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Question

Identify the characteristics of mystical experience on the basis of the theory of William James. 

A. Awfulness 

B. Ineffability 

C. Squeezy 

D. Noetic quality 

E. Tranciency 

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

The correct answer is
B, D, E Only

William James's Mystical Experience Characteristics

William James, in his seminal work The Varieties of Religious Experience, identified several key characteristics of mystical experiences. Based on his theory, the correct characteristics from the provided options are:

  • B. Ineffability: This refers to the difficulty or impossibility of describing the mystical experience in words. The subjective state is often beyond the expressive capacity of language.
  • D. Noetic Quality: This characteristic highlights that mystical experiences provide a sense of insight or spiritual knowledge. The individual feels they have gained access to deep truths, even if the feeling is temporary.
  • E. Tranciency: Mystical states are typically short-lived or transient. They occur quickly and do not usually last for extended periods.

The characteristics A. Awfulness and C. Squeezy are not standard features identified by William James in his primary classification of mystical experiences. 'Awfulness' might describe an intense emotional reaction, but it's not a defining category, and 'Squeezy' does not correspond to any recognized characteristic in James's framework.

Therefore, the combination representing William James's identified characteristics of mystical experience is B, D, and E Only.

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