Religious Experience

RELIGIOUS
EXPERIENCES…read more

WHAT IS A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE?
· Is a non-empirical occurrence ­ meaning it does not
depend on the five sense.
· It can be considered a "mental event"
· Such an experience like this can be spontaneous or
may be brought on with discipline (meditation)
· People believe it brings you closer to the divine (who
may possibly be God)
· The experience is unique and not shared with anyone.
· Religious experiences can be encouraging; they help
the individual.…read more

What are the
three
characteristics of
religious
experiences?…read more

1. VISIONS
This is when a religious person believes they
have seen or heard something supernatural.
There is 3 types of visions:
· Intellectual visions: brings knowledge and
understanding about life/religion/God etc.
· Imaginary visions: something that
strengthens a person's faith and is seen
within the mind's eye.
· Corporeal visions: where the figure is seen
externally…read more

Examples of conversions:
· An Intellectual conversion which involves conflicts
2. CONVERSION between two systems of thought. Conflict often results
in the idea "the new one is true" and "the old one is
This is when the effects of religious
false."
experiences are life changing ­ it
may lead to people changing their · A moral conversion which revolves around one's
attitudes and beliefs and accepting lifestyle NOT around a system of thought.
they are sinful and wish to correct · Social conversion takes place slowly in the
these faults. subconscious, followed by rapid and sudden conscious
experience.
WHAT TYPES OF CONVERSION IS
THERE? WILLIAM JAMES' CONCLUSIONS ON
1. Volitional type: a gradual
change and consists of the slow
CONVERSIONS
development of new morals · God causes conversions
and spiritual habits.
· For Methodists, salvation is not truly served
2. Self surrender: it would appear
until they have gone through a crisis which
that one can only control the is involved in conversion
conversion between
themselves after "other forces"
· Those having a sudden conversion consider
have taken control. it a miracle rather than a natural process.…read more

3. Mystical William James believed
experience mystical experiences have
This is where the recipient
these characteristics:
feel of union with the divine. Ineffability: religious experiences
Mysticism is considered the cannot be communicated in normal
closest someone can ever
speech.
come to meeting the divine.
Noetic: the mind gains more
The features of mystical knowledge and understanding.
experiences include: Transiency: refers to the fact that
·Knowledge of the religious experience only last for a
ultimate reality is gained certain amount of time.
· A sense of freedom
from time and space Passivity: refers to the fact that
·Sense of "oneness" with religious experience occurs without
the divine any action on the part of the
·A sense of bliss recipient.…read more