Aspects of "religious experience" among the Hellenistic mystery religions

The claim that religious experience is the basis for religious practices, ideas and institutions seems to be grounded more in theological (Protestant) bias than in historical evidence. From the example of the Graeco-Roman mystery religions, it would seem that it is religious practices, specifically,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Martin, Luther H. 1937- (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2005
In: Religion & theology
Year: 2005, Volume: 12, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 349-369
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Mysteries / Hellenism / Religious experience
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
BE Greco-Roman religions
Further subjects:B Hellenism
B Mysteries
Description
Summary:The claim that religious experience is the basis for religious practices, ideas and institutions seems to be grounded more in theological (Protestant) bias than in historical evidence. From the example of the Graeco-Roman mystery religions, it would seem that it is religious practices, specifically, their rites of initiation that produced experiences that were interpreted by initiates as "religious". Nor was the production of such experiences considered to be an end in itself. Rather, they accomplished specific goals through an exploitation of tacit cognitive processes: (1) the promotion of group solidarity and transgenerational continuity, and (2) the triggering of a potential for cognitive development among individual members of the group.
Item Description:Rubrikentitel: Redescribing Graeco-Roman antiquity
ISSN:1023-0807
Contains:In: Religion & theology