Religious Experience Research Articles

Hearing God speak? Debunking arguments and everyday religious experiences

AbstractAgainst claims that cognitive science of religion undercuts belief in God, many defenders of theistic belief have invoked the Religious Reasons Reply: science cannot undercut belief in God if one has good independent reasons to believe. However, it is unclear whether this response helps salvage the god beliefs of most people. This paper considers four questions: (1) What reasons do Christians have for believing in God? (2) What kinds of beliefs about God can the reasons support? (3) Are the reasons rationalizations? (4) Can cognitive science undercut the reasons? Many Christians invoke everyday religious experiences (EREs)—such as experiences of divine presence, guidance, and communication—as reasons to believe. Unlike another popular reason to believe in God (the appearance of design and beauty in nature), EREs can support beliefs about a relational God who is present to me, who guides my life, and who speaks to me. EREs are not rationalizations since they seem to cause and sustain such beliefs. Nonetheless, EREs like experiences of hearing God speak are problematic reasons to believe. ‘Soft’ voice-hearing experiences are easily undercut. ‘Hard’ experiences of an external, audible voice are probably underpinned by similar cognitive processes as audio-verbal hallucinations.

Can tourists become disciples? The formation and mechanism of place conversion in traditional Chinese villages.

Place attachment has been extensively studied in the field of tourism. However, it is important to recognize that place attachment alone may not fully capture the emotional expression of tourists' spiritual beliefs and their sense of belonging to a destination. Therefore, a more comprehensive attachment theory is needed to encompass higher dimensions. This article focuses on the ancient Chinese villages of Yantou, Cangpo, and Furong from a tourist perspective, and introduces genius loci in architectural phenomenology. We set out to expand the study of spiritual dimensions of place attachment on the basis of local attachment, redefining tourists' place connection and putting forward the new concept of place conversion. A qualitative analysis of online text using Rooting theory was conducted to condense 22 categories into 6 main categories and establish a model. The study shows that the mechanism of place conversion is composed of situational perception (place perception and place identity), physical and mental immersion (spatio-temporal immersion and place conversion), and behavioral willingness (tourists intention and conversion behavior). The study has implications for the conservation and development of traditional villages and future research on the spiritual experiences of tourists.

Reaktualisasi Pendidikan Agama Islam untuk Anak dengan Gangguan Speech Delay

This research aims to actualize Islamic religious education for children with Speech Delay disorders. This type of research is a literature review. Data collection method with documentation from Google Scholar. Data analysis using a systematic literature review. The research results of the Reactualization of Islamic Religious Education for children with Speech Delay disorders are an important effort to ensure inclusivity and diversity in religious education. Through learning methods adapted to the needs of these children, such as the use of visualization, interactive media, and alternative communication approaches, this re-actualization aims to provide equal access to religious understanding and experience. With a more holistic and supportive approach, children with Speech Delay disorders can develop their religious skills while still paying attention to their special needs in communication.

Adaptivity of Church Leadership: A Case of Two Pentecostal Churches in Mwinilunga District of Zambia

Transition in churches has propelled the atmosphere of conflicts which exerts pressure on leadership for years now. This brings about a ball in the court of leaders; each leader catches new dimensions and revelation as the world is dynamic. Christianity as a religion is sub-divide into branches, then into denominations (or schools) and finally congregations; this reflects the multiple ways in which religious ideas and experiences get played out by society with different understandings, temperaments, cultural, historical and personal histories. Adaptive challenges are typically grounded in the complexity of values, beliefs, and loyalties rather than technical complexity and stir up intense emotions rather than dispassionate analysis. Hence, this proves to be impossible for authorities to solve an adaptive challenge by issuing a directive or bringing together a group of experts, because the solutions to adaptive problems lie in the new attitudes, competencies, and coordination of the people with the problem itself. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of adaptive challenge in church Leadership in religious transition in Mwinilunga churches. The objectives were to assess the resilience of church leaders and their capacity to engage in problem-solving in the midst of adaptive pressures; to determine the gap between espoused values and behaviour in church leadership during religious transition. A descriptive survey method was employed in which a structured interview guides and questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of 50 respondents. The respondents consisted of 10 Pastors, 10 Church Elders, 10 Deacons, and 20 church members. The findings revealed that leaders lacked resilience and capacity to engage in problem- solving in the midst of adaptive pressures that they faced during the transition – constitution amendment. The relationship between the espoused values and behaviour in church leadership during religious transition was parallel – there existed a wide gap. The study also revealed that leaders did not share the burden of keeping work at the centre of the people’s attention and lacked critical qualities. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made; Leaders need to develop policies and critical qualities to effectively govern their ministries and organisation to reduce on ignorance and as well prevent try and error in leadership. Church organisation or ministries should embrace strategic planning in the running of religious activities. During adaptive challenges leaders should depend on God who manifests his glory through the instrumentality of wisdom and be exemplary and play a vital role as the salt and the light of the world.

Cyberreligion: The Spiritual Paradox of Digital Technology

The existence of cyberspace has not only changed human views on spirituality, religion, rituals, houses of worship, scriptures, spiritual teachers, beliefs, divinity, and even the view of god itself. Cyberspace opens up the possibility to carry out various religious activities in a new way that is artificial or virtual. Literature review, as part of the scientific approach, focuses on the literature of journal articles, books, monographs that discuss themes based on keywords related to the research conducted. A new cyber vision of God is developing, which is now seen as a projection or incarnation of humanity (mind, intelligence, power) in the form of computer simulations that are considered to have power close to god's power. This is the vision of man as his own god developed by cyberists, a man who is no longer willing to submit to the authority of power beyond his own power - god man.

New religious movements as an object of scientific study in modern Italy

The study focuses on the phenomenon of new religious movements (NRM) in Italy. The work aims at identifying and analysing the main research directions of the Italian Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) in order to distinguish its ideas from those of the secular anti-cult movement and the ecclesiastical movement against the sects. The supporters of the antisectarians study tactics of behavior of the NRMs, the movement against the sects explore the doctrinal aspects of the beliefs. The author concludes that the attempt to save adherents from the sect is not conditioned by concerns about their spirituality but aims to bring them into the fold of orthodoxy. There is a desire to criminalise the problem by appealing to the crimes of individual NRMs and extrapolating them to any manifestation of non-traditional religiosity. Since the 90s of the 20th century, the Italian scientific community opposes this practice, as it hypothetically creates a precedent whereby the state can regulate any form of religious life of its citizens, question the law on religious freedom, stigmatise certain groups of society. According to Italian scientists, NRMs should become an object of a scientific rather than criminological interest. It is therefore not recommended to use the criteria of "true/false" in their study and to consider them exclusively from the point of view of deviation from the generally recognised norm. The exploration of such movements provides valuable material for the study of such topics as macro- and micro-identity of society, "temperature" of social spirituality, openness to new religious experiences, fidelity to traditions.

St Justin Popović and the “Patristic Turn”

Abstract Saint Justin Popovićis well known as a key protagonist of the patristic revival in Serbian theology of the twentieth century. This paper explores the way that this revival took place in his theology by analysing his patristic works, basic features of his patristic hermeneutics and discussing possible influences which enabled him to participate in what was, at the time, the emerging theological trend. His two key patristic works on St Macarius of Egypt and St Isaak the Syrian are analysed as they provide valuable information on Fr Justin’s approach to the patristic texts. Focus is also laid on his dogmatic works which reveal his understanding of the role of the patristic legacy in Orthodox theology, as well as on his exegetical works in which patristic authors are often and substantially engaged with. Three basic features of Fr Justin’s patristic hermeneutics are discussed: (1) his synthetic approach, founded on his understanding of catholicity (sobornost); (2) his emphasis on spiritual experience; and (3) his focus on the obtaining of sainthood as the ultimate goal of the patristic investigations. Three key streams of Russian religious thought, it is claimed, had a crucial impact on Fr Justin’s theological reasoning in general, and on his understanding of the patristic revival, in particular. Besides the theological influences, as evidenced in Russian philokalic tradition and theological figures among which Metropolitan Khrapovitsky plays a major role, the substantial contribution of Russian religious philosophy is also emphasized. In conclusion, it is argued that although Fr Justin’s turn to the patristic tradition exhibits some of the qualities of the neo-patristic synthesis, it lacks the programmatic character as evidenced in the case of Georges Florovsky’s theology. I show that Fr Justin participates in the “patristic turn”, a phenomenon which may be perceived as analogous to the “linguistic turn” that happened in the 20th century philosophy, and not necessarily in neo-patristic theology as such.

Perspectives of being a female informal caregiver of children with disabilities

Objective: To know the perspective of being a female informal caregiver of children with disabilities. Methods: A descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study. The participants were female informal caregivers of children with disabilities. Data collection took place through four virtual focus groups, via the Google Meet platform. The analysis was carried out by means of Thematic Content Analysis. The criterion for categorization was semantic. The categories that emerged were named in the light of the relevant scientific literature. Results: Three categories emerged after analyzing the focus groups, namely: Category 1 - Peers as support network; Category 2 - The spirituality experience; and Category 3 - Concerns about social and legal aspects. Conclusion: The perspective of being a female informal caregiver of children with disabilities involves a negative and positive aspect. Negative, in the sense that there is dissatisfaction through the judgments imputed by society in relation to them and the legal framework that governs their rights. Positive, through the support network comprised by other mothers of children with disabilities and the spirituality experience in the care context, making the care routine smoother.

‘I need to belong and be part of something bigger’ – Spiritual and existential experiences and reflections among young people not in employment, education or training

Though they are viewed negatively in society, not much is known about how young people not in education, employment and training (so-called NEET youths) see themselves. This article addresses how these youths frame and reflect upon their spiritual and existential experiences in Norway. Adopting a hermeneutical-phenomenological approach, it explores and analyses how they feel their spiritual and existential experiences impinge on their self-perceptions, meaning-making and social relationships and how these affect their existential health. The findings show that they experienced existential challenges related to poverty, loneliness, meaninglessness and fear of death, which undermined their existential health. Nevertheless, they had dreams and hopes for the future. To help promote the existential health of these young people and their smooth transition into adulthood, professionals need to learn to listen to their reflections on life, understand their existential needs, enable them to build adequate relational supports and mobilise their hopes and dreams.

PROBLEMS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN THE STATE AND RELIGION THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN NATURAL AND POSITIVE LAW

The article attempts to outline the current state of the conflict between the state and the individual as a bearer of a unique religious experience. With the help of references to the judicial practice of national courts and international judicial bodies, attention is focused on the points of confrontation between the natural human right to freedom of religion and the positive rights of the citizen, the fulfillment of which is required by the state.

Ойратский текст дхарани-сутры Ганапати

Introduction. The tradition of worshiping Ganapati in Buddhism, including in religious traditions of Mongols, is an interesting — though understudied — issue. In Hinduism, this ancient deity was believed an evil demon (Vinayaka) inclined to create obstacles. Subsequently, when included in the Buddhist pantheon, its tantric forms became widespread enough in Tibet and Mongolia. In Buddhist teachings, Ganapati is seen as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, and in some of its forms is associated with Chakrasamvara and Tara, hence having little in common with the Hindu Ganesha, the son of Parvati and Shiva, the Lord of the Ganas. The cult of Ganapati in Buddhist countries shows how the ancient deity of Hinduism had lost its original essence — to become an organic part of the Buddhist tantric tradition. Goals. The paper aims to introduce Oirat texts of the Ganapati Dharani Sutra. Materials and methods. Collections of Mongolian manuscripts in Russia and other countries contain a total of seven dharani sutras in the Oirat Clear Script. The study focuses on a Kalmyk manuscript from the Saxon State and University Library Dresden (Mongolian Collection) and a manuscript from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Language and Literature, Oirat Collection). The work employs textual research methods and tools of comparative historical analysis. Results. Some manuscripts in the Clear Script are literary works of minimal size that include two parts — Dharani Sutra of Lord Ganapati (Oir. Xutuqtu čuulγani ezen kemēküyin toqtōl) and Collected Dharanis of the Five Chapters of Pancharaksha (Oir. Pañcaragšyin tabun bölögiyin xurangyui). The combination of the two texts in a single work makes it possible to assume the worshipping practice of Ganapati be somewhat tied to that of the five Pancharaksha protector goddesses. In Buddhism, the Ganapati Dharani Sutra is recited for various purposes, such as welfare, virtuous reincarnation, new knowledge, and spiritual progress. Conclusions. Texts of the Ganapati Dharani Sutra and various iconographic images (forms) are integral to tantric practices believed instrumental in acquiring, cognizing and organizing new knowledge, thus forming milestone spiritual experiences on the path towards the ultimate goal of Buddhists.

Detachment, hesitation, indifference: An anthropology of the religious being

In this article, the author attempts to retrace his various explorations of religious experience: rituals in Belgium, Catholic parishes in France, and his own experiences of belief. A common theme emerges: a negation that is found in the modes of human presence and that has various expressions. During rituals, it primarily concerns modes of detachment and distraction; during parish meetings, it involves modes of oscillation to deal with the obscurity of religious statements. It also includes a sort of reserve or hesitation, which the author has observed in his own belief. The article hypothesizes that these modes of hesitation originate from the very first act of believing, which may date back 100,000 years. Specifically, the author identifies that moment as the starting point of a mode of human presence that is characterized by presence-absence and indifference. A section of this article consists of a critical debate between the author’s own concepts and the ontological turn in anthropology.

The Extent of Women's Enjoyment of Sacred Space

Religious feeling and experience is one of the components of religiosity, which in sociological theories is sometimes placed in the axis of religion and sometimes around the components of religiosity, and is expressed through sacred symbols and semantic system. Religious feelings are interrelated with religious rituals and community, which cause production, reproduction and mutual reinforcement. As a holy place and space, the mosque is expected to create a holy experience in the community instead of the ritual bringers, and by creating a common experience, it strengthens empathy and a sense of unity in this community. But the way that the policy makers of our country have taken in separating men and women in this place has caused the destruction of the meaning system of sacred space and architecture for women. This article aims to state the existence of such a problem in the hope that political and social planners will act in order to solve this problem.

Komiks jako profanowanie mitu


 
 
 Traditionally, literary works are considered to be displaced myths. Comic book researchers would like to treat the objects of their analysis in the same way. Comics, however, are counted as mass culture, and are therefore treated differently. A work of art can open a human being to the transcendent. On the other hand, a comic imposes a kind of distance on the reader and is rather a story about how someone experiences the sacred, a voice in the discussion about the nature of religious experiences. Comics’ specificity, on the other hand, is conducive to creating stories which are mocking and critical of other types of messages. This does not mean, however, that there are no comic artists who try to offer the reader the possibility of contact with the transcendent.
 
 

Spiritual Awakening in 12-Step Recovery: Impact Among Residential Aftercare Residents.

Spiritually-based interventions in the form of 12-step programs are frequently offered as a part of substance use treatment programs in the United States. Programs based in the 12 steps guarantee that by working their program, an individual will undergo a process of transformation labeled a spiritual awakening. However, the impact of this experience on recovery factors and treatment adherence is unclear. The current study investigated adult residents (n = 115) who experienced a spiritual awakening attributed to 12-step group affiliation during their stay at residential aftercare facilities for substance use disorder. Self-efficacy and hope were greater for individuals who experienced a spiritual awakening versus those persons who did not experience awakening. Awakening was associated with greater affiliation to AA and decreased negative exit from the facility. Results revealed the potential for an awakening to improve treatment behavior and outcomes in a residential environment, as well as benefit an individual's personal recovery resources. Further theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

The Unity of Religious Experience: An Analytic Reading of Friedrich Schleiermacher’s Second Speech On Religion

Abstract In this paper, I present a conception of individual religiousness in terms of religious experience. Using ideas of the early Friedrich Schleiermacher, I will claim that religious experiences are contemplative experiences of the totality of being. This understanding of religious experiences presents an alternative to how religious experience is often epistemologically thought about in the more contemporary analytic philosophy of religion. Furthermore, it has systematic advantages: It can construe religious plurality in terms of different ways to experience the totality of being, it stays neutral to metaphysical and moral debates such as whether there is a God whose laws we should obey, and it allows for an explanation of how religious intuitions and religious emotions relate to one another as well as of why religiousness and art often go hand in hand. Even though understanding religiousness in terms of contemplative experience also bears revisionary potential, I will discuss how more doxastic elements of religious people’s lives can be reintegrated into this picture.

Mirrors of the Divine: Late Ancient Christianity and the Vision of God by Emily R. Cain (review)

Mirrors of the Divine: Late Ancient Christianity and the Vision of God by Emily R. Cain (review)

Ukrainian Evangelicals and the War

Abstract The resilience of evangelical communities in Ukraine became evident during the full-scale war started with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as they actively engaged in networking and robust volunteer movements to provide aid and support to those affected by the warfare at the grassroots level. This article delves into the responses of evangelical ministers and believers to the traumatic circumstances arising from the war. The author emphasizes that the war experiences conveyed in the testimonies and narratives of evangelicals are deeply intertwined with their religious experiences and are framed to align with fundamental evangelical values. Confronting the challenges associated with life-threatening situations, irreparable losses, and bereavements, evangelicals interpret these experiences through the lens of their theologically grounded worldview.

RadheDham Ashram: Business Continuity Post Disruption

This case highlights the challenges faced by the Religious Tourism sector due to sudden disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the disruptions affected every trade, the unorganized and budget hotels at various religious destinations in India faced an extended impact. The case is about RadheDham Ashram, an affordable stay offering a religious and spiritual experience at Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh province of North India. Pandit Shiv Kumar Tripathi, the owner of RadheDham Ashram, was concerned about managing its probable receding operations amidst the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. RadheDham Ashram was a popular destination to stay in because of its affordability and proximity to the famous Sri Krishna Temple. However, things had changed with the COVID-19 pandemic and predicted lockdowns. As a result, the temples were supposed to close, and the influx of tourists at Ashrams would reduce consequently, as pilgrims would avoid the crowded destinations. Tripathi was worried about the occupancy of the Ashram. His concerns ranged from matching the Ashram service capacity with the uncertain demand to managing yield by adopting strategies such as differential pricing, capacity planning or overbooking when the tourist footfall was uncertain. Due to low customer influx and high demand variability, it was a tough time for Tripathi. He had to select the best possible alternative to bridge the gap between service capacity and demand. The selected alternative must ascertain sufficient yield to RadheDham Ashram along with retention of its goodwill and its loyal customers. All these thoughts made him anxious about the business continuity of his RadheDham Ashram in the upcoming days.

The Meaning of Sacraments as “Signs of Faith” – Reciprocity between faith and sacraments

God, through the Church, enters into a personal dialogue with man out of his desire to save him. This dialogue is carried out in different ways and based on certain criteria. One of these is the sacramental reality. The sacraments are a concretization of the divine action that fully realizes the mystery of salvation. In 2020, a document of the International Theological Commission was published with the title: Reciprocity between faith and sacraments in the sacramental economy. Here it is reaffirmed that the essence of faith is found in the principle of sacramentality. This principle represents the very nature of Christian revelation, namely, the dialogical response of the believer and the Christian community, such that there is no authentic sacramental celebration without faith. The theological study has always linked the doctrine of the sacraments and their celebration to the gift of faith that the believer receives from God exclusively based on the merits of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, Christ, giving birth to the sacraments, also gives them the ontological power that works on the inner plane in the human being. This gives the believer a certain spiritual experience that enables him to live and act as a person of faith. It is therefore important to understand the relationship between faith and sacraments, starting from the meaning of the notion of faith