Triggers, classification and effects of extraordinary spiritual experiences
A Thomistic view of neurotheology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53439/stdfyt56.28.2025.333-358Keywords:
spiritual experience, neurotheology, Thomas Aquinas, hylomorphism, nature and grace, virtues, capax DeiAbstract
This article establishes a dialogue between the work of David Yaden and Andrew Newberg in The Varieties of Spiritual Experience (2023) and the philosophical-theological framework of Thomas Aquinas. Drawing on three key categories from the book –the triggers of spiritual experiences, their classification into six types (numinous, revelatory, synchronic, mystical, aesthetic, and paranormal), and their transformative outcomes– we employ Thomistic concepts such as hylomorphism, the person as capax Dei, the nature-grace relationship, extraordinary spiritual gifts, and the role of the will in the acquisition of virtues, to show how the Thomistic approach brings light to contemporary research on spiritual experience and is open to learning from new data.
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