The Evidential Force of Religious Experience
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The Evidential Force of Religious Experience by Caroline Franks Davis
Caroline Franks Davis provides a clear, sensitive, and carefully argued assessment of the value of religious experiences as evidence for religious beliefs. Much more than an 'argument from religious experience', the inquiry systematically addresses underlying philosophical issues such as the role of interpretation in experience, the function of models and metaphors in religious language, and the way perceptual experiences in general are used as evidence for claims about the world. The author examines several arguments from religious experience and, using contemporary and classic sources from the world religions, gives an account of the different types of experience. To meet sceptical challenges to religious experience, she draws extenisvely on psychological and sociological as well as philosophical and religious literature, probing deeply into the questions whether religious experiences are merely a matter of interpretation, whether there is irreducible conflict among religious experiences, and whether psychological and other reductionist explanations of religious experience are satisfactory. She concludes that religious experiences, like most experiences, are most effective as evidence within a cumulative style of argument which combines evidence from a wide range of sources.
an excellent piece of philosophical analysis, combining careful conceptual reflection with a review of relevant material from the fields of cognitive and social psychology* Faith and Philosophy *
there is something refreshing about Davis' elegantly written text and its thesis that religious experience, especially mystical and numinous experiences, can serve as evidence for the common-core beliefs of theism ... Davis does an admirable job in reopening an issue which many may regard as closed. * Theological Studies *
this well-expressed book ... should be of great interest to scholars of religious experience ... it marshals a considerable body of evidence from various disciplines, particularly psychology, in an admirably succinct way, within a clear framework' Times Higher Education Supplement
a lucidly written book that makes a valuable and needed contribution to the philosophy of religion * Religious Studies *
there is care and intelligence, even-handedness and discrimination in this book * Theology *
una descripción, meticulosa, clara, profunda, de aquellos procesos en que el hombre religioso siente el contacto con el Absoluto * Pensamiento *
Mit einer Fülle hilfreicher Unterscheidungen klärt das Buch auf breiter materialer Basis einen seit Schleiermacher und James grundlegenden religionsphilosophischen Begriff. * Systematische Philosophie *
there is something refreshing about Davis' elegantly written text and its thesis that religious experience, especially mystical and numinous experiences, can serve as evidence for the common-core beliefs of theism ... Davis does an admirable job in reopening an issue which many may regard as closed. * Theological Studies *
this well-expressed book ... should be of great interest to scholars of religious experience ... it marshals a considerable body of evidence from various disciplines, particularly psychology, in an admirably succinct way, within a clear framework' Times Higher Education Supplement
a lucidly written book that makes a valuable and needed contribution to the philosophy of religion * Religious Studies *
there is care and intelligence, even-handedness and discrimination in this book * Theology *
una descripción, meticulosa, clara, profunda, de aquellos procesos en que el hombre religioso siente el contacto con el Absoluto * Pensamiento *
Mit einer Fülle hilfreicher Unterscheidungen klärt das Buch auf breiter materialer Basis einen seit Schleiermacher und James grundlegenden religionsphilosophischen Begriff. * Systematische Philosophie *
Caroline Franks Davis is a Research Analyst in the University Studies Group at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780198250012 |
| ISBN 10 | 0198250010 |
| Title | The Evidential Force of Religious Experience |
| Author | Caroline Franks Davis |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 1999-07-29 |
| Number of pages | 280 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |