LO: I will know about the religious experiences of seeing visions

Hmk: Read the article by Kirkwood

Are there any criteria for distinguishing between his experiences as a schizophrenic and those of religious believers? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqj1DhUKJco

There are a number of good examples of visions in the Old Testament.

Grab a Bible. What characteristics can be found in the

visions of: Exodus 3:1-17 1 Kings 19:1-18 Ezekiel 1:1-28 Amos 7:1-9 Mark 9:2-13, Luke 24:13-35

???

Visions occur in a variety of forms and in various faiths.

For example…

The Muslim celebration of Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Power) remembers the experience of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who had a vision of the Angel Jibril. The Angel gave messages to recite and proclaim to the people of Makkah. This vision gives Muhammad a purpose and calling.

Proclaim! In the name of thy

Lord and Cherisher, Who

created – Created man,

out of a clot of blood.

Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most

Bountiful – He who taught the

use of the pen – Taught man

that which he knew not.

Surah 96:2-5

Some types of visions are ‘inner visions’ as described by St Teresa of Avila (1515-82).

‘I saw Christ at my side – or, to put it better, I was conscious of Him, for neither with the eyes of the body or of the soul did I see anything’.

Some thinkers refer to these as intellectual visions. The vision is not the same as seeing an external object with the eyes. It is instead a clear vision in the mind’s eye.

Religious believers who have these types of vision would argue that they are far too profound to be confused with the imagination.

TASK – After writing a sub-title: ‘Intellectual Visions.’Come up with 3 points that an Atheist might say to criticise the idea that these visions came from GodOnce you have done that, come up with 3 more points to say how a theist might respond.