The Substance and Denotation of Religious Experience

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Professor at Imam Khomeini Educational Research Institute

10.22081/pwq.2018.66121

Abstract

Though there may be found notable discussions on religious experience, the most notable discussions in the field originate from three problems: the what of religious experience, epistemological value of religious experience generally viewed and theological value of religious experience particularly viewed. The paper studies the three problems, the difference between western view and Islamic view in the field and different part of the phenomenon in the two mentioned traditions. In short, though religious experience may carry high degree of epistemological value for those of experience, those lack of such experience may not be logically obliged to agree with them; it may be met only as a confirmation and aspiration. Some western philosophers have viewed religious as essence of religion and some viewed religion as being based upon it. While, in Islamic tradition, it religious experience has been used for deeper understanding and higher degree of faith.

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