religious experience

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define mystical experience
experience of the supernatural/god that goes beyond sense experience
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define conversion experience
an experience that produces a radical change in the person's belief
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define corperate relgioous experience
a religious experience which happens to a group as a body
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define numinous experience
an indescribable experience involving feelings of awe, fascination, worship
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deifine principle of testimony
swinburnes principle that we should usually trust that people are telling us the truth
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define principle of credulity
swinbrnes principle that we should usually believe what our senses tell us we are percieving
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define neurophysiology
areas of science which focus on the brain and nervous system
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what are the three different types of religious experience
mystical, conversion, corporate
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what are the two burning questions in this topic
are RE no more than internal emotional events that can be explained away from science or are the truly from god? can RE be tested for authenticity?
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what is a religious experience?
an experience within a religious context, a specific life changing event,
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whats an exmaple of a daily religious experience?
when christians share the eucharist together
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whats an example of a life changing event (dramatic)
davey falcus -once was a gang member who killed but was met by god by a window and changed his paths
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why may religious experience be difficult to describe
they can be ineffable because its beyond our everyday lives
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what is the issue with expressing religious belief in our humanly laguage
language is shaped through culture and is accompanied by worldy views and beliefs, making it difficult to know people in different time points and in different backgrounds are desribing same experience
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why is science, hallucinaions, illusions a better explanaition than a real life religious experience
they refer to science which is empirically and unieversally explanaible.
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what evidence is there to show that religious experiences are a central part to religious traditions
throughout the bible e.g.
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howhas religious experience shaped the lives of others
the style of worship in christian churches is based on corporate religious experience of the fist christians at pentecost
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who is the main thinker who outlines whatit means for an experience to be distinctively religious?
Freidrich Schleiermacher
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where did the essence of religious experience lie for schleiermacher
in personal experience - everyone has a consciousness for the divine bt this can be obcscured by other priorities.
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to schleiermacher, what does a religious person do with this consiousness of the divine
they focus on their consciousness of the divine and develop it
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how does schleiermacherdescribe the testability of religious experience
self authenticating
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what did schleiermacher believe docrtines such as the creed were?
he believed they were attempts from individuals to understand their religious experience
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how did this go against catholic tradition
the experience of mystics had to be tested against the church's teaching, tested against scripture before seen as genine
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how is this different to schleiermacher's view on validity of religious experience
experiences should have a priority and statements of belief should be formulated tofit them
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how did schleiermacher phrase religious experience?
the feeling of absolute dependance, the indicuduals religious experience was based in the sense of being wholly dependant
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what did schleiermacher believe different religions were a result of
religious experience can take different forms in different cultures, and different religions in the world was a reflection of this
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in comparison to all religions what did schleiermacher think of christianity
it was the highest of all the religions but not the only true one
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why does he believe that christianity is the highest of all religions?
jesus christ is the only example of someone with complete god consciousness totally unobscured
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how was schleiermacher criticised?
criticism on his emphasis on subjectivity which reduces religious experience to an emotion rather than a cognitive claim that hold fac.
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why is schleiermacher critices for self autheticating
there must be a possibility of testing RE against the bible and the church
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why is this a must
because the alleged RE couldnt count as valid.
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what was william james most known for
his book on religious experiencd and gifford lectires
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what was James' aim
to take the most objective stand possible, to take personal accounts of religious experience seriously, to make observations to gain greater insight
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how does he try to achieve this aim
by including many first hand religious experience accounts
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what is an example of religious experience he includes
conversions
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what was a conversion in James' understanding
someone who is divided and is conscious of being unhappy/wrong. and becomes more confident about what is right - happier.
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how does he phrase this
as a "consequence of a firmer hold on religious realities"
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what is the pace of conversions
gradual and or sudden
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what did jems' think about testibility for religious experience
it was testable for validity to an extent
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how can we test the validity?
long term effects: the worth of religious experience can be tested by the changes in the sbject e.g. become slefless, loving, patient
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does the religious experience have to be particularly dramatic for James
no it doesnt have to eb a dramatic event but it can be
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james is a pragmatist what does this mean
someone who holds that the truth of something can be determined by its practical effects and consequences
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what are the four main qualities of a religious experience?
noetic, ineffability, transcience, passivity
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what does ineffable mean
the experience is impossible to express in normal lamguageq
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what does noetic mean
the exerience give them insight of important truths which werent accessible through reason alone, e.g. "the truth was revelaed to me"
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what does transience mean
the experience is short but the effects last a life time
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what does passivity mean
the person believes that the experience is controlled form outside themselves - they are the recipients rather than the instigators
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what does james say about how convincing the exeriences are to the person wo experienced it
"much more convincing than results established by mere logic ever are
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what does james conclude about god
that god is interested in the world and in individuals
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what does he believe is unreasonable towards scholars and ordinary peole
for them to reject religious experience because they started off at a position of sceptisism
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what was rudolf ottos aim
to identify what it was about religious experience that made it religious rather than an experience
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how does he describe the importance of personal encounter to the natural forces
mysterium teremndum et fascinans
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what ae the three main qualities the divine would be recognised as having.
waulity of mystery, recognised as being ultimate importnace, god has a quality of being both attractive and dangerous
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what does otto mean when he says quality of mystery
relaising that god is incomprehensible, can be met but not cpatured,
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who is inspired by this
cs lewis: narnia. they love aslan the lion but undertsand that he isnt a pet or creatre they can fully understand
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what does otto mean whhen he says that he has a qality of being both attractive and dangerous
god cannout be controlled, the individual feels a sense of privlage during religious experience
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what word did otto create to desciribe the word awe inspiring
numinous
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can ordiary language do justice to religious experience to otto
no
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what is the only way individuals can describe their religious experience
sescribe their feelings and emotions during the experience rather thn words to define what was actually giving them those feelings
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why is ottos book so important
it was the first time someone tried to undertand the otherness of religious experience with its diistinctive qalites
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what is an exmaple of a mystical event
visions, hearing voices, people feel there are presented or united with god
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why would mystics now such as teresa avila and julian of norwich not regard themselves as mystics then
when they tried to seek god by expressing their inner spiritual experiences through the lamguage and imegary of their time theyd understand themselves as merely christians.
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what is the xample of teresa avila/ julian of norwich
teresa: mystical vision, angel peirced her with lance I saw no difference between God and our substance," - united with god "who/what/why revealsit to you, love" she has an insight into the truth which isnt accessible through mere reason.
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when you are to call a religious experience mystical, what a does than mean
it carries connotations of the idea that underneath different doctrines and pratcices, everyone is connected tot the same god.
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at what point did Happold's study of mysticsm take place
60s when people were lookig outside of the church to find meaning and truth
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where could we find a personal sense of truth in hapolds mysticism study
it might involve looking at religious belief systems outside and inside traditional christanity
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how does happold understand mystisim
undertsand it as underlying religion in all its forms - it depends on the intuitional, non rational side of human understanding
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what are the similar features in mysticsm throughout the world in different cultures
the physical world is only a part of reality and it comes from a divine ground, people can know divine grounf through intuition, we have two natures: ego, spiritual eternal self.the purpse of humas is to unite with divine ground and realise eternself
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what is are some examples about christian mysticism and numinous experience
virgin mary seeing angels, isaih 6:1, isiah saw god and was able to give a detailed description of the different heavenly beings being encountered
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what is conversion experience
where someone abandons their old way of life and adopts a new one based on an inner experience they are convinced is for god
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what basic pattern does conversion religious experience tend to follow
the indicidual isnt content with their current system of ideas, person searches on a emote and intellect level on which do make a decision,
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whats an example of the persons search on an intellectula and emotional level?
they may turn to the bible , listen to stories of other conersi0ons, attend a evangelical meeting
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continue the pattern
a point of crisis emotionally and or physically, e.g. mstical, visions, voices, sense of gods prescence
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continue the patterns,
followed by a sense of peace or joy - desire to share faith tell people about their experience, complete sense of purpose in life, a chnage from their direction they use to follow
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what did james think about validity in terms of conversion
if the individual is happier kinder more loving thats enough evidence to suggest the conversion experience is valid
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what in the bible can aid christians to test their experiences and claims - supports similarly to james
the fruits of the spirits, love peace joy, kindness, goodness
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what is cintraversial about conversion experiences
the effects ofa conversion may be the result of social and psychological factors rather than god
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whats an example of irravocable transformation
saul
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what is the story of saul
christianity was seen as a threat in the roman era because they appointed to a new king, jesus, dissenting the jewish community, sauls job was to seek them out and punish them
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what are some quotes that back this story up and to show the basic conversion patterns
"saul still breathing out murderous threats to the lords disciples" "saul, why do you prosecute me?", "preached in synygogs that jesus was the son of god"
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what is corporate religious experience
as a body people experience the same reliogious experience at the same time
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what is a biblical example of a corporate religous experience
the pentecost where everyone felt the same sensation of tongues of fire
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whats a real life example of a corporate religious exaperience
teenagers in bosnia allegedly seeing regular visions of the virgin mary who told them to pray more and giving themmessages about peace
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what does having more testimonies suggest?
that there is more evidential force - more people.
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what are criticisisms on behalf of the bonsia visions
children could of convinced each other to believe visions, encoraged them that they saw each others visions, catholic church take caution but dont disown the claim
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how is it evident that pope franic/catholic church didnt completely take this view on
bonsia area was made into a shrine yet pope francis didnt visit when he was nearby
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what is the toronto blessing
many people came together and worshiped in a church. they broke into hysteria claiming the intenisty of the holy spirit was very intense
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how is it criticised
people claim when the holy spirit in genuinely experienced it leads believers to work for others and, be humble and self controlled
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whats the main belief as to why religious experiences happen
god chooses to reveal himself for his own reasons
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what does richard swiinburne believe about religious expeirence
it should be taken seriously and can act as evidence for the existence of god
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how should we treat religious experiences
trust them as if they were non religious experiences e.g. if someone says they can hear a knock they most likley can, if a person believes they heard a voice from god they probably did
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explain what is message behind the principle of cedulity and testimony
we should accept the person who had the experience is in the best position to know what really happened (even people try toput their own interpreation on it)
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what is the orinciple of credulity
what are senses tell us are more likely to be true than not ,accept our exp on balance unkless theres convincing opposition
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why does swinburne think the principle of credulity is important to follow
we must trust our own instincts or we will get no where
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what is an example to illustrate this
if we think our friend is walking towards us, same hair, similar clothes, voice then there is no reason to be suspicios of an imposter,
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how does this relate to god?
if we think we are experiencing god we shouldnt immediately doubt our own perceptions because our senses are usually correct (not always)
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what is the principle of testimony
people usually tell us the truth, we should go with the balance of probability when we are told something just as though a non reigious experience
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when told a religious experience how should we treat it in swinburnes eyes
should take their persona encounter seriously rather than immediately assume its wrong
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who is the cental thinker in the psychological intrpretation of religious language?
ludwig feuerbach.
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who was feuerbach influenced by
naturallistic thinkers
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what did feuerbach believe about the root of religious experience
reigious experience have origins in the human mind, when someone is worshipping or experiencing god they are W/E their human mind
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what does feuerbach suggest people do when creating their god
they take admirable aspects e.g. loving, hero, creativity and project that outside themselves and hold it to worship withot consiously meaning to
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to feuerbach why did people create god?
to meet their needs: e.g. care for them to feel adequate, loved and valued.
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how does sigmund frued agree with feuerbach
believes that people who think they are in the prescence of god are deluding themselves
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why is frued so important among psychologist
first to analyse that the mind works in different levels unconscious, conscious. deeper levels such as association are hidden but affect who we are
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what are the three levels to our psycho
ego, id, superego
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what is the ego
conscious layer,awareness of our opinions and decisions
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what is th id
layer of unconscious, supressed emotions and desires we might not want to admit to ourselves, memories
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what is the superego
equivilant to a conscience - moral voice , discerns right and wrong,
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how was the superegocreated
from our upbinging, what our parents/sibling etc show s what is acceptable and unnacceptable which is impinted onto our personalities
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how does feuerbachs idea that people created a god and the idea of religious experience relate to frueds neurosis
fred; some cant cope with adult life and create an imaginary parental figure
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how does this relate to the belief that an indicidual is havinng a religious experience
the superego: makes moral commands and this could be mistaken as a voice of god. the parent figure talks to them mor directly and personally
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what does frued call this
infantile neurosis - the have to grow out of this to live with better mental health
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what is the naturalistic explanation of religious experience
frued and feuermacher
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who is another psychoanalyst who investigates religious experience
donald winnnicott
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what does winnicott specifically look into
the importace of mother and child bond in early life and the transitions needed for the child to be a mentally healthy adult
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what is a transitional object in winnicotts' children observations
a teddy or toy, strong attachment. holds it at unfamiliar sitiuations.
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what does the transitional object do for the child
it gives it comfort imagining it provides security and takes that ilusion seriously whilst acknowledging its just a teddy/toy
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what stage does the transiitonal stage belong to
the stage between imaginary and reality
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how does the transiiotnal object help the child grow
living with the illusion that the object is real helps child make ste between relying completely on mother and self relience
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how does this relate to adult religious experience
some adults cant cope without this illusion in their lives.
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what does hallmarks of madness mean
people cant make a distinction between their illusion and reality
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winnicott: why is illusion a norm and is almost fundemental to peoples lives
we need ilusion to make sense of ourselves and our place in world to give it significance
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how is religious experience understood as in the eyes of winnicott
an illusion
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how does winnicott disagree with fred
frued believes people will be mentally healthier without this illusion where as winnicott thinks it important to have it
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when does the religious experience become madness to winnicott
when they impose their illusion on others and expect others to give it credibility as "real"
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what is physiiological interpretations of religious experience
explains religious experience as a biological product from the brain
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who is a central neroscientist
micheal persinger
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what does he try to investigate
nueral activity and its relationship with religios experience, being unied or at the prescence og god
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what was the study that persinger carried out to his volunteers to investigate this reltionship
helmets sent weak magnetic signals through brain, significant proportion of them reported feeling similarly to religious experience reports.
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what are the conclsions
methodology can be critiised, ppt new what the aim was - social desirability. however third factor shouldnt be ignored.RE may be an effect of magnetism
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what is another example of religious experience in the physiological area
Near death experiences
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what are the usual reports for NDE
bright light, soul left their body, the could see down at their body
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who studies and gives explanations for these feelings of religious experience
mobbs and watt
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how do they account for the feelings of religious experience
biologically explained through observation in the parietal and prefrontal areas of the brain, release of emotion altering hormones at times of stress
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what is an example of this hormone
fopamine, noradrenaline
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what conlcusions can be made
[physiological explanation may be more plausible than a rleigious experience from god
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Card 2

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define conversion experience

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an experience that produces a radical change in the person's belief

Card 3

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define corperate relgioous experience

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Card 4

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define numinous experience

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Card 5

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deifine principle of testimony

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