Verifying Religious Experience

Front 1

Swinburne

Back 1

All relgious experiences should be treated the same.

To verify a RE the principle of Creduilty and the principle of Testimony must be applied.
Applying these mean that often the probabilty works in favour of religious experiences happening and justifying the existance of God.

Front 2

Swinburne

Back 2

The Principle of Creduilty - An experience is verified unless theres explict reason not to because denying it didn't happen means that no belief should be put into other things.

Front 3

Swinburne

Back 3

The Principle of Testimony - An experience is verifed as a person should be trust for telling the truth which means the person should be believed.

Front 4

Robert Thouless

Back 4

The effect a RE has on a person is what verifies it.

Front 5

Saint Teresa

Back 5

If a person has had a RE they must...

1. Conforum to the teachings of the church

2. Begins a life of humility and charity

3. Approved by Church authority

A RE is verifed.

Front 6

William James

Back 6

Characteristics of a RE need to include 4 characteristics to be verified:

1. Noetic

2. Transient

3. Passivity

4. Ineffable

Front 7

William Ockham

Back 7

It is easier to believe that I RE has happened as it is the most simple option.

Front 8

+ Richard Swinburn

Back 8

Clear and logical reasoning

Accepting experiences means we can learn from them

Front 9

- Richard Swinburn

Back 9

Little evidence from a one person perspective

People who may not be known for lying can still lie

Front 10

+ Robert Thouless

Back 10

Simple argument

Easy to see if a change in a person is apparent

Front 11

- Robert Thouless

Back 11

Some experiences don't effect the indvidual

Other things can change a persons personality

No evidence that religion has anything to do with personal change

Front 12

+ Saint Teresa

Back 12

Links to the church and its need to justify it make it more believable as a RE

A change in a persons behaviour could support S. Tresea's first point

Front 13

- Saint Teresa

Back 13

Change in bible teaching from the 1500's

Different Churches teach different things

Front 14

+ William James

Back 14

Clear and logical reasoning

Easily identiftable characteristics

Each characteristic type relates clearly to each RE type

Front 15

- William James

Back 15

Bhudist Monks seek revelation experiences therefore making RE sort after

Schorlary arguments mean that its down to personal interpretation and can be manipulated

Front 16

+ William Ocker

Back 16

Clear and easy to understand

Front 17

- William Ocker

Back 17

No evidence to suggest truth

Too simple

Argues that the simplist arguments are the best arguments but this does not prove anything towards RE