Judaism & Religious Experiences (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B) : Revision Note

What are religious experiences in Judaism?

• A religious experience is an event or moment in which a person believes they have encountered the divine, experienced a spiritual presence, or gained a deeper understanding of their faith

• It is often personal, life-changing, and transformative

• There are different types of religious experience, including miracles, conversion experiences, mystical experiences and numinous experiences

• Religious experiences can happen in a variety of ways

  • Some people report seeing visions of God

  • Some people claim to hear the voice of God, which gives them guidance, reassurance, or a call to a specific life purpose

  • Some people who have had near-death experiences describe seeing a bright light, encountering loved ones, or experiencing a sense of peace, which they interpret as a religious or spiritual experience

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• In Judaism, these experiences can happen in many different forms, and they help strengthen a Jew's relationship with God and their community

Types of Religious Experience in Judaism

• One of the most important ways Jews connect with God is through prayer

  • Traditional prayers, such as the Shema and the Amidah, are said daily in synagogues and at home

    • During prayer, Jews may feel a sense of closeness to God

• Shabbat is a weekly day of rest, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening

  • It is a time for reflection, spiritual renewal, and connecting with family

    • The experience of resting and focusing on spiritual matters can be a powerful religious experience for some Jews

• Jewish festivals like Passover, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah provide times of special religious significance

  • For example, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a time for repentance and seeking forgiveness, which can lead to deep spiritual experiences

• Jews believe that studying the Torah brings them closer to God

  • Some Jews experience moments of inspiration and insight when learning the sacred texts

• Some Jews have religious experiences when visiting holy sites such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem

  • These sites hold deep significance in Jewish history and tradition, and visiting them can create powerful feelings of connection to the Jewish faith

How can Religious Experiences prove God’s existence in Judaism?

• In Judaism, religious experiences are considered personal encounters with the divine, and some people believe these experiences can serve as evidence for God’s existence

• Jews believe that God continues to work in the world today through his divine presence, called Shekhinah.

  • The Torah includes many descriptions where humans experience a divine presence:

    • In Genesis, God is present in Gan Eden when Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge

    • In Exodus, God’s presence guides Moses through the wilderness to the Promised Land

    • When the Jews arrive in the Promised Land, God instructs Moses to build a tabernacle, where God could dwell among them (Exodus 25:8)

• There are many ways in which Jews still experience the divine presence in their lives

  • Many Jews feel a close relationship with God through prayer, study of the Torah, and other religious practices

    • This can be seen as experiencing God's presence and can be seen as evidence that God exists 

  • Jews believe that God has performed miracles throughout history, such as the miracles experienced by figures like Moses and Elijah

    • Some Jews believe that modern day miracles, like personal healings or life-changing events, are proof of God's ongoing presence and existence

  • In certain moments, such as during prayer or visiting holy sites like the Western Wall in Jerusalem, many Jews report feelings of awe, peace, or closeness to God

    • These experiences of the sacred can be interpreted as evidence of God's existence

  • The study of Jewish texts, especially the Torah, can lead to moments of deep insight and spiritual awakening

    • These moments can feel like encounters with the divine, which some Jews see as evidence of God’s presence in their lives

  • The sense of belonging to a Jewish community that shares the same beliefs and values can also be seen as a religious experience

    • Many Jews feel that God's presence is felt through communal worship and festivals, strengthening their belief in God's existence

Atheist and Humanist arguments about religious experiences

• Atheists do not believe that religious experiences are caused by God, or are proof that God exists

  • Atheists believe that religious experiences can be explained by the brain

  • They might argue that religious experiences might be shaped by a person's upbringing or culture

  • Atheists argue that religious experiences are subjective and personal, meaning they cannot be tested or proven scientifically

  • Some atheists point out that many people from different religions report different experiences, often with different gods or deities

• Humanists argue that human beings can find meaning and purpose in life without the need for religious experiences or belief in God

  • They focus on reason, ethics, and compassion rather than faith based explanations

  • Like atheists, humanists argue that religious experiences can often be explained by natural causes, such as mental states, environmental factors, or even activity of the brain

  • Humanists believe that humans can live ethical lives without needing religious experiences or belief in a divine being

Jewish responses to Atheist and Humanist arguments about religious experiences

• Many Jews believe religious experiences are genuine encounters with God, offering a personal connection, even if they can’t be scientifically proven

• Jews might argue that God works through the human mind and emotions, meaning alternative explanations do not prove that God was not involved

• Religious experiences are seen as deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, scripture, and community, connecting Jews to centuries of faith and real encounters with God

• Religious experiences often lead to positive change, such as peace and ethical living, and the impact on someone’s life holds more significance than proof of God’s existence

• While different religions report different experiences, Jews argue their experience of God is specific and rooted in their unique covenant with God