Maths
Chemistry
Biology
English Language
History
Responding to change (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Cell biology
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (a-level only)
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
Bioenergetics
Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetics & ecosystems (a2 only)
Ecology
Cells
Show all topics
Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
The cold war
Inter-war germany
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
World war two & the holocaust
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
Show all topics
476
•
20 Dec 2025
•
Niamh R
@belro2967
Religious experiences and their psychological explanations are explored in this... Show more
This page continues the discussion on religious experiences, focusing on corporate experiences and objections to their validity. It also explores the challenges in interpreting religious experiences and their impact on personal beliefs.
Corporate experiences are described as religious events involving large groups of people. Examples include:
Fatima: In 1917, a crowd of over 30,000 in Portugal claimed to witness the sun "dancing" in the sky.
Medjugorje: In 1981, six children reported visions of the Virgin Mary over several days.
Toronto Blessing: A 1990s phenomenon involving uncontrollable laughter, crying, and other physical manifestations attributed to the Holy Spirit.
The text then presents objections to corporate experiences:
Mass Hysteria: The possibility that large groups can generate physical symptoms in response to psychological stimuli, potentially explaining some corporate religious experiences.
Trivial Acts: Concerns about the seemingly trivial nature of some claimed acts of God in corporate experiences.
Individual vs. Shared Experiences: The difficulty in determining whether these are truly shared experiences or multiple individual experiences occurring simultaneously.
The page also addresses the challenges in interpreting religious experiences:
Conflicting Truth Claims: Different religions interpret similar experiences in vastly different ways, leading to conflicting beliefs.
Particularity: The theological question of why God would choose some individuals for experiences and not others.
Logical Problem: The challenge of comprehending a God who is "wholly other" to human beings.
Definition: Mass Hysteria - A phenomenon in which a group of people collectively manifest similar physical or emotional symptoms, often triggered by a perceived threat or belief.
Example: The Toronto Blessing, where participants experienced uncontrollable laughter and other physical manifestations, is cited as an example of a corporate religious experience.
Vocabulary: Numinous - Describing a spiritual or supernatural quality, especially one that inspires awe and reverence.
The page concludes with a list of key terms related to religious experiences, including ineffable, noetic, transient, passivity, pragmatism, empiricism, pluralism, mystical experience, numinous experience, conversion, corporate experience, and self-surrender.
This page explores the nature of religious experiences and various perspectives on their origins and validity. It delves into psychological explanations for religious experiences and methods for evaluating validity of religious experience claims.
Religious experiences are described as distinct from ordinary experiences, being private and non-empirical. Peter Donovan's distinction between 'feeling certain' and 'being right' is highlighted, suggesting that claims of knowing God through religious experience may simply indicate a feeling of certainty rather than objective truth.
The text presents several psychological and physiological explanations for religious experiences:
Ludwig Feuerbach's view that the idea of God is a human invention, projecting human qualities onto a divine being.
Sigmund Freud's argument that religious behavior stems from childhood insecurities, with religious experiences being hallucinations caused by subconscious desires.
William James' perspective that psychological explanations don't necessarily rule out supernatural ones.
Carl Gustav Jung's idea of a collective unconscious containing an archetype of God.
The validity of testimonies regarding religious experiences is discussed, with Caroline Franks Davis arguing for a more critical assessment of such claims due to their significance. William James emphasizes the importance of examining the after-effects on character and lifestyle rather than relying solely on testimony.
Quote: "William James argued that even if RE have a psychological explanation, this does not mean that a supernatural explanation is ruled out."
Vocabulary: Empirical - Based on observation or experience rather than theory or logic.
Highlight: The text emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating religious experience claims, considering factors such as the individual's reputation, state of mind, and potential biases.
The page concludes by introducing the concept of corporate experiences, such as the events at Fatima and the Toronto Blessing, which involve large groups of people claiming to have shared religious experiences.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Niamh R
@belro2967
Religious experiences and their psychological explanations are explored in this summary, discussing the impact of religious experiences on personal beliefs and methods for evaluating validity of religious experience claims.
Key points:
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
This page continues the discussion on religious experiences, focusing on corporate experiences and objections to their validity. It also explores the challenges in interpreting religious experiences and their impact on personal beliefs.
Corporate experiences are described as religious events involving large groups of people. Examples include:
Fatima: In 1917, a crowd of over 30,000 in Portugal claimed to witness the sun "dancing" in the sky.
Medjugorje: In 1981, six children reported visions of the Virgin Mary over several days.
Toronto Blessing: A 1990s phenomenon involving uncontrollable laughter, crying, and other physical manifestations attributed to the Holy Spirit.
The text then presents objections to corporate experiences:
Mass Hysteria: The possibility that large groups can generate physical symptoms in response to psychological stimuli, potentially explaining some corporate religious experiences.
Trivial Acts: Concerns about the seemingly trivial nature of some claimed acts of God in corporate experiences.
Individual vs. Shared Experiences: The difficulty in determining whether these are truly shared experiences or multiple individual experiences occurring simultaneously.
The page also addresses the challenges in interpreting religious experiences:
Conflicting Truth Claims: Different religions interpret similar experiences in vastly different ways, leading to conflicting beliefs.
Particularity: The theological question of why God would choose some individuals for experiences and not others.
Logical Problem: The challenge of comprehending a God who is "wholly other" to human beings.
Definition: Mass Hysteria - A phenomenon in which a group of people collectively manifest similar physical or emotional symptoms, often triggered by a perceived threat or belief.
Example: The Toronto Blessing, where participants experienced uncontrollable laughter and other physical manifestations, is cited as an example of a corporate religious experience.
Vocabulary: Numinous - Describing a spiritual or supernatural quality, especially one that inspires awe and reverence.
The page concludes with a list of key terms related to religious experiences, including ineffable, noetic, transient, passivity, pragmatism, empiricism, pluralism, mystical experience, numinous experience, conversion, corporate experience, and self-surrender.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
This page explores the nature of religious experiences and various perspectives on their origins and validity. It delves into psychological explanations for religious experiences and methods for evaluating validity of religious experience claims.
Religious experiences are described as distinct from ordinary experiences, being private and non-empirical. Peter Donovan's distinction between 'feeling certain' and 'being right' is highlighted, suggesting that claims of knowing God through religious experience may simply indicate a feeling of certainty rather than objective truth.
The text presents several psychological and physiological explanations for religious experiences:
Ludwig Feuerbach's view that the idea of God is a human invention, projecting human qualities onto a divine being.
Sigmund Freud's argument that religious behavior stems from childhood insecurities, with religious experiences being hallucinations caused by subconscious desires.
William James' perspective that psychological explanations don't necessarily rule out supernatural ones.
Carl Gustav Jung's idea of a collective unconscious containing an archetype of God.
The validity of testimonies regarding religious experiences is discussed, with Caroline Franks Davis arguing for a more critical assessment of such claims due to their significance. William James emphasizes the importance of examining the after-effects on character and lifestyle rather than relying solely on testimony.
Quote: "William James argued that even if RE have a psychological explanation, this does not mean that a supernatural explanation is ruled out."
Vocabulary: Empirical - Based on observation or experience rather than theory or logic.
Highlight: The text emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating religious experience claims, considering factors such as the individual's reputation, state of mind, and potential biases.
The page concludes by introducing the concept of corporate experiences, such as the events at Fatima and the Toronto Blessing, which involve large groups of people claiming to have shared religious experiences.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
13
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore the key concepts of Descartes' Substance Dualism, including the distinction between mind and body, the implications of 'Cogito, ergo sum', and critiques from philosophers like Ryle. This summary delves into the nature of existence, the reliability of senses, and the complexities of consciousness. Ideal for students studying philosophy and metaphysics.
Religious StudiesExplore the key concepts of Behaviourism, including Ryle's arguments, the problem of other minds, and the implications of circularity in mental state analysis. This summary covers both soft and hard behaviourism, addressing philosophical challenges such as Super Spartans and zombies. Ideal for AQA A-Level Philosophy students seeking clarity on the mind-body problem and psychological theories.
Religious StudiesExplore the philosophical perspectives on miracles in religion, including realism and anti-realism, the problem of evil, and key arguments from Hume and Wiles. This summary provides essential insights, quotes, and critical analysis for AQA A-Level Religious Studies students.
Religious StudiesExplore St. Thomas Aquinas' three key arguments for the existence of God: the Argument from Motion, the Argument from Causation, and the Argument from Contingency. This summary delves into the concepts of prime movers, first causes, and necessary beings, providing a clear understanding of the cosmological argument's foundations and implications. Ideal for students studying philosophy and theology.
Religious StudiesExplore Aristotle's Four Causes and the concept of the Prime Mover in this concise summary. Understand the material, formal, efficient, and final causes, along with critiques of Aristotelian philosophy. Ideal for A-Level Philosophy students studying the existence of God and cosmological arguments.
Religious StudiesExplore the comprehensive WJEC Eduqas A Level Religious Studies specification, covering key themes such as the study of major world religions, philosophy of religion, and ethics. This resource provides insights into religious beliefs, practices, and their societal impacts, including detailed discussions on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Ideal for students preparing for their exams, this guide includes essential topics like theodicies, divine command theory, and moral philosophy.
Religious StudiesApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology