Integrating the Anomalous: Towards a Typology of Religious Transformation Público

Abstract

This paper addresses the process by which anomalous or unusual experiences come to be incorporated into religious meaning-systems or worldviews. This type of experience and process is first situated within the ongoing feud between perennialist and constructivist perspectives on religious experience in which I conclude that elements from both camps must be incorporated. Second, it is analyzed through the lens of psychological attribution theory, which is concerned with the process of meaning-making rather than the ontological status of religious experience. Ann Taves' approach and other cognitive approaches will turn out to be flawed because they do not differentiate enough between different types of religious transformations and that they do not take into account the various dynamic steps of meaning-making and integration. We conclude by pointing to future directions for research that may emerge from addressing these deficiencies.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Laying the Groundwork (1)

Introduction (1)

Perennialism (3)

Constuctivism (9)

Neo-Perennialism (14)

Synthesis and Conclusion (17)

Chapter 2: Attribution and Integration (26)

Taves' Attributional Approach: Ascription (28)

Taves' Attributional Approach: Explanation (36)

Cognitive Model of Integration: Batson, Schoenrade and Ventis (42)

Chapter 3: Questions and Future Directions (47)

The Problem with Generic Ascription: Meaning-Making as Play (47)

The Need for Models of Integration Process (53)

Conclusion (57)

Conclusion: Toward a Typology of Religious Transformation (59)

Works Cited: (62)

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Religion
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Religion, General Health Sciences, Mental Health Psychology, Cognitive
Palabra Clave	Psychology of Religion Mysticism Religious Experience Religious Transformation
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dunne, John D, Emory University
Committee Members	Paul, Robert A, Emory University Farley, Wendy, Emory University

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