The question of dimensional religious experience

Sacramentalism -- What is the benefit of Sacramentalism?

Sacraments are a tangible way for religious authorities to help worshippers conceptualize their relationship with God. Because human beings sometimes have trouble appreciating strictly spiritual ideas, the sacraments embody Christian ideals and values in a way that helps worshippers appreciate their value more than they could without some tangible connection.

Mysticism -- What is the value of Christian Mysticism?

Mysticism in Christianity is a way for worshippers to connect more closely to God. Generally, that is accomplished through focused prayer and meditation. In principle, the goal is to learn to think more like Christ. Christian mysticism is sometimes broken down into purgative, contemplative, and unitive levels. The first level manifests an acknowledgment of human failings; the second level relates to the internalization of Christian values; and the third level aspires toward the unity with God in terms of expressing His teachings in everyday life.

Lecture Topic 9 -- Religion as Reassurance and Mystery -- How does Christianity provide practical reassurance to worshippers?

Religion provides emotional and spiritual reassurance in many important ways. Christianity in particular provides reassurance of reconnection with departed loved ones in the hereafter as well as reassurance that apparent tragedies in human life always have some meaningful purpose from the wider perspective of God. Without this reassurance, worshippers could question their faith simply because they are incapable of knowing God's ultimate plans. In practice, that helps people appreciate that apparent mysteries are evidence of God's omniscience rather than reason to doubt God's love.

Lecture Topic 10 -- Religion as Adventure and Mystery -- How is Christianity a Mystery?

Christianity teaches that it is never possible to really know the mind of God. While we know how we are supposed to honor the Spirit of the Lord, we cannot ever know exactly why events unfold as they do because to do so would be knowing what only God can know. Christianity teaches that mystery and the unknown (or unknowable) are nothing to fear provided one trusts in God.

Lecture Topic 11 -- Critiques of Religion -- What is the flaw in intellectual critiques of religion?

Most critiques of religion neglect the fact that the human intellect is incapable of judging matters that are only knowable to God. From the human perspective, various events and occurrences are unexplainable or seem to violate the concept of goodness or justice. However, applying human concepts, interpretations, and values to the actions of God is fundamentally impossible.

Lecture Topic 12 -- Science or Religion -- Why is it impossible to apply scientific reasoning to matters of religion?