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Religious Experience . An argument for the existence of God:The best explanation for religious experience is that it is accurate, i.e. it is an experience of something divine. . William James. The Varieties of Religious ExperienceReligious experience is an experience of the reality of the unseen,
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1. Đ Michael Lacewing James and Freud on Religious Experience Michael Lacewing
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2. Religious Experience An argument for the existence of God:
The best explanation for religious experience is that it is accurate, i.e. it is an experience of something divine.
3. William James The Varieties of Religious Experience
Religious experience is an experience of the reality of the unseen, which is felt more than conceptualized. A religious attitude to life is solemn, serious and tender.
4. James: Five marks of religious attitude The visible world is part of a spiritual world.
A harmonious relation with the spiritual world is our true purpose.
This harmony allows spiritual energy to affect the visible world.
A new zest for life
An assurance of safety and a predominance of loving relationships with others
5. Sigmund Freud
6. The origin of religion The Future of an Illusion
The origins of religion in human history: a response to our vulnerability in the face of forces of nature
The origins of religion in the individual mind: a development from our childhood vulnerability and our relationship with our father, whom we both fear and love
Thus [mans] longing for a father is a motive identical with his need for protection against the consequences of his human weakness.
7. Freud: Religion is illusion Religion is an illusion, i.e. caused by the fulfilment of a wish (we want it life, the universe to be this way). Religious experience is like dreams, experiences caused by wishes.
8. James: A response We should judge religious experience by its content and its effects.
Content:
something is wrong/lacking with us
harmony with the spiritual world puts this right.
so it is an experience of something MORE.
God is real because he produces real effects.
9. Freuds rebuttal Real effects can have psychological causes.
Scientific work is the only road which can lead us to a knowledge of reality outside ourselves.