GCSE Philosophy and Ethics Practice Exam

Why might religious authorities be cautious about recognizing religious experiences as authentic?

1. They disagree with all reported experiences

2. They don't believe in the possibility of religious experiences

3. They conduct detailed investigations due to factors like stimulants, hallucinations, and wish fulfillment

4. They accept all reports without investigation

The correct answer is: They disagree with all reported experiences

Religious authorities might be cautious about recognizing religious experiences as authentic because they may disagree with all reported experiences. This could be due to various reasons such as conflicting beliefs, differing interpretations of religious texts, or concerns about the credibility of the individuals claiming to have had these experiences. Options B, C, and D are not the best choices because they do not address the fundamental issue of potential disagreement with the reported experiences that religious authorities may have. Option B assumes that religious authorities do not believe in the possibility of religious experiences, which is not necessarily the case. Option C mentions detailed investigations into factors like stimulants and hallucinations, which could be a part of the process, but the main reason for caution is the disagreement with the experiences themselves. Option D suggests accepting all reports without investigation, which is not a responsible or common approach when dealing with potentially significant and sensitive matters like religious experiences.