LO: I will know about the religious experiences of seeing visions Hmk: Read the article by Kirkwood

 Are there any criteria for distinguishing between his experiences as a schizophrenic and those of religious believers?

 There are a number of good examples of visions in the Old Testament.  Grab a Bible.  What characteristics can be found in the visions of:  Exodus 3:1-17  1 Kings 19:1-18  Ezekiel 1:1-28  Amos 7:1-9  Mark 9:2-13,  Luke 24:13-35 ???

 Visions occur in a variety of forms and in various faiths.  For example…

 The Muslim celebration of Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Power) remembers the experience of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who had a vision of the Angel Jibril. The Angel gave messages to recite and proclaim to the people of Makkah. This vision gives Muhammad a purpose and calling.

Proclaim! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created – Created man, out of a clot of blood. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful – He who taught the use of the pen – Taught man that which he knew not. Surah 96:2-5

 Some types of visions are ‘inner visions’ as described by St Teresa of Avila ( ).  ‘I saw Christ at my side – or, to put it better, I was conscious of Him, for neither with the eyes of the body or of the soul did I see anything’.

 Some thinkers refer to these as intellectual visions. The vision is not the same as seeing an external object with the eyes. It is instead a clear vision in the mind’s eye.  Religious believers who have these types of vision would argue that they are far too profound to be confused with the imagination. TASK – After writing a sub-title: ‘Intellectual Visions.’ Come up with 3 points that an Atheist might say to criticise the idea that these visions came from God Once you have done that, come up with 3 more points to say how a theist might respond.