I do, however, suspect that they should consider it evidence—even strong evidence—to exactly that effect.
Why? Unless the experience displays obvious entanglement with external facts they couldn’t have known at the time, “it’s all in my head” is a perfectly good explanation.
Also, I agree that some experiences are incommunicable in practice, but it still seems that enough information is available that your friends should conclude (with a touch of Outside View reasoning) that other people who claim incommunicable evidence for their religions are probably experiencing about the same thing they are.
Why? Unless the experience displays obvious entanglement with external facts they couldn’t have known at the time, “it’s all in my head” is a perfectly good explanation.
Unfortunately, there’s a slippery slope from “it’s all in your head” to “it doesn’t matter”/”you’re making it up”. Look at the history of psychiatry and mental health for examples.
Not saying you’re wrong, just that there may be layers of complicated cultural biases preventing people from accepting that answer.
Why? Unless the experience displays obvious entanglement with external facts they couldn’t have known at the time, “it’s all in my head” is a perfectly good explanation.
Also, I agree that some experiences are incommunicable in practice, but it still seems that enough information is available that your friends should conclude (with a touch of Outside View reasoning) that other people who claim incommunicable evidence for their religions are probably experiencing about the same thing they are.
Unfortunately, there’s a slippery slope from “it’s all in your head” to “it doesn’t matter”/”you’re making it up”. Look at the history of psychiatry and mental health for examples.
Not saying you’re wrong, just that there may be layers of complicated cultural biases preventing people from accepting that answer.