Religious Experience

Religious Experience

1. William James

   • Aims
     • Was not trying to prove that religious experiences are indicative of God and does not ignore the idea that religious experiences could be the result of a delusion, drunkenness, wishful thinking, etc.
     • Look at religious experiences objectively from a scientific and psychological view.
     • Explain religious experiences and show their practical natural, as James was a pragmatist.
     • Explore all other possibilities as to why a religious experience occurs.
     • Establish whether religions are 'second-hand'
   • Conclusions
     • PINT
       • Passive - you are not in control, the experience is initiated by something else.
       • Ineffable - it is impossible is explain.
       • Noetic - the experience conveys knowledge about God.
       • Transient - the experience is temporary, although it's effects may last a long time.
     • Conversions Experiences
       • Loss of worry
       • Perceiving truths not known before
       • Saintliness
       • Ecstasy of happiness
       • World appears to go through a change
     • The religious experience itself is less important than the consequences
     • All religious experiences have one thing in common, they happen when the subject is at their lowest point in life and potentially need a change to help turn their life around.
     • Even if a psychological explanation is found it doesn't mean it has no spiritual value, but can be the result of a mental illness or alcohol.