Alston Perceptual Model Of Religious Experience Summary
1.6 Brief Descriptions of the Chapters
Chapter one is titled, “Alston’s Perceptual Model of Religious Experience: A Critical Analysis.” In this chapter Alston’s perceptual model of religious experience will be presented, analyzed and critiqued. Historically, studies on religious experiences consist in two main approaches. The first and most prominent is the rational approach to the study of religion and religious experience. This approach tries to establish the objectivity of religious beliefs from religious experiences. The second is to study religion and religious experiences from more subjective point of view. An historical survey would witness to both of these approaches. Alston attempts the possibility of a rational and objective justification of religious beliefs against the background of growing trends of materialism and superiority of scientific methodology. The central thesis of the book Perceiving God is expressed in the introduction where he writes,
The central thesis of this book is that experiential awareness of God, or as I shall be saying, the perception of God, makes an important contribution to the grounds of religious belief. More specifically, a person can become justified in holding certain kinds of beliefs about God by virtue
…show more content…
Even though sense perception is plagued by ‘epistemic circularity,’ we do not doubt its reliability because it works as far as its practical advantages are concerned. The key point is the notion of socially established doxastic practice with two constitutive units. The basic unit is the one which helps us to access to some realm of reality and another unit of evaluation. Alston concludes that Christian Mystical Experience is a socially established doxastic practice which has its own basic and evaluative
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks By Rebecca Skloot
685 Words | 3 PagesThroughout the process of reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, there are a great deal of recurring themes that run central to the story’s plot. However, the theme of spirituality, which is often intertwined with the beliefs of the Lacks family, is one that captures the reader’s attention starting as early as the prologue. Even the author, Rebecca Skloot, provides a contrast between herself and Henrietta’s youngest daughter, Deborah, to illustrate how one’s beliefs can drastically shape his or her worldview. In terms of this particular story, it is important to take a closer look into how these faith-based beliefs interact with their counterpart of drawing conclusions based on evidence, thus introducing the question “How did level of
The Fiftieth Gate Music Analysis
467 Words | 2 PagesThe Church”, integrates the notion of adding personal accounts to history. Evidently baker utilises this dialogue to embody the role personal accounts plays in authenticating collective knowledge. Historical documents and transcripts integrated throughout the text by Baker conveys the contrast between history and memory, continuing to show how they contradict one and other. Additionally Baker depicts the reliability of memory and history, “How can you be so sure? Were you there?
Dbq Essay On Hinduism
1176 Words | 5 PagesIn a world where religion represents a crucial role in the lives of countless people, there is no doubt that it influences an individual’s daily decisions. There are numerous religions that have been created, although the most significant ones have been widely practiced for centuries. Each of the world’s major religions have distinctions that set them apart from others. Consequently, these distinctions cause turmoil between religions due to individual biased opinion for their God. Followers of a religion suppose that their faith is designated as the most favorable and true religion of all practices.
Rationalism In Rudolf Otto's The Idea Of The Holy
1021 Words | 5 PagesThe human mind’s ability and innate desire to justify and explain the world and its phenomena has led to some of the most significant and world-altering discoveries and inventions, illustrated throughout the renaissance, enlightenment, scientific revolution, and industrial revolution. Logical pursuits comprise a significant capstone of human nature and progress. However, according to Rudolf Otto in The Idea of the Holy, these tendencies have created different dimensions of religion; the rational and non-rational, with the latter often times overlooked. The most significant difference between the rational and non-rational aspects of religion deal with their respective emphasis on reason and feeling. Rudolph Otto prioritizes the non-rational as offering a truer understanding of religion because he claims the core of all religious life revolves around experiences and feeling, not simply rational thought.
C. S. Lewis View Of Religion: Religiosity And Religion
230 Words | 1 PagesIn the Strategies for Reading and Writing, two essays were presented on the idea of religion: Theology and Religiosity and Religion. Theology is the study of God and nature of religion. C.S. Lewis questions the validity of faith based on experience. He explains the need for both theology and experience in a relationship with God. Theology helps outline and summarize the notations know or theorized about faith.
Compare Dover Beach And Fahrenheit 451
2134 Words | 9 PagesThe allusion of religion is shown through the ‘Sea of Faith’. Arnold uses the imagery of “ebb and flow” in the once “full, and round earth’s shore” sea of faith, and its “withdrawing roar” to show that lack of importance religion now has on society. Due to the technological advancements in industry, religion is no longer significant in the lives of
Albert Schweitzer In 'Fahrenheit 451'
805 Words | 4 PagesHe was acknowledged as an important person in the studies of theology, when he wrote The Quest of the Historical Jesus (“Albert Schweitzer” 3). The child and grandchild of pastors, Schweitzer learned religion and logic at the colleges of Strasbourg, Paris (“Albert Schweitzer born”
Descartes And Paley's Argument Analysis
925 Words | 4 PagesDescartes, and Paley suggest that we can know God and that he is within our understanding. Throughout the readings they describe and argue how we can now the existence of God and the attributes that are associated with him. However David Hume would refute these claims saying through his dialogues more specifically through a character named Philo that we cannot know the attributes or even for that matter the existence. During this paper I will analyze Descartes and Paley’s arguments in comparison with David Hume’s arguments that we cannot know these things. In Paley’s argument he says that if we saw a rock lying on the ground and someone said that rock had always been there that is conceivable, whereas if a watch were lying on the ground that answer would no longer be acceptable.
Imagine There's No Heaven By Salman Rushdie
805 Words | 4 PagesA common questioning of a higher power beyond the physical realm lingers in society: Who and what is God?. However, many of these theological questions cannot be answered until we, of course, die. Due to human’s innate curiosity to understand the forces beyond their own, especially in terms of religion, humans find their own reasons to believe in God in the process of discovery. Religion is a sense of belief and worship to praise a higher power (God), and it provides a guide for human beings to have the opportunity to come together and live as one image of God’s children. “Imagine There’s No Heaven” is an article in which Salman Rushdie, the author, presents an atheistic view where religion is pointless, and a higher being is non-existent.
Does Religion Have Anything To Do With The Ayahuasca Experience
202 Words | 1 PagesRestating the main question of this paper, does religion have anything to do with drug usage? From accounts of faiths, cults and churches experiencing great feelings of mysticism, to an experiment determining psychedelics enhance religious experience, it
The Four Theological Voices Model
1843 Words | 8 PagesMethodology The Four Theological Voices Model The Four Theological Voices Model was developed by the Action Research: Church and Society team (ARCS), consisting of Helen Cameron, Deborah Bhatti, Catherine Duce, James Sweeney and Clare Watkins. In the book Talking about God in Practice, the ARCS team explains four theological voices which they discovered as they examined the practice of the Church. The four voices are: (i) normative theology, (ii) formal theology, (iii) espoused theology and (iv) operant theology.3 Cameron et al argue that these voices are intertwined, and that together they express the whole of Christian theology.4 The team 's main thesis is that practice is essentially theology, and that theology subsequently is embodied throughout the life of the Church and expressed in the lived practice of the Church through these four theological voices.5 Cameron et al is clear that this model should not be seen a complete description, but rather serve as a interpretative working tool for theological reflection upon how practice and theology are connected.6 Critique of the method While Cameron et al do not explicitly describe any specific direction of movement in the communication between the four voices, they argue that there may be a rather significant relationship between the normative and formal theology on the one hand, and the espoused and operant theology on the other.7 They also suggest that the model enables a challenging of formal and normative
Durkheim's Theory Of Ritual Analysis
739 Words | 3 PagesRituals provide a focal point for emotional processes and generate symbols of group membership. They help people to experience a shared sense of exaltation and group transcendence. This feeling, which is only experienced through ritual veneration, is collective effervescence. The unique condition of ritual participation is that people systematically misunderstand the emotional energy they experience in the ritual process as having a supernatural origin. This misunderstanding thus confirms their religious beliefs and the exhilaration they experience leads them to return to their community to re-experience it through sacred rites.
Argumentative Essay On Religious Experience
953 Words | 4 PagesThese experiences are concerned with three topics. 1) “Similarly between religious experiences and how do they support the existence of God? 2) What philosophical problems are there that these experiences can give us knowledge about God? 3) Is there alternative explanation for experience?” William James described religious experiences as the heart of every religion.
Summary Of Dr. Richard Valantasis's 'Making Of The Self'
1481 Words | 6 PagesRejecting Justice Stewart In his book, The Making of the Self, Dr. Richard Valantasis proposes a new definition to a classic term used constantly throughout religious studies: asceticism. While most definitions focus heavily on the negative nature of asceticism, Valantasis asserts that the nature of asceticism is inherently positive and fulfills a more universal purpose. Although his definition is unlike previous understandings of asceticism, ultimately his approach is one more scholars should consider.
Mysticism Religious Studies
985 Words | 4 PagesMany Universities and research institutions openly discuss the definition of ‘Esotericism’ in order to decide whether it should be studied within religious studies or not. In this essay, it will first define the nature of ‘Esotericism’ and then the reasons of ‘Esotericism’ should be studied within religious studies. Western mysticism, also known as Western mysticism, Western mystical traditions, and Western Tantric traditions, is a term used to cover certain mystical customs including alchemy, astrology, herbalism, tarot cards, Teach, Hermetism, spiritualism, numerology, kabbalah, ritual magic and other secret legends of the body. It tries to divide all of these things into a coherent piece of work and a theoretical body. Many subjects are
More about Alston Perceptual Model Of Religious Experience Summary
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks By Rebecca Skloot
685 Words | 3 PagesThe Fiftieth Gate Music Analysis
467 Words | 2 PagesDbq Essay On Hinduism
1176 Words | 5 PagesRationalism In Rudolf Otto's The Idea Of The Holy
1021 Words | 5 PagesC. S. Lewis View Of Religion: Religiosity And Religion
230 Words | 1 PagesCompare Dover Beach And Fahrenheit 451
2134 Words | 9 PagesAlbert Schweitzer In 'Fahrenheit 451'
805 Words | 4 PagesDescartes And Paley's Argument Analysis
925 Words | 4 PagesImagine There's No Heaven By Salman Rushdie
805 Words | 4 PagesDoes Religion Have Anything To Do With The Ayahuasca Experience
202 Words | 1 PagesThe Four Theological Voices Model
1843 Words | 8 PagesDurkheim's Theory Of Ritual Analysis
739 Words | 3 PagesArgumentative Essay On Religious Experience
953 Words | 4 PagesSummary Of Dr. Richard Valantasis's 'Making Of The Self'
1481 Words | 6 PagesMysticism Religious Studies
985 Words | 4 Pages