Religious/spiritual experiences. Tell me about them.

OutOfBreath · April 2007

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

Vedderlution_Baby · April 2007

You know, music is probably the closest thing to a religion I got. nothing else has ever captured my emotions like it has. You know how some people say once they've accepted god, they can die happy and free? I get that same feeling after listening to certain songs.

OutOfBreath · April 2007

Vedderlution_Baby! wrote:

You know, music is probably the closest thing to a religion I got. nothing else has ever captured my emotions like it has. You know how some people say once they've accepted god, they can die happy and free? I get that same feeling after listening to certain songs.

Yeah I know. That was what I was alluding to. "Street Spirit" by Radiohead frequently does that to me. Which is why I suspect that my experiences in that direction may be something along the same lines as what religious people experience.

Peace
Dan

Jeanie · April 2007

I've been struggling with this kind of stuff for months now.
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.

OutOfBreath · April 2007

Hey Jeanie.
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

Ahnimus · April 2007

I've experienced a preminition. Connectedness, yea, well I am just part of the universe. I've been able to tackle everything I attempt simply by subjecting myself to it and letting my brain do the rest. I've often had magnificent epiphanies and expanded awareness. I've been able to intuitively make predictions and figure out problems. Those are the types of experiences I have that you may consider spiritual. I don't.

Jeanie · April 2007

OutOfBreath wrote:

Hey Jeanie.
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

Well that's good to know Dan.

It's very hard to articulate, I find.
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.

OutOfBreath · April 2007

Ahnimus wrote:

I've experienced a preminition. Connectedness, yea, well I am just part of the universe. I've been able to tackle everything I attempt simply by subjecting myself to it and letting my brain do the rest. I've often had magnificent epiphanies and expanded awareness. I've been able to intuitively make predictions and figure out problems. Those are the types of experiences I have that you may consider spiritual. I don't.

Well, it sounds like the stuff I'm after here. Most would consider premonitions and epiphanies as spiritual experiences, I think. Do go in detail on these not-spiritual experiences.

Just out of curiosity, what would you consider a spiritual experience?

Peace
Dan

Ahnimus · April 2007

OutOfBreath wrote:

Well, it sounds like the stuff I'm after here. Most would consider premonitions and epiphanies as spiritual experiences, I think. Do go in detail on these not-spiritual experiences.
Just out of curiosity, what would you consider a spiritual experience?

Peace
Dan

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.

OutOfBreath · April 2007

Ahnimus wrote:

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.

Spirituality doesn't attribute to anything. It's precisely about the mystery without having an answer. A religion attempts to answer. That's the line I draw between spiritual and religious anyway.
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

Ahnimus · April 2007

OutOfBreath wrote:

Spirituality doesn't attribute to anything. It's precisely about the mystery without having an answer. A religion attempts to answer. That's the line I draw between spiritual and religious anyway.
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

But... but.. but.. spiritual implies a metaphysical spirit.

catefrances · April 2007

once several years ago i was lying on my bed and i saw a black wraith standing in my doorway. it came towards me and passed right through me.

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.

ajedigecko · April 2007

the birth of my daughter.

redrock · April 2007

Ahnimus wrote:

But... but.. but.. spiritual implies a metaphysical spirit.

If you understand 'spiritual' as religious maybe.. but otherwise, not.

FinsburyParkCarrots · April 2007

I saw the ghost of Dick Turpin, once. No-one believes me.

gue_barium · April 2007

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

I saw the ghost of Dick Turpin, once. No-one believes me.

I believe you. I saw Truman Capote.

baraka · April 2007

I can't say that I have had a specific experience. I have had several uncanny synchronicities and, of course, feelings of awe and interconnectedness.

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.

soulsinging · April 2007

OutOfBreath wrote:

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

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.

Jeanie · April 2007

baraka wrote:

I can't say that I have had a specific experience. I have had several uncanny synchronicities and, of course, feelings of awe and interconnectedness.

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.

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.

Jeanie · April 2007

catefrances wrote:

once several years ago i was lying on my bed and i saw a black wraith standing in my doorway. it came towards me and passed right through me.

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.

catefrances wrote:

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.

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.

Jeanie · April 2007

soulsinging wrote:

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.

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.

Religious/spiritual experiences. Tell me about them.

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