Psychology of Religious Experience

This study deals with the issue of psychology of religious experience with the aim of explaining the nature of psychological analysis put forth by psychologists about religious experience. Our methodology consists of giving a descriptive, analytic and critical account [of the subject under discussion] and analyzing its content on the basis of library research. The main questions addressed include biological foundations of religious experience, prerequisites and psychological conditions for religious experience, impact of psychotropic drugs on religious experience and psychological criteria for distinguishing true experience from false one.Based on empirical evidence and the theories presented by Muslim philosophers the author concludes that religious experience cannot be altogether reduced to biological factors. Psychological conditions such self-purity, vigilance and theoretical and practical asceticism are influential in the emergence and deepening of religious experience. The theories of William James and Sunden that attribute [religious experience] to the activities of the left side of brain are among the psychological explanations of religious experience. Psychotropic drugs do not bring about religious experiences. If there is any clinical disorder symptom of hallucinating [with a person] it can only show a psychological disease.