The nature and influence of religious experience

Religious experience is a central topic in the Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies course, exploring how individuals encounter the divine or transcendent. This includes visions, voices, numinous experiences, and mystical union. Students examine key thinkers such as William James (The Varieties of Religious Experience), Rudolf Otto (The Idea of the Holy), and Caroline Franks Davis (The Evidential Force of Religious Experience). The topic is crucial for understanding debates about the nature of God, the validity of religious belief, and the relationship between experience and evidence.

Why does this matter? Religious experiences are often cited as evidence for God's existence, but they also raise philosophical questions about interpretation, reliability, and cultural conditioning. By studying this topic, you engage with arguments from both believers and sceptics, such as Richard Dawkins and John Hick. This fits into the wider A-Level course by linking to arguments for God's existence (cosmological, teleological, ontological) and challenges from the problem of evil. Mastering this topic helps you evaluate the strength of experiential evidence in religious debates.

You'll need to analyse case studies (e.g., Paul's conversion, Julian of Norwich's visions) and assess criteria for veridical experiences (e.g., non-subjective, transformative effects). The topic also explores whether experiences are universal or culturally shaped. Expect to write essays comparing different scholars' views and defending your own position using reasoned arguments.