I don't know.... if it's a God, it would be incomprehensible to describe probably. Probably like heroin lol, even though I've never had it.
But I don't think a God puts feelings in others.... feelings are just chemical reactions in your body.
There was this once experience - I was making an offering to Him in my own way - and I felt this surge of extreme joy fill my heart that it felt like it would burst. I sat down and was in awe, and relished that experience.
It's the extreme joyful feeling that stood out....it just came out of nowhere.
It's hard to explain accurately in words....
And exactly how do you know this experience was God, rather than an emotional experience your brain went through that you were merely interpreting is God?
If you're an atheist....
Ask me that.....when you manage to come up with a rational reason why you don't believe God exists.
If not, then zip. You don't have any grounds, or credibility at all to question people's belief in His existence!
With all the rational evidences provided by science and Philosophy that point to the possibility of God's existence, and that's not counting the Bible and millions of testimonies from people all over the world - a lot of whom have been former atheists btw ......
....... why couldn't it be God?
...many of those who make the claim are rude, angry. incoherent, and just plain nasty.
One thing I would think would think would be a consequence of such intimate contact with benovlent all powerful deity would be certain personality traits to manifest itself.. kindness, compassion, being civil.
People have a tendency to get testy when you call them liars, especially over something as personal as this. On some forums they call what you just did "mind reading", quite uncivil:
When you refuse to show "kindness, compassion, and civility" to others what right do you have to expect it in return?
And being nice about calling someone a liar is not "civil".
The people who are nasty and uncivil are nasty and uncivil all the time seem to be nasty to other theists, I wonder why that is if you think people object to them being called liars? Amazing.
The people who are nasty and uncivil are nasty and uncivil all the time seem to be nasty to other theists, I wonder why that is if you think people object to them being called liars? Amazing.
When you sense God, what do you feel?
A few decades ago I had become an Episcopalian. At the time I enjoyed high church. It was during high church at the cathedral that I felt something. That was as far as it went. But I liked the Dean and the fact that the church was more work than talk in the community.
It was during this time that I was in graduate school. I spent most of my waking hours at the university, especially weekends. I loved it, to be honest. There were times I really needed a break, but I loved the work and the study.
One Sunday, my head crammed full, I need a break from studying for two tests. I left my study carrel locked the door and walked to a nearby pond and just sat there. My brain was so overloaded I couldn't think. There was no one around. No distractions. I've gone over the scenario hundreds of times.
As I sat there not thinking about anything, nothing, no thoughts at all, I saw fish swimming near the edge of the pond, there were a few ducks swimming and cat tails blowing in a light breeze. Suddenly BAM! I knew that there was no separation between the pond, the fish, the breeze, the ducks, the cat tails or me. None. I was one with everything. It was not an understanding. The experience transcended understanding. It was knowing. There is no real way to convey the experience. Pure love, absolute peace, total joy don't come close to what happened.
It was perhaps another 10 or 12 years before I knew anything about Buddhism. There is a Japanese Buddhist term "kenshō" that describes the experience as a brief glimpse of enlightenment. Have I been able to return to kenshō since? No. But I have been there once and I cannot forget the experience. I know it exists.
It's because atheists and non-Christians are poor judges of anything Christian, let alone the hearts of Christian believers.
As I read along here, you seem to have a great deal of trouble with the idea that others have had experiences that you have not, and I think that makes you angry: your avatar betrays you...
Here's a like question for you:
What does water taste like?
I think that there is a good quote, amazingly in the New Testament, that covers the actions of the Christians I am speaking of. "By their fruits you will know them". Ponder that, and consider also the following quotes. Perhaps you can take this biblical advice.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 17:27-28 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
One Sunday, my head crammed full, I need a break from studying for two tests. I left my study carrel locked the door and walked to a nearby pond and just sat there. My brain was so overloaded I couldn't think. There was no one around. No distractions. I've gone over the scenario hundreds of times.
As I sat there not thinking about anything, nothing, no thoughts at all, I saw fish swimming near the edge of the pond, there were a few ducks swimming and cat tails blowing in a light breeze. Suddenly BAM! I knew that there was no separation between the pond, the fish, the breeze, the ducks, the cat tails or me. None. I was one with everything. It was not an understanding. The experience transcended understanding. It was knowing. There is no real way to convey the experience. Pure love, absolute peace, total joy don't come close to what happened.
Risky, you've done as fine a job as anybody can to explain this transcending of understanding and the pure love, absolute peace, complete absence of fear, and total joy. I myself had an experience nearly 33 years ago now, and I know what you mean, this knowing beyond "knowing."
No, wise advice.
A truly wise man would take his own advice.
Perhaps. Can you show me evidence you see what my point is?
Perhaps. Can you show me evidence you see what my point is?
The last time I tried to give you an answer about anything you threw it back in my face and made some kind of veiled insult about not being able to take me seriously. This has been a recurring theme with you and I, and apparently others, have little interest in trying to convince you of anything these days.
and you know whagt?? You keep on demonstrating why you can' be taken seriously. Over and over again. The lack of self awareness is astounding.
I think that there is a good quote, amazingly in the New Testament, that covers the actions of the Christians I am speaking of. "By their fruits you will know them". Ponder that, and consider also the following quotes. Perhaps you can take this biblical advice.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 17:27-28 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
And exactly how do you know this experience was God, rather than an emotional experience your brain went through that you were merely interpreting is God?
Yes, we know that. Tat is not answering my question. My question is 'How do you know this is a god sense, and not merely an emotional reaction to a sensory event that you are attributing to sensing God.'
How do you know that is god, rather than a purely physical bio-electrical activity in your brain? How can you tell?
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