Religious Experience
Elements in the Philosophy of Religion Series

This Element looks at religious experience and the role it has played in philosophy of religion. It critically explores the history of the intertwined discourses on mysticism and religious experience, before turning to a few specific discussions within contemporary philosophy of religion. One debate concerns the question of perennialism vs. constructivism and whether there is a 'common core' to all religious or mystical experience independent of interpretation or socio-historical background. Another central discussion concerns the epistemology of purportedly theophanic experience and whether a perceptual model of religious experience can provide evidence or justification for theistic belief. The Element concludes with a discussion of how philosophy of religion can productively widen its treatment of religious experience in the service of creating a more inclusive and welcoming discipline.

Prologue; 1. Religious and Mystical Experience in Historical Context; 2. Experience, Interpretation, and the Question of Perennialism; 3. Religious Experience as Perception of God: Theistic Approaches; 4. Challenges to the Perceptual Model; 5. Expanding Experience; References.