Mystical Experience Survey | The Sociology of Religion

Dr. Mike Sosteric in association with Athabasca University, Athabasca Alberta.

Have you ever been aware of a presence or power that is different from your every day self? Have you ever had an experience that has caused you to question your normal, everyday, taken for granted understandings of life, the universe and everything? Have you ever experienced intense emotions, powerful feelings of oneness, bliss, or oceanic feelings of God/consciousness? Have you ever had energy course through your body? Have you had an experience of sexual union with the divine? Have you been engulfed or embraced in a spiritual/mystical light, or have you seen the world illuminated by light? Have you had visions? Have you experienced revelations? Have you ever had an experience where you have been positively transformed by a mystical, religious, or nature experience? Have you ever had an experience where you have experienced fear, trauma, or confusion as a result of your experience of a power that is different from your every day self? You may be surprised to learn that many people say “yes” to these questions. Research suggests at least half the population have had some kind of spiritual or religious experience at least once in their lives, and the numbers may be even higher (Sosteric, 2014). The accounts people give are fascinating and important to individuals and society, yet too little attention has been given to them by scholars. This is an opportunity to change that. If you are willing, please take a bit of your time to write us your experience using this online survey. Please rest assured that replies will be treated in strict confidence. In fact, no identifying information of any kind is recorded. As a final note, please be aware that you do not have to be religious to have a “mystical” experience. There is a secular language that describes “nature experiences” and “peak experiences” and these experiences are often very similar to “religious” type experiences.

If you have questions about the survey or the disposition of responses and research, please contact [email protected]

Note, people often have more than one experience. Please feel free to submit as many experiences as you wish.

This study has been reviewed by the Athabasca University Research Ethics Board. Should you have any comments or concerns regarding your treatment as a participant in this study, please contact the Office of Research Ethics at 1-800-788-9041, ext. 6718 or by e-mail to [email protected]

References

Sosteric, Michael. “Everybody Has a Mystical Experience.” The Sociology of Religion Blog. 2014.[http://sociologyofreligion.sociology.org/everybody-has-a-mystical-experience/]