiences. For many, these events feel incredibly real and meaningful. The question is whether these personal experiences are enough to prove that God exists. Some argue that they are powerful evidence, while others think they can be explained in other ways, such as through psychology or brain activity.

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Supporters of religious experience as proof of God often point to how deeply these events affect people. Philosopher William James argued that religious experiences are real for those who have them, especially if they cause lasting change in someone’s life. This can be seen in conversion experiences, like that of St Paul on the road to Damascus, where a strong sense of God's presence caused him to completely change his beliefs and way of life. These experiences are sometimes dramatic, with visions or voices, but they can also be slow and gradual. H.D. Lewis described a typical pattern where someone feels dissatisfied, seeks answers, has an emotional experience of God, and then changes direction in life. This transformation is seen by many as evidence that the person truly encountered something beyond themselves.

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Mystical and numinous experiences are also used to argue for God's existence. Mystics like Teresa of Avila or Julian of Norwich spoke about visions and feelings of being close to God, often through deep prayer. These experiences go beyond normal life and are hard to describe, but those who have them often feel they have touched something greater than the physical world. Philosopher Rudolf Otto said numinous experiences involve awe, wonder, and a sense of mystery — what he called the “mysterium tremendum et fascinans.” These feelings are hard to explain unless there is something real behind them, such as the presence of God.

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However, critics argue that religious experiences are too personal and private to count as proper proof. We can’t check them or test them in a scientific way. As philosopher David Hume said, we should be cautious about believing strange or miraculous claims based only on someone’s word, especially when people are known to be emotional or mistaken. Also, religious experiences are often shaped by a person’s background. A Christian is more likely to see Jesus, while a Hindu might see Vishnu. This suggests that people may be interpreting their experiences based on what they already believe, rather than receiving a message from God.

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Psychological explanations also challenge the idea that religious experience proves God. Sigmund Freud argued that belief in God comes from deep wishes for comfort or protection — especially a father figure. From this view, religious experiences are simply products of the human mind. Modern brain science supports this too. Studies have shown that stimulating certain parts of the brain, like the temporal lobe, can cause people to feel like they are outside their body or that there is a presence in the room — feelings that are very similar to reported religious experiences. This makes it possible that these events are caused by brain activity, not by God.

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Another problem is that religious experiences are so different. Some involve peace, others fear or awe. Some people have visions, others hear voices. And people from different religions experience different gods. If these were all from the same God, wouldn’t they be more similar? The lack of consistency weakens the argument that they are genuine messages from a real, single divine being.

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Even so, some philosophers believe that we should still take religious experiences seriously. Richard Swinburne used two principles to support this: the principle of credulity (we should believe things are as they seem unless we have a reason not to), and the principle of testimony (we should usually trust people’s reports unless there’s a clear reason to doubt them). According to Swinburne, if many people over time and across cultures say they have experienced God, we should consider that these might be genuine.

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Still, even if we accept that religious experiences are meaningful and important to those who have them, it doesn’t necessarily mean they prove God exists. Proof usually means something that can convince anyone, like scientific or logical evidence. Religious experiences are often only convincing to the person who had them, or to those who already believe. For others, they may just seem like emotional or brain-based events.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, religious experience might be a strong reason for personal belief in God, especially if it leads to real change in a person’s life. But because these experiences are private, varied, and can be explained in other ways, they are not enough to prove that God exists in a way that would convince everyone. They may support belief, but they fall short of being clear, objective evidence.