Date post: | 10-Dec-2014 |
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What is a religious experience?
Religious Experience
• Potential ‘A’ question
• “What is a religious experience?”
• “An event that people feel gives them direct contact with God.” OR
• “A powerful experience that draws you closer to God.”
So, what is a religious experience?
Different religious experiences:• Numinous – the feeling of the
presence of something greater than yourself
• Prayer – an attempt to communicate with God, usually through words
• Miracle – something which seems to break a law of science, to which the only answer is God
• Conversion – when your life is changed by giving yourself to God
Numinous:
• Feeling in the presence of God...
• Where would you feel in the presence of something greater than you?
• Looking up at the stars• In a church
Prayer:
• Attempting to contact God...
• Helps you build your relationship with God
• Feel God’s presence
Miracles:
• God performing acts that go against the laws of science
• Make you see God’s power
• Show you God must exist – due to God acting in the world
Conversion:
• Changing your life by dedicating it to God
• The most famous Biblical example of a conversion experience is the conversion of Saul to Paul...
Saul to Paul... • Saul was on the road to
Damascus, where he would persecute Christians
• God appeared to Saul in the form of a blinding light
• God said to Saul, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
• God revealed who he was to Saul, and then Saul became a new man – and changed his name to Paul
Paul• Paul then went into hiding,
because he was classed as a traitor by everyone who still hated Christians and Christianity
• After his time of hiding, he went to many different places spreading the word of God
• He made his way all the way to Italy telling people about Christianity
Miracles: • A miracle is an event which seems to break a
law of science and the only explanation seems to be God
• The wedding at Cana – Jesusturning into wine
• Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter• Mary appearing to St Bernadette
Potential Exam Questions:
• (A) What is a miracle? (2)
• (B) Do you think miracles prove that God exists? Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
• (C) Explain how religious experience can lead to, or support belief in God (8)
• (D) ‘Religious experiences prove that God exists’i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you (3)
Plenary:
• (C) Explain how religious experience can lead to, or support belief in God (8)
• Tips:• Use words like:• Because, therefore, this shows that.