William James and the varieties of religious experience
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- Created by: Abitracey
- Created on: 17-02-13 14:40
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- William James and the varieties of religious experience
- James' cnclusions
- Pluralism
- The idea in religion that truth is to be found in many faiths.
- James' research into experiences in differrent faiths led him to the conclusion that they are similar.
- Those haing experiences may be experiencing the same ultimate reality, which is then interpreted into the 'second hand' religious belief structure that is most familiar to them.
- Empiricsm
- Empriricle evidence provides us with clues as to the reality beyone what we see and hear
- The idea that observations via our senses lead us to understanding the world.
- Pragmatism
- an account of truth that states that the truth is not a fixed thing but is whatever has value or works for us.
- On observing the effects of religious experience, we have to conclude that there is truth to be found in religion.
- Pluralism
- Religion and religious experience
- For James, religious experience stands at the heart of religion.
- Actual experiences are regarded as true religion.
- Varieties of religious experience
- James viewed conversion as a transformation from a divided or imperfect self to a more unified consciousness.
- Conversion, praye and the phenomenon of saintliness.
- James' criteria for mystical experience
- In philosophical thought, mystical experiences refer to experience where God is revealed directly and there is a sense of oneness with the devine or ultimate reality
- Passive
- The experience is not initiated by the mystic but rather they have a sense that something is acting upon them.
- Ineffible
- The experinece is beyond proper description. No adequate description can be given in words.
- Noetic
- Despite the ineffibility mystical states are not just feelings, the experiences gives the mystic a deep and direct knowledge of God.
- Transcient
- The experience is a temporary one that cannot be sustained, although its effects may last a long time. It can develop and deepen with each subsequent experience.
- James' cnclusions
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