Religious experience

• Who was William James?

  A philosopher and psychologist
• What do people who have religious experiences often call themselves?

  Mystics
• What are the characteristics of mystical experiences according to James?

  Intense and totally immersive
• What are the four criteria that characterize mystical religious experiences according to James?

  1. Ineffable – beyond language
  2. Noetic – knowledge or insight gained
  3. Transient – temporary experience
  4. Passive – happens to a person
• What does "ineffable" mean in the context of mystical experiences?

  Beyond language and cannot be described
• What does "noetic" refer to in mystical experiences?

  Gaining knowledge or insight
• How does James describe the nature of mystical experiences?

  They defy expression and must be experienced
• What is James' pluralist argument regarding religious experiences?

  They indicate a higher spiritual reality
• How does James explain the universality of mystical experiences across cultures?

  It cannot be chance; indicates a higher reality
• What metaphor does Paul Knitter use to explain religious experiences?

  Each religion is a well with underground water
• What is an alternative explanation for the cross-cultural similarities in religious experiences?

  Naturalistic explanations based on human evolution
• What does James argue about the effects of religious experiences?

  They can have positive, life-changing effects
• How does James define conversion experiences?

  A transformation to a more unified happy state
• What is a counterargument to James' pragmatism regarding hallucinations?

  Some hallucinations can be life-changing
• What case study does James use to illustrate the impact of religious experiences?

  An alcoholic who quit drinking
• What is Swinburne's principle of credulity?

  Believe what you experience unless reason not to
• What does Swinburne's principle of testimony state?

  Believe what others report unless reason not to
• What does Swinburne argue about evidence for God?

  Religious experiences can justify belief in God
• What is the significance of extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary evidence?

  Existence of God is an extraordinary claim
• How does Freud view religion in relation to psychological forces?

  As an obsessional neurosis from fear of death
• What does Freud suggest about the term 'father' in Christianity?

  It reflects a desire for eternal innocence
• How does Freud explain the phenomenon of mirages?

  As a delusion from desperation for water
• What is Freud's challenge to mystical religious experiences?

  They may be wish-fulfilling hallucinations
• How does Freud respond to the challenge of mystical experiences?

  They are reliving childhood experiences
• What are the criticisms of Freud's account of religion?

  It is unscientific and overly-reductive
• What are the key points of Swinburne's principles of credulity and testimony?

  • Credulity: Believe experiences unless reason not to
  • Testimony: Believe others' reports unless reason not to
  • Evidence must survive scrutiny and testing
• What are the main arguments against the validity of religious experiences?

  • Hallucinations can be life-changing
  • Psychological or physiological influences
  • Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
• What are the main features of Freud's psychological challenge to religious experience?

  • Religion as obsessional neurosis
  • Fear of death as a driving force
  • Desire for eternal innocence
• What does Freud's theory suggest about mystical experiences?

  They are unlike ordinary sensory experiences
• What challenge did Freud admit regarding his theory?

  Intense mystical experiences are difficult to explain
• How did Freud explain the sense of self in mystical experiences?

  It is a reliving of childhood experiences
• What is Freud's view on the association of selflessness with religion?

  It is arbitrarily associated with religion
• What did Popper argue about Freud's theories?

  They are unfalsifiable
• Who is Persinger and what did he create?

  A neuroscientist who created the 'God helmet'
• What does the 'God helmet' do?

  It manipulates brain waves to induce experiences
• What conclusion can be drawn from Persinger's findings?

  Religious experiences may originate from the brain
• How can brain manipulation relate to religious experiences?

  It may be a mechanism for divine experiences
• What does Ockham's razor suggest about explanations for religious experiences?

  The simpler naturalistic explanation is preferable
• What are conversion experiences?

  • Experiences influencing a person to join a religion
  • Can be individual or corporate
  • May include mystical experiences or visions
• Who is St. Paul and what was his conversion experience?

  He converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus