Religious/spiritual experiences. Tell me about them.
OutOfBreath
Posts: 1,804
After debating a lot about spirituality and transcendental experiences in the last week, I now wanna hear from some of you about how you experience these things. Whether you are christian, pagan, muslim or whatever is not the point. I want to get at the core of these experiences. This could be interesting for all. I promise my motive is not to slam anyone or use it against them in any way, I am just curious really.
The times I have had experiences approximating what I think a religious experience must be like, it is usually just a great sense of connectedness between everything and myself, coupled with a sense of awe of the complexity of my surroundings. I also frequently get these flashes when listening to music, and some artists/songs in particular, coupled with intense emotions.
I dont have the expertise on these things, and I dont think I experience in full what some of you others may have experienced.
I want this thread to be open, and available to all to relate their experiences, compare to others and discuss them. I do fervently hope it doesn't become a slam-fest between those who have experienced something, and others believing them to be crazy. Some openminded debate and a collection of experiences. That's what I hope for.
Peace
Dan
The times I have had experiences approximating what I think a religious experience must be like, it is usually just a great sense of connectedness between everything and myself, coupled with a sense of awe of the complexity of my surroundings. I also frequently get these flashes when listening to music, and some artists/songs in particular, coupled with intense emotions.
I dont have the expertise on these things, and I dont think I experience in full what some of you others may have experienced.
I want this thread to be open, and available to all to relate their experiences, compare to others and discuss them. I do fervently hope it doesn't become a slam-fest between those who have experienced something, and others believing them to be crazy. Some openminded debate and a collection of experiences. That's what I hope for.
Peace
Dan
"YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
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Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
And it's been seemingly futile to try to mention it around here because it would appear it's not a safe place to do that some days.....but I will attempt to articulate my experiences here because this is an excellent thread, I believe, already and I'd like to support it.
So I have mostly always considered myself an athiestist, and I still do really, but I cannot deny that I believe in all individuals having a soul. Some kind of life force. I have felt it coming off people. Even when I've not spoken to them. Can feel bad or good eminating from a person sometimes.
Feel connectedness with some people, even those I have not seen, or have never spoken to.
I have also experienced some strange ghostly type phenomena on more than one occassion and other unexplained things, that I cannot seemingly find answers for.
In terms of feeling this force or connectedness with nature or the world around me, I have on more than one occassion, FELT things when I have entered buildings or other places, FELT something at different times that has seemingly NO connection to what I am doing or thinking at the time.
I'm probably not really explaining myself very well, it is extremely difficult to do, because I don't really have an explaination. I can only describe it as a feeling really.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
I have that impression that a lot of these things are about "feelings" in the sense that it's not really picked up through our ordinary senses, or at least with an extra package of information we cannot explain, except through religious concepts and terms. You seem to go one better than me with having "feelings" about places and people. I dont think I do in the same way. When I get a feeling about a person or place it is mostly based on appearance and my interpretation of those. But sometimes... I dunno.
But thanks for sharing Jeanie, this is the stuff I was fishing for.
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
Well that's good to know Dan.
I'm really not sure how or why it happens to me the way that it does, and I'm VERY hesitant to label it or try to pigeon hole it when it does happen.
I've read bits of scientific explaination and also religious or spiritual explaination but I've yet to come up with a theory that sits well with me, that completely explains the experience and I don't think I necessarily need to either.
I can recount the experiences. And KNOW that they happened to me and maybe I can't explain them adequately and perhaps no one can, but I'm over denying that they have happened.
It's certainly had me on a bit of a journey lately, that's for sure, and I thank you for cleverly posting the thread at such a time.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Just out of curiosity, what would you consider a spiritual experience?
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
It's just a mystery. But I don't attribute them to anything unless it makes sense. Presupposing spirituality doesn't make any sense to me. I look at the awesomeness of the universal machine, I consider that awe not spirituality.
But you may choose not to call it spirituality, that's your call, but that's what many people would understand it as and call it.
Anyway, the point here is relating such experiences and interpretations of such things as you dont call spiritual, and what many of us calls spiritual.
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
But... but.. but.. spiritual implies a metaphysical spirit.
when i am out and about during the night i try to make sure i am never outdoors between the hours of 3am and 4am. i call this the monster hour. i don't know what it is but for this one hour it is as if there is a shift in the air. it unnerves me and i don't like it. and before anyone asks, no i am not afraid of the dark. and no i don't have nightmares.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
I believe you. I saw Truman Capote.
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btw, Dan, I have an intense emotional response when I hear 'Street Spirit' as well! I also can't get through 'Wings for Marie pt 2' without it moving me to tears.
You might find this video of some interest when you have time. I posted it for Ahnimus in the 'scientists who believe in God' thread. http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...30135704146433
It's about mystical experiences(near death experiences, meditation experiences, religious experiences, epilepsy, etc.) their relation with the brain and reality.
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
i dont doubt your good intentions, but i do doubt the ability of other people on here to exercise restraint with respect to their sarcastically arrogant cynicism. and for that reason, mine will remain my own.
Hi baraka.
I had a look at your link, but it just sent me off to a whole bunch of different videos, what is the name of the one you are referring too please?
It sounds really interesting, and I'd really like to see it.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
wow cate! so how do you view the whole episode now?
I've had several ghostly type experiences, for want of a better term.
Many years ago, driving home very late, after weeks of burning the candle at both ends, I fell asleep at the wheel. Nodded off. And I was going quite quickly. Anyway, I woke with a start, because I heard my uncle's voice say my name. Not sharply but I sensed urgency, that I needed to pay attention. And I also felt a firm grip on my left shoulder then a gentle but persistant squeeze. I glanced up into the rear vision mirror and saw the shadowy outline of my uncle in the back seat. At this point the car was travelling at great speed toward the centre medium strip of the highway. I was confused but seemed to go limp in the drivers seat and it seemed as though I was following instruction because as I hit the curb, somehow knew I had to turn the wheel, and brake firmly but consistantly and the car spun around and over to the otherside of the road where the back quarter panel hit a rather large gum tree. When the car had finally stopped, I looked back into the rearview mirror, and there was no one in the back seat. My uncle that I had "seen" was dead at that time and had been for several years at that point. I never dreamed of him or had him come to me in a vision at any other time in my life. But he was so clearly there to me in that moment. I could feel him, seemingly protecting me, and I could smell him, see him, hear his voice, feel his love.
I have no doubt that had whatever that experience was not happened I would have been dead. That old gum tree was a real solid one.
I can't say that I believe in ghosts. Or that I disbelieve in them either.
I just know that is one of several unexplained experiences that I have had.
I don't experience this at a particular time as you do cate, but I do understand what you mean about being unnerved in some situations.
I have felt this when I have entered some buildings or have been around particular people. It has happened to me some nights, usually in the early hours of the morning and it is not an experience that I enjoy, but I have learned to trust my instincts and if I feel it, I get myself to safety as best and as fast as I can.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
That's a shame ss.
But I do understand completely what you are saying and respect your decision.
I guess I'm at the point where I don't care so much about the sarcastic and arrogant cynicism anymore. I figure if you are the kind of person that has to be that way toward others on a message board then you can't really have much to look forward to in life, and probably should be ignored or pitied anyway.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Hi Jeanie!
Sorry about this. Try this one
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9122930135704146433
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
i just really do not want to end up in another nonsensical debate with ahnimus about how what i experienced was just *insert wikipedia based scientific phenomena here*
now, i just accept it for what it was. for the longest time i tried to deny what i saw and what i felt. but i couldn't stop thinking about it. people dont think of me as a flighty person so when i tell them about my wraith they are rather taken aback. not so much that it happened, but that it happened to me.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Agree completely. I'm interested in writing a response to this thread, but I'm just thinking about how to put it all across. Watch this space...
- the great Sir Leo Harrison
WOW baraka!! This is soooo interesting!!!!
I'm about half way through, and will be back to post when I've finished, but gee it's interesting.
I'M SOOOOOOOO GLAD I"VE GOT BROADBAND FINALLY!!!!
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Yes, I completely understand ss.
I'm quite sure that whatever you experienced was a profound and emotional experience for you that quite possibly made amazing change in your life.
And I completely understand why you would want to keep that from being dissected clinically and potentially null and voided and why you would prefer not to have to "defend" it or argue whether or not you even experienced what you think you did.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
naděje umírá poslední
yes cate, it was a very similar experience for me too.
I really struggled to even speak out loud what had happened to me because I was busy with my denial, and because I was surrounded by people that I was unaware had expectations of who I was, until I did try to put into words my experience. But like you I think, I have found that it is much better to accept the experience even if we can't explain it.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
I'll be watching harmless.
And don't worry so much about how to put it across, I'm sure those of us that do understand will support you and ask questions if we aren't sure what you mean, just as I would hope people would question me if they didn't understand.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
This thread has me 'reading up' on some unexplained phenomena.
Here is an interesting article on near death experiences. It seems like the more research that is done, the more strange the findings seem. Some researchers have even concluded that an explanation should be sought in the 'trancendence of consciousness' idea, because other 'mundane' explanations no longer seem sufficient to explain them.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/06/28/tech/main298885.shtml
There are a couple of interesting articles on meditation:
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/101/46/16369
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2005/06/06/meditation_skills_of_buddhist_monks_yield_clues_to_brains_regulation_of_attention.html
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein