Absorption, Mentalizing, and Mysticism: Sensing the Presence of the Divine
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Topic 6. “What Is the Value of Prayer in a Healing Ministry?”
1 TOPIC No 6 “WHAT IS THE VALUE OF PRAYER IN A HEALING MINISTRY?” by Canon Jim Holbeck 2 CONTENTS Pages Introduction 3 QUESTION 1. “What Importance Did Jesus Give To Prayer?” 4 Jesus Gave A Pattern Of Prayer In The Lord’s Prayer 1. Adoration. “Our Father in heaven. Hallowed be your name” 4-6 2. We Pray For The Kingdom Of God To Come. “Your kingdom come” 6-7 3. We Pray For God’s Will To Be Done. “You will be done on earth as in heaven” 7-8 4. We Pray For Our Own Needs To Be Met i). Material needs. Bread. “Give us today our daily bread” 8 ii). Spiritual need. Forgiveness. “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who are 8 indebted to us” iii). Spiritual need. Guidance and Protection. “Save us from the true time of trial and 8-9 deliver us from the evil one” QUESTION 2. “What Did The Other New Testament Writers Say About The 10-12 Importance Of Prayer?” QUESTION 3. “What Are Some Of The Promises Of God We Can Encourage 13-14 People To Act Upon For Their Healing And Blessing? QUESTION 4. “What Do You Do When There Seems To Be No Answer To 15-17 Prayer?” 3 INTRODUCTION There are many definitions as to the various types of prayer. These include the following well-known acrostic. ACTS. A is for Adoration. C is for Confession. T is for Thanksgiving. S is for Supplication. That is a very worthwhile summary of what is involved in prayer. -
Mysticism in Indian Philosophy
The Indian Institute of World Culture Basavangudi, Bangalore-4 Transaction No.36 MYSTICISM IN INDIAN PHILOSOPHY BY K. GOPALAKRISHNA RAO Editor, “Jeevana”, Bangalore 1968 Re. 1.00 PREFACE This Transaction is a resume of a lecture delivered at the Indian Institute of World Culture by Sri K. Gopala- Krishna Rao, Poet and Editor, Jeevana, Bangalore. MYSTICISM IN INDIAN PHILOSOPHY Philosophy, Religion, Mysticism arc different pathways to God. Philosophy literally means love of wisdom for intellectuals. It seeks to ascertain the nature of Reality through sense of perception. Religion has a social value more than that of a spiritual value. In its conventional forms it fosters plenty but fails to express the divinity in man. In this sense it is less than a direct encounter with reality. Mysticism denotes that attitude of mind which involves a direct immediate intuitive apprehension of God. It signifies the highest attitude of which man is capable, viz., a beatific contemplation of God and its dissemination in society and world. It is a fruition of man’s highest aspiration as an integral personality satisfying the eternal values of life like truth, goodness, beauty and love. A man who aspires after the mystical life must have an unfaltering and penetrating intellect; he must also have a powerful philosophic imagination. Accurate intellectual thought is a sure accompaniment of mystical experience. Not all mystics need be philosophers, not all mystics need be poets, not all mystics need be Activists, not all mystics lead a life of emotion; but wherever true mysticism is, one of these faculties must predominate. A true life of mysticism teaches a full-fledged morality in the individual and a life of general good in the world. -
A Psychology of Possession
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Wales Trinity Saint David A PSYCHOLOGY OF POSSESSION DR PETER CONNOLLY Introduction : The Nature of Trance Although widespread, the phenomenon of possession does not appear in all cultures. This suggests that possession is a cultural artefact, either in the strong sense of being nothing more than a cultural creation or in the weaker one of culture moulding and shaping universal psychological processes in socially relevant ways. My own approach to understanding possession lies very much within the framework of the weaker version. The hypothesis I will seek to develop is essentially that the phenomena of possession are best understood in terms of the psychological processes associated with the term ‘trance’. I use this term deliberately and in full awareness of the reservations about its usefulness expressed by some psychologists. Among hypnosis researchers there are three broad approaches to explaining the nature of trance. The first is that which emphasises socio-cognitive factors such as role play and imaginative involvement in suggested experiences. In short, this approach explains away any feature of trance which provides it with a distinctive character. This view would be compatible with what I have called the strong version of cultural artifactualism. Another approach emphasizes that trance is a genuine altered state of consciousness which differs from ordinary consciousness in a variety of ways, most notably in that reflexive, executive or ego consciousness – what many hypnotists call ‘the conscious mind’ – is dissociated from unconscious processes. The third approach is more diffuse, combining the first two explanations and, depending on the writer, perhaps adding a few other elements to produce a kind of multi-variable theory. -
Theoretical Models of Consciousness: a Scoping Review
brain sciences Review Theoretical Models of Consciousness: A Scoping Review Davide Sattin 1,2,*, Francesca Giulia Magnani 1, Laura Bartesaghi 1, Milena Caputo 1, Andrea Veronica Fittipaldo 3, Martina Cacciatore 1, Mario Picozzi 4 and Matilde Leonardi 1 1 Neurology, Public Health, Disability Unit—Scientific Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; [email protected] (F.G.M.); [email protected] (L.B.); [email protected] (M.C.); [email protected] (M.C.); [email protected] (M.L.) 2 Experimental Medicine and Medical Humanities-PhD Program, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department and Center for Clinical Ethics, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy 3 Oncology Department, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; veronicaandrea.fi[email protected] 4 Center for Clinical Ethics, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-02-2394-2709 Abstract: The amount of knowledge on human consciousness has created a multitude of viewpoints and it is difficult to compare and synthesize all the recent scientific perspectives. Indeed, there are many definitions of consciousness and multiple approaches to study the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). Therefore, the main aim of this article is to collect data on the various theories of consciousness published between 2007–2017 and to synthesize them to provide a general overview of this topic. To describe each theory, we developed a thematic grid called the dimensional model, which qualitatively and quantitatively analyzes how each article, related to one specific theory, debates/analyzes a specific issue. -
Psychological Approaches to Leaving Religion
Chapter 25 Psychological Approaches to Leaving Religion Kyle Messick and Miguel Farias 1 Introducing Psychological Approaches to Leaving Religion Why do some people leave the religion they were brought up in? Are there in- dividual differences between believers and unbelievers? These are some of the questions that have sparked a recent interest in the cognitive, socio-cultural, and neurological study of the non-religious individual. This chapter will sum- marise and discuss some of these perspectives. We will use the terms “unbelief” and “unbelievers” as blanket terms to refer to atheists and others who perceive themselves as having no religious belief or affiliation. For the purposes of this chapter, unbelief is defined as an ex- plicit absence or rejection of supernatural belief. There are, of course, different types of unbelievers; one only needs to recall that Socrates was sentenced to death for not believing in the Homeric gods, although he still believed in a metaphysical being that guided the universe. He was only an unbeliever to the culture he found himself in. This chapter focuses on those who do not believe in the existence of any god(s), but this does not mean that these individuals are devoid of other kinds of non-supernatural beliefs, or they may even, at least unconsciously, espouse some kinds of supernatural beliefs. 2 Theoretical Perspectives and Turning Points Psychology is a fractured discipline, where many of its sub-areas are in tension or open disagreement. The study of unbelievers is not an exception, just as it was not for the study of believers either (Ladd and Messick 2016). -
Consciousness, Philosophical Issues About Ned Block New York University I
To appear in The Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science Consciousness, Philosophical Issues about Ned Block New York University I. The Hard Problem There are a number of different matters that come under the heading of ‘consciousness’. One of them is phenomenality, the feeling of say a sensation of red or a pain, that is what it is like to have such a sensation or other experience. Another is reflection on phenomenality. Imagine two infants, both of which have pain, but only one of which has a thought about that pain. Both would have phenomenal states, but only the latter would have a state of reflexive consciousness. This entry will start with phenomenality, moving later to reflexivity and then to one other kind of consciousness. The Hard Problem of consciousness is how to explain a state of consciousness in terms of its neurological basis. If neural state N is the neural basis of the sensation of red, why is N the basis of that experience rather than some other experience or none at all? Chalmers (1996) distinguishes between the Hard Problem and “easy” problems that concern the function of consciousness. The Hard Problem (though not under that name) was identified by Nagel (1974) and further analyzed in Levine (1983). There are two reasons for thinking that the Hard Problem has no solution. 1. Actual Failure. In fact, no one has been able to think of even a highly speculative answer. 2. Principled Failure. The materials we have available seem ill suited to providing an answer. As Nagel says, an answer to this question would seem to require an objective account that necessarily leaves out the subjectivity of what it is trying to explain. -
Faithful Sayings
ISSUE BULLETIN OF tainty—laboring, praying, to pray (1 John 5:16-17). We cannot pray for forgiveness of the THE OLSEN PARK CHURCH and striving to obtain saving unrepentant dead. Man is judged for what is done in the body (2 OF CHRIST faith—sometimes despond- Cor. 5:10). Some appeal to the apocryphal account of Judas Mac- 21.15 Faithful Sayings ing, and almost despairing cabeus prayer for the sins of Jews slain in battle as authority for April 14, of ever getting it” (Works prayer for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:38-45). This is no authority at 2019 of Elder B. W. Stone, p. 14). all! Apocryphal books were never viewed by the Jews as inspired, Thanks be to God, obedi- nor does Jesus quote from them. The account simply records what ence to the gospel is not so happened and the writer’s belief. It does not prove it was accept- complicated. Any who are able to God. Services Sunday: 9:00 AM “cut to the heart” can obey A final distortion of the “power of prayer” treats the pro- 10:00 AM Christ now (Acts 2:37-41). cess of praying itself as if it carries power. In Christ, confidence 11:00 AM The fact that Christ- in prayer’s power is confidence in God’s power. There is no magic Wednesday: 7:00 PM ians can pray for forgive- in the act of prayer. Vague appeals to a “higher power” which ness leads some to misun- ignore the terms of a true relationship with God are merely re- Elders: Perverting Prayer derstand the limits of this. -
Monitoring Drug Use in Recreational Settings Across Europe: Conceptual Challenges and Methodological Innovations
TECHNICAL REPORT Monitoring drug use in recreational settings across Europe: conceptual challenges and methodological innovations November, 2018 TECHNICAL REPORT I Monitoring drug use in recreational settings across Europe Legal notice This publication of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is protected by copyright. The EMCDDA accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of the data contained in this document. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of the EMCDDA’s partners, any EU Member State or any agency or institution of the European Union. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2018 ISBN 978-92-9497-360-3 doi:10.2810/349958 TD-06-18-259-EN-N © European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2018 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Recommended citation: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2018), Monitoring drug use in recreational settings across Europe: conceptual challenges and methodological innovations, Technical report, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. 2 TECHNICAL REPORT I Monitoring drug use in recreational settings across Europe Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 4 Abbreviations and glossary of terms ...................................................................................................... -
Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality James M
Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality James M. Nelson Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality 1 23 Author James M. Nelson Department of Psychology Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN 46383 USA [email protected] ISBN 978-0-387-87572-9 e-ISBN 978-0-387-87573-6 DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-87573-6 Library of Congress Control Number: 2008943027 © Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identifi ed as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Printed on acid-free paper. springer.com Preface Over a century ago, psychologists who were fascinated with religion began to study and write about it. Theologians and religious practitioners have responded to this literature, producing a fascinating dialogue that deals with our fundamental under- standings about the human person and our place in the world. This book provides an introduction to the important conversations that have developed out of these interchanges. The dialogue between psychology and religion is difficult to study for a number of reasons. -
Wittgenstein and Descartes on Consciousness
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention ISSN (Online): 2319 – 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 7714 www.ijhssi.org Volume 3 Issue 10 ǁ October. 2014 ǁ PP.27-30 Wittgenstein and Descartes on Consciousness Dr. Bimal Chandra Gogoi Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Lakhimpur Kendriya Mahavidyalaya (Dibrugarh University), North Lakhimpur, Assam, India ABSTRACT : The concept of consciousness has been discussed by a number of philosophers in the history of philosophy but it still needs more detailed interpretations. Philosophy has never been stable and as time passes philosophical problems arises with new directions of study. Descartes, in his Meditations, proved that his essence is thinking or consciousness and discussed the nature of mind, its relation to material body and consciousness without the body etc. Wittgenstein doesn’t regard consciousness to be the essence of mind or mental phenomena. He criticizes the Cartesian theory of consciousness, which regards consciousness to be a private inner essence. The aim of this paper is to analyze and compare the views of both the philosophers about the nature of consciousness. KEWORDS: Consciousness, Criticism, Essence, Descartes, Wittgenstein I. INTRODUCTION . In the history of philosophy, the problem of mind or soul is regarded as one of the vital problems, which attracted philosophers a good deal. Man as an intellectual being; always tries to inquire into his own mind. It is a bare fact that we have a mind and it is accepted by every person. Although “mind” is an ambiguous term no body would accept that he has no mind, but it does not mean that he knows the meaning of it or he is pointing out something to be his mind. -
Searle's Critique of the Multiple Drafts Model of Consciousness 1
FACTA UNIVERSITATIS Series: Linguistics and Literature Vol. 7, No 2, 2009, pp. 173 - 182 SEARLE'S CRITIQUE OF THE MULTIPLE DRAFTS MODEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS 1 UDC 81'23(049.32) Đorđe Vidanović Faculty of Philosophy, University of Niš, Serbia E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. In this paper I try to show the limitations of John Searle's critique of Daniel Dennett's conception of consciousness based on the idea that the computational architecture of consciousness is patterned on the simple replicating units of information called memes. Searle claims that memes cannot substitute virtual genes as expounded by Dennett, saying that the spread of ideas and information is not driven by "blind forces" but has to be intentional. In this paper I try to refute his argumentation by a detailed account that tries to prove that intentionality need not be invoked in accounts of memes (and consciousness). Key words: Searle, Dennett, Multiple Drafts Model, consciousness,memes, genes, intentionality "No activity of mind is ever conscious" 2 (Karl Lashley, 1956) 1. INTRODUCTION In his collection of the New York Times book reviews, The Mystery of Conscious- ness (1997), John Searle criticizes Daniel Dennett's explanation of consciousness, stating that Dennett actually renounces it and proposes a version of strong AI instead, without ever accounting for it. Received June 27, 2009 1 A version of this paper was submitted to the Department of Philosophy of the University of Maribor, Slovenia, as part of the Festschrift for Dunja Jutronic in 2008, see http://oddelki.ff.uni-mb.si/filozofija/files/Festschrift/Dunjas_festschrift/vidanovic.pdf 2 Lashley, K. -
Mysticism and Mystical Experiences
1 Mysticism and Mystical Experiences The first issue is simply to identify what mysti cism is. The term derives from the Latin word “mysticus” and ultimately from the Greek “mustikos.”1 The Greek root muo“ ” means “to close or conceal” and hence “hidden.”2 The word came to mean “silent” or “secret,” i.e., doctrines and rituals that should not be revealed to the uninitiated. The adjec tive “mystical” entered the Christian lexicon in the second century when it was adapted by theolo- gians to refer, not to inexpressible experiences of God, but to the mystery of “the divine” in liturgical matters, such as the invisible God being present in sacraments and to the hidden meaning of scriptural passages, i.e., how Christ was actually being referred to in Old Testament passages ostensibly about other things. Thus, theologians spoke of mystical theology and the mystical meaning of the Bible. But at least after the third-century Egyptian theolo- gian Origen, “mystical” could also refer to a contemplative, direct appre- hension of God. The nouns “mystic” and “mysticism” were only invented in the seven teenth century when spirituality was becoming separated from general theology.3 In the modern era, mystical inter pretations of the Bible dropped away in favor of literal readings. At that time, modernity’s focus on the individual also arose. Religion began to become privatized in terms of the primacy of individuals, their beliefs, and their experiences rather than being seen in terms of rituals and institutions. “Religious experiences” also became a distinct category as scholars beginning in Germany tried, in light of science, to find a distinct experi ential element to religion.