Lived religion and mystical experiences

Katarina Johansson

doi:10.30664/ar.111061

Abstract

This article discusses and argues for a ‘new’ and inclusive umbrella concept for varieties of experiences that have been called, inter alia, religious, spiritual, existential, paranormal, extraordinary or inexplicable. The umbrella concept to be explored is seen as a means of capturing one kind of ‘lived religion’ in contemporary society and simultaneously expanding the field of the sociology of religion. The discussion is theoretical and anchored in contemporary theories and traditions in sociology of religion, but it is also of pragmatical, methodological, empirical, and ethical concern. The main concepts that are currently in use and considered as offering a possible umbrella term for this cluster of often overlapping experiences, which are difficult to clearly define and distinguish, are summarized, and the main concepts, such as religious, spiritual and paranormal experiences, are elaborated in more detail. Thereafter follows a definition and in-depth discussion of the suggested concept of mystical experiences. In conclusion, I argue that William James’s concept of mystical experiences, with an upgraded and inclusive understanding considering religious, cultural and societal change, has the potential to work on etic, interdisciplinary and emic levels, without offending the experiencers or violating their interpretations and the meaning-making of their experiences.

Highlights

When researchers have tried to capture experiences that have been called, inter alia, religious, spiritual, existential, paranormal, extraordinary or inexplicable, traditional terms such as religious or spir itual have not always been the most fruit ful, given religious, cultural and societal change. After dealing with this problem of finding an inclusive umbrella concept for these kinds of experiences in different pro jects, through analyses and deliberation, I have returned to the philosopher and psy chologist William James’s (1902) concept of mystical experiences,1 albeit with an updated understanding and usage
At a higher level of theoretical abstraction, in James’s (1916) pragmatism as a method of philosophical and theoretical ideas an idea or theory is found in its practical effect. It does not matter whether scientific theories of the world are the only reality or worldview or not; the material world will still look the same and people will still make meaning of their mystical experiences. These varieties of human mys tical experiences and clusters of cultural phenomena could above all be understood as a functional form of religiosity, ‘lived religion’ and meaning-making in contem porary society
I have in this article discussed and argued for a ‘new’ and inclusive umbrella concept for varieties of experiences that have been called, inter alia, religious, spiritual, exist ential, paranormal, extraordinary or in explicable

Summary

Lived religion and mystical experiences

Finding an inclusive umbrella concept for varieties of experiences deemed religious. This article discusses and argues for a ‘new’ and inclusive umbrella concept for var ieties of experiences that have been called, inter alia, religious, spiritual, existential, paranor mal, extraordinary or inexplicable. The umbrella concept to be explored is seen as a means of capturing one kind of ‘lived religion’ in contem porary society and simultaneously expanding the field of the sociology of religion. I argue that William James’s concept of mystica l experiences, with an upgraded and inclusive understanding considering religious, cultural and societal change, has the potential to work on etic, interdisciplinary and emic levels, without offending the experiencers or violating their interpretations and the meaning-making of their experiences

Introduction

The main etic terms used in previous research

Conclusion