Language
English
English
Degree
M.A.
Select type of work
CIS Program Old
CIS publications
No
CIS Thesis
Yes
Status
Approved
Student Name
Shafiq, Joud
Year of Graduation
2018
CIS Library Call Number
Thesis QFIS CR 2018/32
QF Thematic Areas
CIS Program
Abstract
| The "God helmet" is a product of the newly developed field of neurotheology. Neurotheology is a field that studies religion in general, the spiritual experience in particular through examining the brain and the nervous system. The "God helmet" and its commercially available modified forms, stimulate certain areas in the brain with weak magnetic fields. This magnetic stimulation has been implicated in the initiation of personalized spiritual experiences. A metaphysical sensed presence has been reported by 80% of the experiencers who have used the God helmet. Some of the experiencers have indicated that the metaphysical presence has interfered with their thoughts. If knowledge has been imparted during such experiences, would this knowledge have any epistemological significance from an Islamic perspective? This being the major question of this thesis.The main line of research followed was to look for experiences in the Islamic tradition that could be comparable to the God helmet experience (PISE). If such experiences are to be found, then the epistemological significance of these Islamic experiences could be carried on to PISE. A descriptive methodology was adopted to 'house' PISE within the Western scientific worldview and within the field of neurotheology. The same descriptive methodology was used to chart the relevant Islamic landscape forming the needed background for the selected comparable Islamic experiences. Two experiences of the ten levels of guidance in Madarij al-Salikin were selected for comparison, namely ᵓilham and ruᵓia. A discussion of some of the scholarly opinions on the epistemological significance of ᵓilham and ruᵓia was presented.After analyzing PISE, ᵓilham and ruᵓia, it was concluded that PISE was not comparable with either ᵓilham or ruᵓia since it does not involve imparting of new knowledge. However, if in the future some knowledge is to be imparted, these cases would most probably be similar to those of se'ances or of communicating with jinn. Such similarities can be further analyzed in future studies. |
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