A) The influence of religious experience on religious practice & faith

1. Intro

• In 1969 Alister Hardy set up a religious experience (RE) research unit in Oxford to examine the extent and nature of REs
• The sheer depth and breadth soon became clear
• Many people develop their (or others) faith through REs
• Wide range of REs e.g. conversions, mysticism etc.
• REs can be directly/ indirectly by God or by gaining an insight of the divine (noetic)
• Through revelation, the divine becomes known to humanity e.g. in Judaism when God revealed the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai

2. Value for community- promotion of faith value systems

• REs can be the source of revealing ethical standards, i.e. Moses as 'lawgiver of Israel' among the Jews
• 10 commandments provide explicit moral guidance and govern believer's behaviour
• E.g. 'Do not kill' is an ethical/ societal law. Promotes positive values

3. Value for community- affirming of belief systems

• Key founding figure of a religion…