Religious enthusiasm

Originally meaning "god within", enthusiasm referred to an altered or inspired state resulting from the in-dwelling of a deity in a human being. This is regarded in a positive sense, unlike possession which refers to in-dwelling of a noxious or evil power, although both may be referred to as [mania]

. Union with a deity to produce an enthusiastic state has been represented as eating or drinking the deity or having sexual intercourse with the him or her. The soul may develop higher powers of vision and anticipate the future. To Plato, it is through enthusiasm that the philosopher has direct vision or intuition of deity. For Plotinus, there is union of the human soul with deity - but separated from the body, which implies ecstasy as opposed to enthusiasm.

Generally, enthusiasm is animated interest or preoccupation with something. Religious enthusiasm can include irrational behaviour and inexplicable psychological and psycho-somatic phenomena. These include insensitivity to pain, "exalted" states of consciousness, glossolalia (incomprehensible language), stigmata, "miraculous" healings, and genuine instances of extra-sensory perception. The term is also used to describe excessive display of piety, or the group fervour manifest by some Christian sects. In the negative sense, it implies that there is doubt as to the authenticity of the claimed source of inspiration. Although the inexplicable phenomena may be claimed as inspired, some regard them as emotionalism or as ways of working out inner conflicts in a manner acceptable to the group of which the individual is a member. Enthusiasts usually attack the status quo and have a very individualistic theology, including belief in the imminent end of the age, the return of Christ and the separation of the chosen elect from the rest.