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Phenomenal Theology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

James P. Danaher*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, Nyack College
*
Nyack, NY 10960, Email: James.Danaher@nyack.edu

Abstract

We no longer believe that the mind is a blank slate that simply records sense‐data as given. Over the last two centuries, we have become increasingly aware of the fact that we bring something to what is given to us in experience. It is what we bring to our experience in the form of our conceptual perspective that molds and shapes our understanding or interpretation of the experience. This is especially true of religious experience. What is given in our God experiences is from God, but our interpretive understanding and reaction to our God experiences are uniquely our own. This paper considers several aspects of religious experience from such a phenomenal perspective.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The author 2007. Journal compilation © The Dominican Council/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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References

1 Wittgenstein, Ludwig. Philosophical Investigations. Trans. Anscombe, G. E. M.. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co. Inc., 1968Google Scholar.

2 Kuhn, Thomas S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1962Google Scholar.

3 Edwards, Jonathan. The Religious Affections. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, (1997): 24Google Scholar.

4 Miller, Perry. Jonathan Edwards. Toronto: William Sloan Associates, Inc., (1949): 65Google Scholar.

5 Ibid., 152–53.

6 Ibid., 170.

7 Ibid., 169–70.

8 Matt. 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21, Mark 2:14, 8:34, 10:21, Luke 5:27, 9:23, 9:59, 18:22, John 1:43, 10:27, 12:26, 13:36, 21:19.

9 Luke 6:35.

10 Joshua 6:21.