Realism and religious experience

In this article three types of objection to a realist account of religious experience are explored: (1) the unusual character of its object; (2) its unusual accompanying conditions; and (3) the conflicting content. In response to (1) it is noted that despite divine freedom not all types of encounter...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Brown, David 1948- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Cambridge Univ. Press [2015]
In: Religious studies
Year: 2015, Volume: 51, Issue: 4, Pages: 497-512
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Realism (Philosophy) / Religious experience
IxTheo Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AG Religious life; material religion
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
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Summary:In this article three types of objection to a realist account of religious experience are explored: (1) the unusual character of its object; (2) its unusual accompanying conditions; and (3) the conflicting content. In response to (1) it is noted that despite divine freedom not all types of encounter preclude predictability, while parallels are drawn with perception of other complex objects such as persons. At the same time the whole notion of simple perceptions is challenged. In response to (2) parallels to the affective element are found not only in moral and aesthetic experience but more widely. Finally, in response to (3) apparent irreconcilable conflicts are lessened by observing how all such experiences take place within the context of traditions whose surface incompatibility does not necessarily indicate deep divisions.
ISSN:1469-901X
Contains:Enthalten in: Religious studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/S0034412514000389