Types of Religious Experience

Types of Religious Experience

1. MYSTICAL

   • A direct and intimate experience from God. An individual feels a sense of 'union' with a perfect being that is omnipotent and incomparable to anything human.
   • Characteristics:
     • Ineffability: the experience cannot be communicated in normal speech, a private event with certain sensations that are beyond verbal descriptions
     • Passivity: occurs without any action on the part of the recipient, losing control.
     • Transiency: only lasts for a limited time.
     • Noetic Quality: the mind gaining knowledge and understanding through intuition and perception, and the certainty of God's presence.

2. CONVERSION

   • Leads to an individual adopting a new religion or way of life that differs from their previous ways, for a non-religious it may lead to a belief in God.
   • Self-surrender
     • Unconscious and Involuntary
   • Volitional
     • Conscious and Voluntary

3. VISIONS

   • When an individual believes that they have seen or heard something supernatural from a supernatural being..
   • Intellectual Vision
     • Brings knowledge and understanding. Connected with the consciousness of the presence of God.
   • Corporeal Vision
     • The figure is externally present.
   • Imaginary Vision
     • Something that strengthens faith when seen in the mind's eye.

4. CORPORATE

   • Group experiences.