Religious experiences Flashcards
(13 cards)
what is a religious experience?
an experience in which someone believes that they have direct access to God
who is William James?
- his philosophy is influenced by physical science
- he believes that an experience counts a religious experience if it follows;
1. philosophical pragmatism
2. Religious experience is primary
what is william James’ first big idea?
- PHILOSOPHICAL PRAGMATISM:
whether or not to judge if the religious experience is true or not should be based on whether or not it provides a useful outcome, or if it has a useful outcome
- For example, “you can achieve anything you put your mind to” [ according to philosophical pragmatism this would be true as it would motivate you to try harder]
what is william James’ second big idea?
- RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE IS PRIMARY
this is the idea that religious experience comes before anything else, such as religious doctrine
what is william James’ criteria of mystical experiences?
Passive - the person isn’t in control of the religious experience
Ineffable - the experience is undescribable
Noetic - after the experience, the individual gained more knowledge
Transient - the experience don’t last long (out of time)
what is an example of religious/mystical experiences in the bible?
- JOAN OF ARC:
- woman who believed she was sent by God to lead the french army to victory
- experienced visions of angels and saints with her “bodily eyes” and a heavenly light - PHAROAH AND HIS DREAMS:
- couldnt interpret his dream and when he woke up it took time for him to adapt to reality
what are conversion experiences?
an experience which causes a person to abandon their old ways and adopt a new one
what is an analogy you can use for conversion experiences?
a child going into an adult
- as a child they have different beliefs from when they grow into an adult
what are types of conversion experiences ?
- volitional - the person gradually develops new religious beliefs, typically by exposing themselves to the teachings of that religion
- self surrender
- the person involuntarily/suddenly is convinced of the truth of the divine that makes them convert
what is an example of a
volitional conversion experience?
john wesley:
- during a meeting, he felt his heart being “strangely warmed”, while reading Romans
- helping him feel a sense of reassurance that Christ had truly died for him and that he was saved
- this led him to embrace a more spiritual life in his faith
what is an example of a self surrender conversion experience?
SAUL TO PAUL: (persecuted christians)
- fell down in deep surrender when struck by a binding light
- after 3 days of blindness and fasting, it led to his total surrender to God’s will
give an example of a corporate religious experience (multiple people)?
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AT PENTACOST:
- all of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in tongues
what does swinburne say about corporate experiences?
they are reliable through:
1. principle of credulity - unless we have overwhelming evidence, we should believe
2. principle of testimony - we normally believe what people say, unless we have a good reason not to, so we shouldnt discriminate against testimonies of religion
