Corporate experiance

• Corporate RE - when multiple people have the same/simalar RE at the same time. Can be seen as more reliable.
• The Fatima Miracle: 3 children saw visions claimed to be an angel of god. another vision of the virgin mary told them to return on the same day each month. Childeren told people to gather, a year later 70,000 gathered. Virgin mary appeared to the children, a miracle also reported.
• The Fatima Miracle: the sun 'danced' and changes colors - different descriptions.
• The toronto blessing: toronto airport vineyard christian fellowship. People reported being given the gift of tongues. (speak in a language no one can understand) and passing out in spiritual bliss. Physical spasms/jerks. Rolling on ground/acting like animals.
• Roman catholic church declared the events at fatima a miracle.
• Dawkins applied one of humes criticisms of miracles to the events at fatima, and argues we have to balance probabilities to work out if it is true or not.
• Fatima: a mass con trick involving 70,000 people or a lot of mistaken people. OR did sun actually move? how did no one else in same hemisphere see it, if sun had moved in this way the universe would have been destroyed. - counter, surely god could achive this?
• Dawkins says it is more probable to be mass hysteria Eg at fatima people just wanted to be part of the fun. Dawkins doesnt accept that god can suspend laws of physics.
• It is possible for a group to spontaneously develop physical symptoms. Has happened in history, when a large group think they have an illness but it is actually psychological. (dont have example)
• Huge annual christian camp for young people, soul survivor. - example of mass hysteria/influenced by others/feeling included.
• Many of the conregations like toronto almost see it as necessary to have a RE to be included and a member of the group. If you attened regularly and havent had a RE you may feel left out. Possible people feel pressured into these experiances.
• At churches like toronto, some pastors will use powerful bible readings, involving high stakes (heaven/hell). In groups people get carries away with those around them, not surprising there are extreme reactions.
• Example: stormzy, singing religious song at large outdoor concert. Stormzy encouraging atmosphere. Was this caused by god or stormzy himself?
• too trivial for god? why would god make the sun spin (fatima) or make people roar like lions (toronto). Usually happens to already religious people. God could use more communication. In bible RE had a purpose, god wanted people to do something.
• Criticism of corporate experiance: lots of induvidual experiances occuring at the same time, it is not the same for anyone. Cant understand someone elses mind.
• The key question of RE is not whether it is real, but what is the cause? God, the mind, induviduals.
• As we all have the same basic mind, we should all be able to have RE; they should be similar in nature; and once we understand the cause, we should be able to reproduce the experiance in other people Eg via a drug.
• Corporate experiance provide more evidence. idea of "social conformity"