Can We Know God by Experience?
“Can we know God by experience?” - Donovan 2
In ‘Can we know God by experience?’ Peter Donovan questions whether it is possible to have direct, intuitive knowledge of God. Intuition is an experiential belief characterized by its immediacy. It is direct perception or insight without any need for evidence or argument. Intuition or intuitive knowledge is the main theme of Donovan. He suggested that knowledge can be attained through intuition. Especially the claim that people who have religious experiences can gain an intuitive knowledge of God. Donovan claims that God can be known through ‘finite things’. He considers the views of 20th century theologians and philosophers who have argued that religious experiences may provide knowledge of God, through intuition.
Donovan points out how this idea of intuitive knowledge of God fits with established Christian ways of thinking: God is a personal being who acts in history. He then distinguishes psychological feelings of certainty from actually being right on logical grounds, and associates intuitive awareness of God with the former. Donovan points out that our sense of certainty is often mistaken, an observation he takes from Bertrand Russell. Although he considers the possibility that experience of God might be a type of personal encounter, I-You relation, Donovan rejects the idea that this is itself a form of knowledge. He does not accept that intuition can provide knowledge of God, but claims that this point does not undermine the value of religious experiences altogether.
In this passage, however, Donovan’s focus is upon what intuition is and how it might connect with the topic of religion. He points out how ordinary and common feelings of intuition are – these sensations are part of everyday life. Donovan gives examples of intuition in practice, where people claim that they ‘just know’ moral or mathematical propositions are true. Donovan questions whether intuition should apply to religion too; can religious
In ‘Can we know God by experience?’ Peter Donovan questions whether it is possible to have direct, intuitive knowledge of God. Intuition is an experiential belief characterized by its immediacy. It is direct perception or insight without any need for evidence or argument. Intuition or intuitive knowledge is the main theme of Donovan. He suggested that knowledge can be attained through intuition. Especially the claim that people who have religious experiences can gain an intuitive knowledge of God. Donovan claims that God can be known through ‘finite things’. He considers the views of 20th century theologians and philosophers who have argued that religious experiences may provide knowledge of God, through intuition.
Donovan points out how this idea of intuitive knowledge of God fits with established Christian ways of thinking: God is a personal being who acts in history. He then distinguishes psychological feelings of certainty from actually being right on logical grounds, and associates intuitive awareness of God with the former. Donovan points out that our sense of certainty is often mistaken, an observation he takes from Bertrand Russell. Although he considers the possibility that experience of God might be a type of personal encounter, I-You relation, Donovan rejects the idea that this is itself a form of knowledge. He does not accept that intuition can provide knowledge of God, but claims that this point does not undermine the value of religious experiences altogether.
In this passage, however, Donovan’s focus is upon what intuition is and how it might connect with the topic of religion. He points out how ordinary and common feelings of intuition are – these sensations are part of everyday life. Donovan gives examples of intuition in practice, where people claim that they ‘just know’ moral or mathematical propositions are true. Donovan questions whether intuition should apply to religion too; can religious