PHIL 450W ST: The Nature of Religious Experience

In this class, students will embark on a study of religious experiences. Among the topics that we will consider are: (1) What are the essential features of religious experiences? (2) What practices have different cultures and religions followed that accompany religious experiences? (3) Can religious experiences provide an adequate basis to justify one's religious beliefs? (4) What do neuroscience and psychology have to say about religious experiences, and do they pose a threat to the genuineness of religious experiences?