Religious experience

THE ARGUMENT FROM RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

The argument from religious experience is the argument from experiences of God to the existence of God.

In its strong form, this argument asserts that it is only possible to experience that which exists, and so that the phenomenon of religious experience demonstrates the existence of God. People experience God, therefore there must be a God; case closed.

In its weaker form, the argument asserts only that religious experiences constitute evidence for God’s existence.

IMPORTANT THINKER:  RICHARD SWINBURNE (WEAKER FORM)

The principle of credulity states that if it seems to a subject that x is present, then probably x is present. Generally, says Swinburne, it is reasonable to believe that the world is probably as we experience it to be. Unless we have some specific reason to question a religious experience, therefore, then we ought to accept that it is at least prima facie evidence for the existence of God.