Theme 3 Key terms

Question 1

Asceticism

Answer 1

Deliberate self-denial of bodily pleasures for the attainment of spiritual fulfilment

Question 2

Charismatic

Answer 2

Christians of various groups who seek an ecstatic religious experience, often including speaking in tongues

Question 3

Conversion

Answer 3

To change direction or turn around

Question 4

Description-related

Answer 4

Relating to descriptions of mystical experiences as a basis for challenging their authenticity

Question 5

Foundational belief

Answer 5

A belief that needs no further proof to support it

Question 6

Caroline Franks Davis

Answer 6

A scholar who demonstrated how the authenticity of religious experience could be challenged

Question 7

R.F Holland

Answer 7

A English Philosopher who advocated that miracles could be explained as a set of coincidences. They do not break natural laws but are seen as having religious significance

Question 8

David Hume

Answer 8

• 18th Century philosopher who’s work relating empiricism was hugely influential on the 20th century logical positivists
• His book, dialogues concerning natural religion published after his death, is particularly influential on the development of the philosophy of religion

Question 9

Immanent

Answer 9

• Existing or remaining
• In theology it refers to God’s involvement in creation

Question 10

Ineffable

Answer 10

Defies expression, unutterable, indescribable, indefinable

Question 11

William James

Answer 11

19th/20th Century American psychologist renowned for investigation into religious experience and mysticism

Question 12

Miracle

Answer 12

• Act of wonder
• Hume described it as a violation of the laws of nature
• Hick described it as an unusual and striking event that evokes and mediates a vivid awareness of God

Question 13

Monism

Answer 13

The view that there is only one basic and fundamental reality

Question 14

Mystical

Answer 14

Experiences or systematic mediation, which causes a heightened awareness of the divine or an ultimate reality.

Question 15

Noetic

Answer 15

Gaining special knowledge or insights that are unobtainable by the intellect alone; usually as a result of a mystical experience

Question 16

Numinous

Answer 16

An experience of the holy; something wholly other than the natural world and beyond comprehension

Question 17

Object-related

Answer 17

Relating to the object (that was experienced) of mystical experiences as a basis for challenging their authenticity

Question 18

Rudolf Otto

Answer 18

In his book, the idea of the Holy, he defined the concept of the holy as that which is numinous

Question 19

Passive

Answer 19

Where the recipients of the mystical experience do not bring about it themselves - the actual moment is governed by a being or force external to the will of the recipient

Question 20

Subject-related

Answer 20

Relating to the subject (recipient) of mystical experiences as a basis for challenging their authenticity

Question 21

Subjective

Answer 21

Having its source within the mind

Question 22

Sufism

Answer 22

The mystical tradition within Islam

Question 23

Richard Swinburne

Answer 23

• British Philosopher and Christian Apologist writing on numerous issues in philosophy in religion.
• On the topic of miracles, he argued that miracles not only broke the laws of nature but also had religious significance

Question 24

Transcendent

Answer 24

Having existence outside the material universe

Question 25

Transient

Answer 25

The experience may be short-lived but the effects tend to last much longer than the experience itself

Question 26

Veridical

Answer 26

When the object of the experience actually exists as a reality and not just in the imagination

Question 27

Vision

Answer 27

Something seen other than by ordinary sight