LO: I will know William James’ criteria and conclusions for Religious Experiences

Hmk: Remember Paired presentations - Why study Philosophy and Ethics? AND - Evaluate James’ conclusions. Try to include some strengths and weaknesses

Starter: Look at your notes from last lesson and be ready to share 3 things that you learnt with the class.

Private ExperiencePrivate Experience Public ExperiencePublic Experience

Describable

Describable

Non-Describable

Non-Describable

Non-specific

Non-specific

OrdinaryOrdinary

Extraordinary

Extraordinary

Terry Virgo is a charismatic Christian. Listen as he describes his Religious Experience here (First 3 mins only)

Which type is it?

- The phenomenon of religion. Varieties of Religious Experience – study/science of the nature of religion

In defining Religious Experience, William James states the following:◦ “the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual

men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine” (Varieties; Lecture 2)

◦ James argued there are four main characteristics which apply to religious experiences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TSJhIZmL0A

You will get a sheet, with a question and answer on it. Leave your seat and find someone to quiz. The other person will then quiz you If BOTH have answered each others questions correctly, then give each other a civilised ‘hand shake.’ At the end, SWAP SHEETS, memorise the answer to the new question received and find someone else to quiz.

There will be a MINI-QUIZ at the end to see what you have learnt.

James’ criteria and conclusions for James’ criteria and conclusions for Religious Experience - Religious Experience -

Quiz and Trade Quiz and Trade

Mystical ExperienceIneffableNoeticTransientPassive

Empiricism PluralismPragmatism

If need be – see pg 33-34 of blue textbook for more.

If need be – see pg 33-34 of blue textbook for more.

William James thought that mystical experiences were linked to our subconscious and so could be explained as part of the person’s psychological make-up – they were natural, just as self-awareness is natural. He says that a mystical experience for an individual is absolutely true and authoritative for that person. If they live their life according to that truth we have no right to doubt them. Yet it does not mean that we should accept everything they say, Only that they have established possible communion with God. Nothing can be empirically proved.

What can you remember?

LO: I will know William James’ criteria and conclusions for Religious Experiences

Using the libraryResearch different accounts of people who claimed to have had religious experience. Can you categorise them according to James’ criteria for religious experience?

You can also use the time to polish up presentations for tomorrow’s lesson and come up with any evaluation.