Vision (religion) - Definition and Overview

See also the article on visual perception, one of the senses.

In religion, visions comprise inspirational renderings, generally of a future state and/or of a mythical being, and are believed (by followers of the religion) to come from a deity, directly or indirectly via prophets, and serve to inspire or prod believers as part of a revelation or an epiphany. Many mystics take the word vision to be synonymous with apparition.

For religious visions as a literary form, see apocalyptic literature.

Artistic inspiration may provide a special category of the ecstatic vision: traditionally in such cases the semi-divine Muses may transmit the visioning to their loyal followers.

Visions generally have more clarity than dreams, but traditionally fewer psychological connotations.

Certain hallucinogenic techniques can traditionally assist in the divine-to-human communication of visions, and may also allegedly generate visions.

Examples of visions

• Angels of Mons
• Marian apparitions

See also

• Major world religions