The Nature of Religious Experiences - R.F.

Philosophy

An experience where a person believes they encounter God or the divine, either in an unusual event or ordinary life.

What is a religious experience?

A posteriori – based on experience.

Is religious experience a priori or a posteriori?

Inductive – draws general conclusions from individual experiences.

Is the argument from religious experience inductive or deductive?

They can range from visions of God to everyday feelings of peace or awe in nature.

How can religious experiences be ordinary or unusual?

Because they believe God is constantly guiding them.

Why might religious people see daily life as religious experience?

A sudden, direct experience of God that causes a major life change.

What is a conversion (dramatic) religious experience?

Saul saw Jesus in a blinding vision on the road to Damascus, converted, and became a key Christian teacher.

What is the example of St Paul?

When God reveals new knowledge or truth.

What is a revelatory religious experience?

A clear message from God (e.g. Muhammad receiving the Qur’an).

What is propositional revelation?

A deeper awareness or insight rather than a clear message.

What is non-propositional revelation?

An experience when close to death involving peace, light, or out-of-body sensations.

What is a near-death experience (NDE)?

Dr Raymond Moody in Life After Life (1975).

Who studied near-death experiences?

A feeling of union with God or ultimate reality.

What is a mystical experience?

Ineffable, deeply personal, peaceful, and beyond normal language.

What are key features of mystical experiences?

Seeing God in the external world.

What is extrovertive mysticism?

Turning inward and losing the self in divine unity.

e.g. Teresa of Avila?

What is introvertive mysticism?

A Christian mystic who had visions and described deep union with God.

Who was Teresa of Avila?

Theistic = union with God; monistic = merging into one reality.

What is the difference between theistic and monistic mysticism?

An Islamic mystic who felt worldly life was meaningless after unity with God.

Who was Al-Ghazali?

TYPES OF EXPERIENCE

Richard Swinburne

Experiences of God seen in the world (e.g. miracles or nature).

What are public religious experiences?

Personal experiences of God known only to the individual.

What are private religious experiences?

Experiences shared by a group (e.g. Toronto Blessing).

What are corporate religious experiences?

A person believes they directly encounter God.

What is a  feeling united with God/divine reality.religious experience?

Isaiah’s vision in the Temple (Isaiah 6).

What is an example of a vision?

Samuel hearing God in the Temple (1 Samuel 3).

What is an example of hearing a voice?

A feeling of awe, fear, and wonder in God’s presence (Rudolf Otto).

What is a numinous experience?

Experiencing God through nature, people, or events.

What is an indirect religious experience?

People interpret the same event differently based on belief.

What does John Hick mean by “experiencing as”?

External (God really present) vs internal (it felt like God was present).

What distinction does Peter Vardy make?

We should trust experiences unless there is reason not to.

What is Swinburne’s response to scepticism?

Many small pieces of evidence together support belief in God.

We should trust experiences unless there is reason not to.

A psychologist who studied religious experience.

Who was William James?

The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902).

What book did William James write?

Ineffable, Transient, Noetic and Passive

ITNP →“I Took No Photos”

Cannot be put into words.

What does “ineffable” mean?

Gives deep knowledge or insight.

What does “noetic” mean?

Short-lasting, but effects remain.

What does “transient” mean?

The person feels controlled by an external force.

What does “passive” mean?

Experiences are psychologically real and life-changing, and may point beyond us.

What was James’ conclusion?

A loving God would want to interact with humans.

Why do religious experiences support belief in God?

We should trust people’s experiences and what they report.

What are Swinburne’s Principles of Credulity and Testimony?

Many people across cultures report them.

Why is the number of experiences a strength?

Different religions make incompatible claims.

Why are conflicting experiences a problem?

Religious experiences cannot be tested or proven.

Why is verification a weakness?

People experience what fits their beliefs (e.g. Mary vs Hindu gods).

How does culture weaken the argument?