RE: mystical experiences, William James Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is a mystical experience
-individual feels a sense of union with Divine
-direct & intimate experience of God
-involves spiritual recognition of truths beyond normal intellectual reasoning
What will someone feel if they have a mystical experience
they will feel:
-knowledge of ultimate reality
-redemption from limitation of time, space and mortality
-warm oneness with Divine
-bliss and content
-closest humans get to spiritual harmony with God
William James
-writer on mystical experience
-analysed its value and evidence for existence of God
William James 4 characteristics of mystical experience
- Ineffability
- Noetic quality
- Transiency
- Passivity
Ineffability (1)
-an individual finds it impossible to describe experience coherently
-no human language can do it justice
examples:
-Alfred Lord Tennyson (British poet)
-‘i am ashamed of my feeble description. Have i not said that the state is utterly beyond words’
-Jewish example of midrash description of splitting of sea
-even the lowliest chariot servant girl had prophetic experience greater than Ezekiel when shown the vision of the divine chariot
Noetic quality (2)
-activity that is mental but not intellectual
-through intuition or perception one becomes aware of certain knowledge beyond human abilities ti discover
examples:
-Jillian of norwich
-encapsulated beauty and perfection of the form of the hazelnut as a Divine experience
-Jewish example
-Ruach Hakodesh
-Samuel wrote Ruth through divine inspiration
Transiency (3)
-mystical experiences are temporary
-ineffable vision with splitting of sea are transient
-experiencing a natural but fleeting sight of great beauty in nature
Passivity (4)
-passive recipient
-they are out of control and totally at mercy of the Divine will
example:
Jonah ran away, was swallowed by a fish and emerged more obedient to God
who are the two commentators on mystical experiences
-william james
-walter stace
