What is a numinous experience?

A numinous experience is a feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of something holy and powerful. Rudolf Otto used the term for the sense of God's majesty.

What is public revelation, according to the Catechism (66)?

Public revelation is God's revelation, completed in Jesus and handed on by the Church. The Catechism says no new public revelation is to be expected before Christ returns in glory.

What are private revelations, according to the Catechism (67)?

Private revelations are messages or visions given to individuals throughout history. Some have been recognised by the Church, but they are not part of the deposit of faith.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemaker Christian peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Christian attitudes to conflict and its causes Christian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther King Christian attitudes to the Just War theory Christian attitudes to Holy War Christian attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Christian responses to violence, war and terrorism

Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Topic overview Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life Hindu attitudes to abortion Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Hindu attitudes to euthanasia Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights

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Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Judaism: EqualityPaper 3

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Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Sikhism Sikh teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the Sikh family How the sangat supports Sikh families Sikh attitudes to contraception Sikh attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Sikh family Sikh opposition to gender prejudice

Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Sikh responses to the origins and value of the universe Sikh teaching on the sanctity of life Sikh responses to evolution Sikh attitudes to abortion Sikh responses to arguments for life after death Sikh responses to arguments against life after death Sikh attitudes to euthanasia Sikh responses to the natural world and animal rights

Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh attitudes to justice Sikh attitudes to crime and the Five Thieves Sikh teaching on good, evil and suffering Sikh attitudes to punishment Sikh views on the aims of punishment Sikh teaching on forgiveness Sikh teaching on the treatment of criminals Sikh attitudes to the death penalty

Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh teaching on peace Sikhs and peacemaking Sikh attitudes to conflict Sikh attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Dharam Yudh: the Sikh Just War The saint-soldier and Sikh views on holy war Sikh attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Sikh responses to violence, war and terrorism

Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Gurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the river Visions and mystical experiences in Sikhism Numinous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in Sikhism Miracles and Sikh belief Sikh attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Sikh belief The cosmological argument and Sikh belief A Sikh upbringing and belief in God

Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of Religion

Catholic attitudes to religious experience

3 things to know
Paper 3

Overview

Conversion, mystical and numinous experience, public and private revelation in Catechism 66 and 67, how the Church judges a claimed experience, the Vatican's 2024 change of approach, and atheist objections.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What do Catholics mean by a religious experience?

Key term

What is a conversion experience?

Key term

What is a mystical experience?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What do Catholics mean by a religious experience?
Model answer
A religious experience is an experience in which a person feels directly aware of God or the sacred. Examples include visions, conversions and a sense of God's presence in prayer.
2
What is a conversion experience?
Model answer
A conversion experience is a sudden or gradual change in which a person turns to faith in God. St Paul was converted after seeing the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.
3
What is a mystical experience?
Model answer
A mystical experience is an intense sense of union with God that is hard to put into words. St Teresa of Ávila described such experiences of God's love in prayer.
4
What is a numinous experience?
Model answer
A numinous experience is a feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of something holy and powerful. Rudolf Otto used the term for the sense of God's majesty.
5
What is public revelation, according to the Catechism (66)?
Model answer
Public revelation is God's revelation, completed in Jesus and handed on by the Church. The Catechism says no new public revelation is to be expected before Christ returns in glory.
6
What are private revelations, according to the Catechism (67)?
Model answer
Private revelations are messages or visions given to individuals throughout history. Some have been recognised by the Church, but they are not part of the deposit of faith.

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