Schleiermacher's Conception Of Religious Experiences

Many modern day conceptions of religion involve the idea that, in order to be religious, one must attend a religious service weekly or pray to a higher power before meals. Also, one must agree with and follow a certain set of beliefs laid out for them by their religious tradition of choice. However, some believe that religion is not a set of beliefs or required actions, but rather an experience, or collection of experiences, that changes the way one sees and feels about the world. Two such thinkers are William James and Friedrich Schleiermacher. However, while both of these philosophers agree that religion is centered in religious experiences, the specifics of Schleiermacher’s conception of religious experiences are more realistic and relatable …show more content…
43). According to James, one must enter an altered state of consciousness in order to have a religious experience. This altered state of consciousness is different for each individual that experiences it, but it also has four distinct qualities that remain constant for each individual experience. These qualities are ineffability, passivity, a noetic quality, and transience. Ineffability refers to the inability to express or convey to another what the religious experience was like, while the experience was also meaningful and profound, or noetic. During the experience, the individual is passive. They have given up their own will and something other force or being is moving through them. Finally, the experience is transient, or passing. It does not last long, but comes and goes. Ultimately, it is only a temporary state of being. Naturally, along with the belief that a religious experience requires entering a mystical state of consciousness, James also beliefs the experience itself is mystical, to the point where it can appear similar to insanity. However, James also believes that, while there can appear to be similarities between the two, ultimately, religion can be healthy. Lastly, James was a nonrealist. …show more content…
However, Schleiermacher’s view of religious experiences is more realistic than James’. It centers around a feeling rather than specific mystical experiences where the individual has direct contact with something greater. Also, this feeling Schleiermacher describes is relatively constant throughout the individual’s life, causing them to distinguish between sacred and profane actions and beliefs in their daily lives. Additionally, the individual carries around a sense of spirituality with them at all times. In contrast, the mystical episodes that James believes in are fleeting, and while they do effect the beliefs of an individual, that feeling does not follow them through their daily lives, but rather comes and goes. Lastly, Schleiermacher also describes religion as an awareness that is not cognitive, meaning it has nothing to do with thoughts or beliefs. In contrast to James’ belief in mystical experiences that essentially take on out of their own body and puts them in direct contact with a higher power, Schleiermacher’s belief in a general awareness and feeling about the world is simply more believable and more