Key Concepts of Religious Experience as an Argument for...

Key Concepts of Religious Experience as an Argument for the Existence of God The argument is of an a posterioi nature, therefore it is inductive. This means the argument uses data and evidence from which conclusions are drawn. The argument of experience must involve a sense of encounter, the experience of the encounter therefore has been seen, felt and sensed and therefore making the experience exist to us (Hume). These experiences seem to be widespread throughout society and therefore can be claimed to be a normal occurrence. David Hay in his book The Spiritual Experience of the British in 1979 his findings are counter-intuitive, his findings show that roughly 50% of the sample reported having†¦show more content†¦The religious experiences have to be interpreted, this gives the possibility that interpretations will be different and that these interpretations will be personal. The interpretations result in the reliability of the experiences to be questioned, also it can be argued that the experience is just an interpretation, and that this interpr etation can change. We could argue that some people are justified in interpreting their experiences religiously whilst others are justified in presenting alternative explanations for the same phenomenon. Another problem is that we know our senses can be deceived, for example Optical Illusions, this implies that perhaps religious experiences are just illusions. There are 2 possible outcomes, one is that the interpretation is of Reality I think therefore I am (Descartes) or it is of an opposite nature When a man tells me God has spoken to him in a dream†¦ it is no more than to say he dreamed God spoke to him. Richard Swinburnes principle of Credulity and Testimony, help to support peoples interpretations of experiences by stating that people who make such claims have a right to be taken seriously. If a recipient of such an experience is normally a person who is sincere and trustworthy, the likelihood is that their testimony has strong credibility. Religious experiences are rational proof of a belief in religion/Gods existence.Show MoreRelatedThe Argument for the Existence of God Essay1159 Words   |  5 PagesThe Argument for the Existence of God It is an undisputed fact that some people claim to have experienced God. It is these religious experiences that have been used by philosophers to argue for the existence of God. The main way of expressing the argument from religious experience is as follows: P1 Someone experiences an entity C1 The entity exists P2 Someone has experienced God C2 God exists Those who champion the argument seek to differentiate ordinary Read MoreThe Possibility of Proving the Existence of God Using Inductive and Deductive Arguments1222 Words   |  5 PagesThe Possibility of Proving the Existence of God Using Inductive and Deductive Arguments Many philosophers have attempted to prove the existence of God, although there is no argument as yet which proves without any doubt that God exists. A proof is the demonstration that something is true or, in this case, that God exists. There are 3 types of proof; direct, deductive, and inductive. A direct proof is when something is immediately obvious, so therefore, it cannot be usedRead MorePropelling Rational Thought Over Compelling Empiricism1459 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophy 02-09-2016 In this paper I intend to examine the rationalist philosophy of Rene Descartes and fundamental empiricism of John Locke’s philosophical arguments, in particular their ideas relating to the science of man, his identity and attempt to explain distinctions between the two. As I lay the framework of my argument it is important to understand the precepts that serve as the underpinning for the views considered by Descartes and Locke respectively. Rationalism and empiricismRead MoreProposed Seven Philosophers On The Existence Of God And Their Development Of These Ideas1413 Words   |  6 Pagesideas on the existence of God and their development of these ideas. St. Augustine s epistemology is rationalization. In his argument for the existence of God, he is referring to varying degrees of perfection otherwise know as, an Ontological argument. He believed that in pursuing truth, it would lead to the epicenter of all truth, God. Upon his pursuit of truth, he began to further develop his philosophy that all things whether that be knowledge, humanity or the world all have a religious significanceRead MoreEssay about Nominalism1456 Words   |  6 Pagesmaintains, only with propositions, not with things as such, since the object of science is not what is but what is known. Things, too, are always singular, while science has to do with general concepts, which as such exist only in the human mind. Scotus had deduced the objective existence of universals from the concepts originated under the operation of the objects. Ockham, on the other hand, asserts that no universal is a substance existing outside of the mind, and proves it by a variety of keen logicalRead MoreA Higher Power1392 Words   |  6 Pagesconceivable notion of revolution and compromise is entirely ignored. Perhaps the dispute should reflect upon not the existence of who, but what the higher power is that guides such a spiritual populace. Since the beginning of human history, mankind has found great assurance in the idea that somewhere, somehow, there exists a presence that watches over them and guides their every action. This concept instills confidence in the life choices of those who practice it and has appeared in many aspects of historyRead MoreAnalysis Of Alexander Pope s The Enlightenment 1411 Words   |  6 Pagesconfined to the eighteenth century, wherein scientific knowledge and method proliferated under the belief that all knowledge is achievable by man. Opening the gateway to modern philosophy, ‘The Enlightenment’ aimed to explore the nature of human existence, being dubbed as an age of reason. ‘Reason’ is defined as man’s judgement that is, as Creighton explains, ‘held in mind by one who would be freed from the bondage of the emotions’ and must, therefore, differentiate his own reason from the ‘hinderance’Read MoreSeparation Of Church And State1 717 Words   |  7 PagesSeparation of Church and State Separation of church and state has long been regarded as a foundation of American democracy. At the same time, the concept has remained highly controversial in the popular culture and law. Much of the debate over the application and meaning of the phrase focuses on its historical antecedents. The reason I chose this specific topic is due to the fact I’m a devout Christian and I also have strong interest in political science. In this paper I will briefly explain someRead MoreThe Theory Of Reincarnation And The Soul1147 Words   |  5 PagesThe Argument Stating Reincarnation Exists In this paper I show reincarnation to exist. My arguments for reincarnation to be possible are as followed. Many different religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism believe it to be true and have many examples showing the possibility. Depending on the religion, reincarnation can range from souls just traveling to other bodies or animals, seeking to fulfill life lessons. Also, looking at child prodigies, how can one explain the utter talent with no previousRead MoreMaterial and Ideational Relations Between Humanity and Its Environment1332 Words   |  6 PagesThe concept of a continuum of material and ideational relations between humanity and its environment requires a nuanced approach which avoids generalizations. I theorize that one cannot argue the greater importance of either the material of ideational aspect without making dangerous assumptions. While some scholars may theorize that it is mankinds religious and ethical worldviews which shape the environment, there is also strong evidence supporting the idea of humanitys technologies and surroundings