Religious Experience

What this unit covers

The page sits in the Philosophy of Religion strand of Religion and theology. It brings together the main types of religious experience and the thinkers who describe and test them. You will find mind maps, flashcard decks, notes, slide sets and quizzes, all made by GoConqr users.

Where to begin

Start with Religious Experience and Philosophical Approach to Spirituality, a mind map that asks what a religious experience is: a unique encounter with the Divine beyond the self, often subjective and mystical. Then move to the types:

1. The Visions and Voices mind map, which looks at Muhammad's vision and the purpose it gave him.
2. The Conversion and Corporate Experience mind map, which notes that the inner experience cannot be detected empirically, though changes in behaviour can be observed.
3. The slide sets on numinous and mystical experience.

Thinkers and key ideas

The mind map on aspects of mystical experience by F.C. Happold separates mysticism into two types with three aspects. The notes on Swinburne's types of religious experience split experiences into ordinary and extraordinary. There are also resources on William James, Stace's key ideas and the Alistair Hardy research centre, which focuses on contemporary religious experience.

Testing the claims

Several maps deal with challenges. The Caroline Franks Davis mind map covers description-related, subject-related and object-related challenges, such as an impaired subject through drugs or mental illness. Pair it with the maps on psychological explanations, strengths and weaknesses. Then look at the argument map, which sets out the claim that if there is a God, there are likely to be experiences of him.

Using quizzes with maps

Read a map first, then take a quiz without notes. Wherever you slip, go back to the matching map or flashcard deck. The key quotes flashcards are handy for recalling wording. The resources mention A-level Religious Studies and GCSE Religious Studies, so check which applies to you.

When you are ready, choose one type of experience and work through its map, cards and quiz in turn.