Religious Experience in Proving the Existence of God (for and against)

Religious Experience in Proving the Existence of God

For:

• Swinburne argued the principles of credulity and testimony suggest that the account of God should be accepted for what it is
• William Alston argued that if you believe in God, it is rational to believe that people have religious experiences of God
• The large number of people throughout the world who have reported having religious experience suggest that God exists (31% of British people and 35% of Americans)
• James sugested that the authority does not extend beyond the person who experiences it so it does prove the existence for that person (but not the existence of God beyond that person)
• Conversions may prove that existence of God for those who experience it = Cat Stevens drowning and turning…