European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
October 1, 2021
Mikael Leidenhag
3 citations
Advaita Vedānta's monistic view of consciousness is compared with panpsychism, which also treats mind as fundamental. The paper evaluates whether Śaṅkara's monism can overcome panpsychism's combination and individuation problems. While Advaita Vedānta avoids some of these issues, it struggles to coherently ground illusion (māyā/avidyā). The conclusion is that Śaṅkara's vision offers a promising route for philosophers who take consciousness as fundamental, but it cannot be uncritically adopted because of the problem of grounding illusion.
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
June 21, 2015
Tatiana Malevich
3 citations
The paper examines how Soviet and Post-Soviet religious studies understood mysticism. Because the term 'mystical' was vague, Soviet scholars defined it as belief in communication with supernatural powers. They viewed mysticism as a multicomponent entity comprising mystical experiences, mystical beliefs, and mysticism as a false ideology. This framework arose from the epistemological assumptions of dialectical materialism, where mystical experiences and beliefs were seen as distorted reflections of objective reality in the human mind, shaped by individual and social factors. This perspective continues to influence academic interpretations of the mystical in Russia today.
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
March 21, 2013
Thomas Schärtl
2 citations
This paper refines the argument from consciousness by highlighting the first-person perspective as a distinctive feature that cannot be fully explained by materialism, thereby supporting a theistic explanation. It draws on knowledge arguments to challenge a posteriori materialism and suggests that divine knowledge is better understood as knowledge of things rather than knowledge of facts. The argument centers on how subjective experience points beyond purely physical accounts.
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
January 30, 2026
Yujin Nagasawa
The problem of evil—whether the existence of evil undermines belief in God—and the problem of consciousness—how conscious experience arises from physical processes—are typically treated as separate issues in philosophy. This paper argues they are actually versions of a single underlying problem, termed the “problem of ontological expectation mismatch.” Recognizing this common root provides a fresh perspective for systematically evaluating existing approaches to both problems. The thesis is then used to critically examine panpsychism, a popular recent response to the problem of consciousness.
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
December 20, 2024
Ingrid Malm Lindberg
Religious experiences are best understood not as isolated events but as ways of life. The book argues that phenomenology is the most suitable philosophical approach for examining these experiences. It explores various forms of Christian religious experience, including ascetic, liturgical, monastic, mystical, devotional, compassionate, and fundamentalist types. Rather than emphasizing religion's uniqueness, the work focuses on how these experiences speak to the human condition generally.
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
February 17, 2021
Thomas G. Park
The author argues against the view that the primary function of Korean shamanic rituals is to change participants' feelings, proposing instead that sponsorship of Korean shamanic healing rituals is driven by clients' desires and beliefs: they want their loved ones to be healed and believe the ritual can achieve that. The thesis is supported by two representative examples of actual Korean shamanic healing rituals.
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
January 1, 2015
Michael Stoeber
Christian contemplative meditation, particularly the prayer of Recollection as described by Evelyn Underhill and St. Teresa of Avila, involves turning attention inward toward God. The paper outlines this practice and examines its theoretical and therapeutic dynamics, comparing it with Buddhist Samatha Vipassanā meditation and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. Drawing on Michael Washburn's transpersonal theory, it explores resistances, obstacles, and goals of such mystical practices, suggesting parallels and distinctions across traditions.