Religious Experience

• What are the two versions of the summary notes for the Religious Experience topic?

  A*-A grade and B-C grade summary notes
• What is William James' argument regarding mystical individual religious experiences?


  James argued that religious experiences are evidence of union with a higher power.
• What did William James find about mystical experiences across different cultures?


  He found that mystical experiences were present in all cultures.
• How does James define mystical experiences?


  They are full-blown out of body transcendent experiences, not just visionary experiences.
• What are the four criteria of mystical experiences according to William James?

  1. Ineffable – beyond description and language
  2. Noetic – provides knowledge and insight
  3. Transient – happens in a limited amount of time
  4. Passive – it happens to you, you don’t make it happen
• What is the implication of James' pluralism argument regarding the commonality of mystical experiences across religions?

  It suggests there must be an objective cause for the cross-cultural similarity of these experiences.
• What is the proposal by James and Stace regarding the cause of mystical experiences?

  They propose that people in different religions are tapping into the same higher spiritual reality.
• What is a counterargument to James' pluralism argument regarding human brains?

  Human brains are all the same, which could explain similar hallucinations across cultures.
• What are some naturalistic physiological causes of hallucinations mentioned in the study material?

  Drugs, mental illness, fasting, sleep deprivation, and random unusual brain activity.
• What did Feuerbach suggest about the universality of religious experience?

  He suggested it indicates a universal psychological need for a higher purpose.
• What is a critique of James' theory regarding religious experiences?

  There are simpler and more scientific explanations for the cross-cultural similarities in religious experiences.
• Why did James find conversion experiences particularly convincing?


  Because of their life-changing effects.
• How did James differentiate religious experiences from hallucinations?

  He pointed out that religious experiences can have positive and profound life-changing effects.
• What case study did James use to illustrate the life-changing effects of religious experiences?


  The case study of an alcoholic who was able to give up alcohol after a religious experience.
• What transformation does James associate with conversion experiences?


  A transformation from an unhappy divided self to a more unified happy state.
• Who was St. Paul before his conversion experience?


  He was called Saul and was a Jew who hated Christians.
• What did St. Paul experience that led to his conversion?

  He saw Jesus who asked, "Why are you persecuting me?"
• What is a counterargument to the idea that conversion experiences are valid evidence of a higher power?

  Conversion experiences could be hallucinations, such as those caused by epilepsy.
• What is a critique of James' argument regarding the life-changing effects of hallucinations?


  Sometimes hallucinations can also produce life-changing effects.
• What principle does Ockham's razor relate to in the context of religious experiences?

  It suggests that we should prefer the simplest explanation when faced with competing hypotheses.
• What is Freud's view on religious experiences?

  He believed they are the unconscious mind's need for wish-fulfillment.
• According to Freud, why do humans invent the idea of God?

  To cope with the fear of death and the responsibilities of adult life.
• How does Freud compare the hallucination of God to a mirage?

  He suggests that just as people hallucinate water when lost in a desert, they hallucinate God due to their desperation for an afterlife.
• What is a critique of Freud's argument regarding religious experiences?


  Freud studied a small sample size and overgeneralized his findings.
• What is a counterargument to Freud's view on conversion experiences?


  Some individuals who already believe in an afterlife can have conversion experiences to different religions.
• What is the evaluation of Freud's theory regarding religious experiences?

  Freud may be right about some religious people, but his argument cannot be generalized to all.
• What does Swinburne argue about religious experiences?


  He argues that they are evidence for God's existence.
• According to Swinburne, what constitutes evidence for God's existence?


  Experiencing something divine or hearing testimony from someone who has.
• What does Swinburne say about dismissing evidence for religious experiences?


  You can only dismiss it if you have better evidence against it.
• What is a critique of Swinburne's argument regarding religious experiences?

  Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, so more is needed than just religious experience to justify belief in God.
• What is the pluralism objection related to religious experiences?

  All religions have religious experiences, which can cancel each other out as evidence for their respective gods.
• What are corporate religious experiences?


  Experiences shared by multiple people simultaneously.
• What is an example of a corporate religious experience mentioned in the study material?

  The Toronto Blessing, where a congregation felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.
• Why can't corporate experiences be easily explained by individualistic explanations?

  Because the chances of all individuals hallucinating the same thing at the same time is too low.
• What is a counterargument to the validity of corporate religious experiences?

  Groups of people can share delusions, as seen in various historical examples.
• What historical examples are given to illustrate shared delusions?

  Claims of witchcraft in medieval Europe and sightings of alien spaceships in America.
• What is the significance of the shared delusions in relation to corporate religious experiences?

  They suggest that groups can experience similar delusions, which could explain corporate religious experiences scientifically.
• What are the main critiques of the theories regarding religious experiences discussed in the study material?

  • James' theory lacks scientific evidence and relies on subjective experiences.
  • Freud's theory overgeneralizes and lacks a representative sample.
  • Swinburne's argument requires more than just personal experiences to justify belief in God.
  • Corporate experiences can be explained by psychological phenomena like mass hysteria.