Religious experience

Question 1

Religious experience

Answer 1

a non-empirical occurrence ,recipients of religious experience usually say that what has happened has drawn them into a deeper knowledge/awareness of God

Question 2

Richard Swinburne

Answer 2

5 types of RE:
1. PUBLIC - you see Gods action in a public object e.g sunset
2. PUBLIC - a breach of natural law e.g miracles / Jesus raises the dead
3. PRIVATE - a personal experience that can be described through normal language e.g Moses and the burning bush
4. PRIVATE - cannot be described in normal language
5. PRIVATE - no specific experience but a constant feeling that God is there.

Question 3

Intellectual Visions

Answer 3

brings knowledge and understanding such as a revelation from God

Question 4

Imaginary vision

Answer 4

something that strengthens faith is seen with the minds eyes

Question 5

corporeal vision

Answer 5

a figure is externally present e.g st bernadette

Question 6

The numinous ,Otto

Answer 6

feeling of being in the presence of something greater , a sense of being in the presence of an awesome power , yet feeling distinctly seperate from it.
“ it is emotion of a creature submerged and overwhelmed by its own nothingness in contrast to that which is supreme above all creatures “

Question 7

Conversion

Answer 7

adoption of a new religious belief that differs from a previously held belief

Question 8

features of a conversion

Answer 8

1. presence of wrong in their life
2. the positive change they wish to make

Question 9

St Paul

Answer 9

on the road to Damascus heard the voice of God “ Saul , Saul why do you persecute me “
After this he converted to Christianity and spread the rest of his years as an apostle ,spreading the word and eventually died as a martyr . ( signifcance of name change)

Question 10

Nicky cruz

Answer 10

gang leader turnt christian preacher , came across a preacher who told him Jesus loves him the words changed him forever ….

Question 11

Mystical experience

Answer 11

something that goes beyond any normal experience in the world e.g visions and voices

Question 12

Williams james

Answer 12

Psychologist , tried to categorise RE , his book - The varieties of religious experience , fan of phenomenolgy
RE - feelings , acts , and experience of individual men in their own solitude of whatever they considered to be divine

Question 13

Ineffability

Answer 13

goes far beyond human powers of description , unexplainable

Question 14

Noetic

Answer 14

recieves knowledge of the divine which is not otherwise available

Question 15

Transient

Answer 15

not permanent

Question 16

Passive

Answer 16

the person is not in control of the RE

Question 17

Scheliermacher

Answer 17

the essence of religion is based in personal experience , RE should be the at the heart of faith , without religious experience there is no religion RE’s are self -authenticating … furthermore doctrine like the creed are attemps by indivduals to understand their RE

Question 18

Swinburne

Answer 18

Principle of credulity - if someone believes they have experienced something .. they probably have - if we always question things we would not be able to conversate
Principle of testimony: Swinburne’s principle that we should usually trust that other people are telling us the truth.

Question 19

The problem of otherminds in response to swinburne principles

Answer 19

we all experience things differently e.g not everyone likes pizza .. you can trust a person but it does not change your experience .. validity and sincerity are different

Question 20

Isaiah vision

Answer 20

saw God and then was able to give a detailed description of the heavenly things he encountered

Question 21

Bearnadette of Soubirous

Answer 21

saw and heard the virgin mary at Lourdes , she was able to describe what mary was wearing and the words spoken to her

Question 22

FC Happold

Answer 22

studied Mysticism - tried to provide context to think and discuss mystical experience .. his book Mysticism suggests it can be divided into 2 types: Mysticism of love and union - longing to escape loneliness , we desire to be apart of something bigger
Mysticism of knowledge and understanding - we seek answers through experience of God

Question 23

St Teresa of Avila

Answer 23

had a ME that that pierced her heart with the fiery arrow of Divine Love. tests of a ME - if the visions leaves you with feelings we would expect from God , if they fit in with the teachings and beliefs of the church, if there is genuine change in character

Question 24

Lofland and stark

Answer 24

studied conversion experiences to the moonies , conversion experiences follow a certain pattern and is not limited to solely to religion

Question 25

Starbuck

Answer 25

conversion is a normal process of finding our identity in adolescence.

Question 26

Corporate religous experience

Answer 26

several ppl have similar/ the same religious experience

Question 27

CRE bosnia and herzegovina

Answer 27

6 young teenagers had regurlar visions of mary and claimed to recieve messages from her

Question 28

CRE Toronto blessing

Answer 28

many ppl in a church in toronto felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and it caused them to squeal , scream , shake ect... Could be seen as mass hysteria

Question 29

CRE evensong

Answer 29

alternate to toronto blessing shows simple singing

Question 30

CRE pentecost

Answer 30

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.