Experience of God, reflected by projective drawings
pp. 263-269
in: Enik Sepsi, Aniko Daróczi (eds), The immediacy of mystical experience in the European tradition, Berlin, Springer, 2017Abstract
According to the transpersonal psychology approach (e.g. K. Wilber 1996. The atman project: A transpersonal view of human development. Wheaton: Quest.), faith is primarily subjective, therefore can be studied by psychological methods focusing on experiences. Projective drawings can be very informative methods for the psychology of religion. The purpose of our study was to analyze projective drawings about experiences of God. Subjects were children and adolescents aged 6 to 15, from religious schools, who regularly participated religious events (feasts, celebrations, worship activities) and had religious education. Results: on basis of data, it can be concluded that religious children readily accept the existence of God. They are motivated to express their subjective experiences without any criticism, doubt or uncertainty. Common motives of drawings were places associated with spiritual experience like churches, as well as worship activities, and nature scenes. Symbols of faith, like light, cross, or the altar appeared frequently on drawings. Younger subjects focused more on concrete symbols and objects associated with faith, while adolescents had more an internalised image of God or Jesus as a person.