Religious Experience: Experience of Transparency and Resonance
Open Philosophy January 31, 2020 DOI: 10.1515/opphil-2019-0051 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractReligious philosophy needs criteria for judging religious experience as traditions lose normative power. L. Wittgenstein and R. Carnap, in their empirical critique, accepted two forms of religious experience described with optical and acoustic metaphors—denying their cognitive truth but affirming their life value. An extended concept of truth, covering all correspondence between experience and reality, can find truth in experiences of “transparency” and “resonance.” These differ from aesthetic experience in depth and cognitive interpretation, referring what is experienced to a final reality—a “summum ens,” the whole world, or something beyond. This ultimate reality unifies “being” and “value,” making everyday experiences transparent and motivating a resonant life.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Philosophy of religion Acoustic metaphors Truth value Life value |
| Key finding | Argues that an extended concept of truth can find truth in religious experiences of “transparency” and “resonance,” which are cognitively referred to a final reality that unifies “being” and “value.” |
Abstract
At a time in which religion is breaking away from the normative power of its traditions and new forms of spiritual experience are emerging, religious philosophy must find criteria for what a religious experience is and how to judge its truth. In their empirical critique of religion L. Wittgenstein and R. Carnap accepted two forms of religious experience, which they described with an optical and acoustic metaphor. They denied their cognitive truth value, but not their value for life. However, an extended concept of truth, which encompasses every correspondence between experience and reality, can also find truth in religious experiences of “transparency” and “resonance”. They differ from aesthetic experience not only by the depth of transparency and resonance, but also by their cognitive interpretation. What is experienced is cognitively referred to a final reality: either to a “summum ens” in this world, or to the whole of this world or something unknown beyond of this world. This final point of reference is a unity of “being” and “value”. Religion makes experiences of the everyday transparent for both aspects of an ultimate reality und motivates to a life full of resonance with this reality.