RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE – POSSIBLE STRUCTURE TO ESSAY
Explain and examine the argument for the existence of God from Religious experience
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INTRODUCTION
1/
Normally start with a definition of Religious Experience but it would probably
be better to explain the question.
2/
Explain that some religious people claim to have some experience of the Divine
which can come in many forms, including:
2a/ A sense of God’s presence
2b/ A sense of being saved (conversion)
2c/ Being cured by faith (prayer)
2d/ Experiencing a vision of the Divine (God, Jesus, Mary, the Saints etc)
2e/ Miracles
2f/ Experiencing paranormal gifts as the result of prayer
2g/ Feeling inner promptings from God (conscience)
2h/ Gaining knowledge of ‘Ultimate Reality’ through revelation.
2i/
A sense of freedom from time and space and ego
2j/
A sense of ‘oneness’ with the Divine
2k/ A sense of bliss or serenity
3/
These experiences can be described as:
3a/ Non empirical occurrences, possibly supernatural (see Holland’s
miracles)
3b/ They can be described as ‘mental events’ of which the recipient is aware.
3c/ These experiences can be spontaneous or induced through prayer or
drugs.
3d/ Recipients say the experience draws them into a deeper understanding of
God
3e/ Like in miracles, Religious Experience is not the Divine but a vehicle to
the Divine (the significance is greater than the experience)
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3f/
3g/
Experiences are unique and cannot be shared (vicarious)
As in Swinburne’s miracles, Experience must be encouraging and have a
positive outcome (no feathers or toyboxes!!!)
4/
Through one or some of the above, people may claim a belief in God.
5/
The main thrust of your argument will be to explain the philosophers associated
with Mysticism which is the category which includes religious experience and
people’s attempts to analyse and categorise them.
6/
We will look at Rudolph Otto, Martin Buber, Soren Kierkegaard as the mystics
and Willian James and Frederick Happold as mystics who made some attempt to
analyse these experiences.
7/
Rudolph Otto and the Numinous
8/
Martin Buber and I – it and I – thou
9/
Soren Kierkegaard and the ‘Leap of faith’
10/ William James with his 4 qualities: Ineffable; Noetic Quality, Transciency,
Passivity.
11/ F Happold with his 2 ‘mysticisms’ (don’t use the further Soul, Nature or Soul
Mysticism).
12/ Try to bring in Authoritarianism (page 42) and explain the difference between
group (Toronto Blessing) and Individual (Padre Pio or Bernadette) experiences.
Is the argument from Religious Experience a strong argument for the existence of
God? Answer with reference to prayer or conversion
(12)
13/
Which ever one you use, Prayer or Conversion and I would suggest conversion
if you have time, then briefly write a paragraph about the other.
14/ Introduce part B by saying, “Apart from Mysticism the two most common
forms of religious Experience are in the form of Prayer and Conversion (briefly
explain both).
15/
If using Prayer use: Sabatier then Myers with a more cynical look and Teresa
of Avila for a true mystical approach to prayer.
16/ If using conversion then first explain what it is.
17/ Then explain Starbuck and the whole psychological aspects of conversion.
18/ Mention the two different types of conversion and the permanency of
conversion.
19/ Try to use those appalling example of conversion on page 36.
20
Then the most important information is on page 37/38 under the heading:
“Religious Experience as an Argument for the Existence of God. Linking to
Swinburne’s ‘Principle of Credulity’.
21/
You could bring in the Objective/Subjective Distinction on page 39 linking it to
the whole Realism v Anti Realism and Cognitive v Non Cognitive.
22/ The above point ties in with the crucial ‘Theories of Truth’ on page 41.
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