Caroline Franks Davis

Caroline Franks Davis

1. Description related challenge

   • The subject might misunderstand their experience- how could we KNOW it was an infinite and immaterial being?
     • God can make himself known
   • Inconsistency between behaviour and what would be expected
     • The behaviour might undergo a gradual change
   • Logical inconsistencies in the description, How can God be immanent and transcendent?
     • But God can transcend the finite human grasp of possibility
   • An unreliable person- known liar
     • But that doesn't mean they cannot tell truth
   • Memory is unreliable
     • But not about a memorable exp like this

2. Subject related challenge

   • The subject was impaired- drugs/ mental illness etc
     • Possibility that Ellen White had a traumatic brain injury- Seventh Day Adventist Church
     • But just because subject is impaired it need not be that the experience is false
   • Different religions make different claims
     • That doesn't mean they are all wrong
     • maybe the experience is the same but interpreted differently
   • We don't normally give credence to dreams etc
     • Test the insights
       • Like the Annuciation or the Flight into Egypt

3. Object related challenge

   • Others present did not experience it
     • St Paul Acts 9.1 The men with him didn not have same experience
     • But God can choose to whom He appears
   • Entity experienced is unlikely
     • Some might be psychotic but not the majority

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