William James

Question 1

What did William James believe about religious experiences?

Answer 1

That they were all mystical.

Question 2

What was the name of William James’ study on Religious Experience?

Answer 2

The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902).

Question 3

What did William James believe about a person’s claim on having a Religious Experience?

Answer 3

He said it should be tested for validity, rather than being simply accepted.

Question 4

How did William James aim to test the validity of people’s claims on having Religious Experiences?

Answer 4

By collecting many different personal accounts of different Religious Experiences.

Question 5

How did William James approach his study?

Answer 5

From a secular, impartial point of view.

Question 6

What were William James 2 specific aims?

Answer 6

1. To find out if there are any characteristics common to the religious experiences of people from different religions (he wanted to divorce particular religious interpretations).
2. To analyse whether a religious experience can form an objective argument for the existence of God.

Question 7

What are the 4 characteristics that are common to all Religious Experiences?

Answer 7

1. Ineffable
2. Noetic
3. Transient
4. Passive

Question 8

Ineffable

Answer 8

Impossible to express in words.

Question 9

Noetic

Answer 9

The person receives knowledge of God which otherwise is not possible.

Question 10

Transient

Answer 10

The experience is not permanent. It usually lasts half an hour or less.

Question 11

Passive

Answer 11

The person was not in control of what happened to them. It feels as if it is being controlled from outside – they are the recipient rather than the instigator.