Lesson Objectives: I will know about corporate experiences. Hmk: Revise for end of unit assessment Thursday 9 th Oct

 Presentation and class discussion  Proof and faith: the place of evidence in science and religion – Alister McGrath

a. How would you define a religious experience? b. If someone claims to have had a religious experience, is this any more or less likely to be true than someone who claims to have seen a flying saucer? Why? c. If someone claims to have been told by God in a graveyard to murder young women, might this claim be true? Why? d. Why is Swinburne’s argument from religious experience seen as a cumulative argument? e. Do you consider that religious experience points to the existence of God? Why? f. What is the difference between William James’ and Nicholas Lash’s understanding of religious experience?

One of the most intriguing phenomena in religious experiences is a corporate religious experience that happens simultaneously to a number of people. For example, the Toronto Blessing in 1994, when large numbers of believers reported being affected by the Holy Spirit. Some of the subsequent phenomena in these meetings including uncontrollable weeping, laughing, rolling on the floor and animal noises. Supporters of the blessing took these events as a sign of a ‘new move’ of God. However sceptics suggested that the explanation was more likely to be mass hysteria.

 What is going on?  vKBc (watch the first minute) vKBc ◦ Why do you think that many religious people dismiss the authenticity of the ‘Toronto Blessing’. ◦ Why do you think ‘Holy Laughter’ is dismissed? ◦ How might a charismatic Pentecostal respond?

Corporate experiences may seem more impressive as there are a number of people having the experience. All other experiences are private and impossible to verify. Ultimately such experiences should be judged on what effects are produced. Are the experiences life changing in a positive way? Critics of corporate experiences such as the Toronto Blessing examine sacred texts such as the Bible and question whether the experiences fit in with what is revealed of God’s nature elsewhere.

“Individual religious experience means individual religious fantasy; corporate religious experience means corporate religious fantasy.” Discuss.

 Now read through handout and come up with arguments for and against.

Students to take the ‘hot seat’ to face a barrage of questions from the class. All those scholars and key terms!!!