Mystical Experiences

• Many philosophers view religious experience as ‘mystical’ meaning that it is a direct experience of God and a sense of oneness  

• Famously, William James concluded that religious experiences are mystically shared four common factors: 

  • Ineffability (inexpressible), Transient (temporary), Passive (they happen to you) and Noetic (they reveal some universal truth) 

• Similarly, F. C. Happold argued that religious experiences are mystical saying that our world is only part of the true reality and mystics experience another spiritual reality (he calls this reality ‘the divine ground’) 

Strengths

St. Teresa of Avila identified tests to determine the genuineness of mystical experiences 

• St. Teresa argued that we can test the genuineness of religious experiences by looking for a positive change in people. 

• She also argued that mystical experiences would leave people at peace 

• This appears to be a verifiable way of testing experiences 

William James argues that there might be truth in all religious experience claims 

• James identified three principles to based his research on o Pragmatism – Truth is not objective but things can be true for each person o Empiricism – We can verify the truth of a mystics claim by looking for change in the person 

  • Pluralism – There is truth in all religions This would suggest that not only can religious experiences be tested but also that there is some truth in all religions 

Weaknesses

James’ view on truth seems contradictory 

• It doesn’t make sense to say that truth is not objective but things can be true for individuals and not others

• A change in a person doesn’t prove anything 

• Just because someone changes their behaviour doesn’t mean it is based on any truth; they could just be wrong or misinterpreted the situation

Rudolf Otto: Some religious experiences are more public 

• Otto argues that religious experience are not private mystical ones but instead public numinous experiences of awe and wonder

• This contradicts the mystics view of what experiences are like

Strengths

Edwin Starbuck: Conversion is similar to adolescence 

• Starbuck examined conversions and found that they typically happened during adolescence and is therefore a normal process for everyone 

• He argued that maybe this is when we realise truths 

Richard Swinburne: The Principles of Credulity and Testimony 

• Swinburne argued we should treat conversion experiences like we treat ordinary experiences 

  • The Principle of Credulity: This states that we should accept our experiences as genuine unless a defeater is present 

  • The Principle of Testimony: This states that we should accept the testimony of others unless a defeater is present  

Weaknesses

Antony Flew: People only convert to religious they grow up with 

• Flew argued that people convert to religions they know. He says you don’t find Hindus converting to Christianity 

• This suggests it might be caused a psychological reason rather than finding some truth. 

Sigmund Freud: They are hallucinations and wishful thinking 

• Freud notes that people often go through conversions at stressful times which suggests it might be wishful thinking and can be better explained by psychology than religious truths