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Have you had an encounter? Do you believe such encounters are possible? Do you think you'd recognize the genuine article? Is there a genuine article? I'm not talking about Mystic either because I agree with the viewpoint that he doesn't practice what he preached (sorry Mystic but that's how I see it)
We all have our individual crosses to bear. Mine is an intellect on the Aspergers spectrum that inhibits my social interactions and communications. But unlike you, I cannot easily be persuaded to reject my experiences based on others' interpretations of brain function. Of course, there MUST be some indication of brain response underlying every single one of our experiences or they would not occur. To pretend that identifying brain responses automatically rules out the validity of the experiences is just silly. What experience would NOT have underlying brain responses associated with it? This is why I spent so many years achieving altered states while retaining sober conscious control to evaluate them with. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.
Last edited by MysticPhD; 05-30-2018 at 04:34 PM..
Jesus isn't making personal encounters with people today, appearing to them in states of meditation. That includes me. And He certainly wouldn't appear to one person and tell that person that everyone is saved while appearing to someone else and telling that person something entirely different, or telling them something which is contrary to what the apostles wrote. The standard of truth concerning the issue of salvation is what the apostles wrote. After all, it was they who were personally taught by Jesus during His earthly ministry, and who were promised by Jesus to be led to all the truth by the Holy Spirit.
Even a person who doesn't believe in any of the claims of Christianity, or any of what the Bible says, should be able to understand that since the Bible makes certain claims about what is necessary for salvation, then anyone who makes claims contrary to what the Bible says is simply disregarding what the apostles said in favor of their own personal opinions. And that leads to subjective opinions rather than than trusting the objective statements of the apostles. It comes down to whether or not a person believes what was recorded in the Bible.
How do you explain these encounters? Probably the same way I do, right? Obviously the Bible can be misinterpreted even by the most sincere of seekers so something is going on here.
I've read the Bible, I don't know as much as you do, and I would say EVERYTHING, that was needed for salvation was already done. That's why I find the faith vs works debate absurd.
We all have our individual crosses to bear. Mine is an intellect on the Aspergers spectrum that inhibits my social interactions and communications. But unlike you, I cannot easily be persuaded to reject my experiences based on others' interpretations of brain function. Of course, there MUST be some indication of brain response underlying every single one of our experiences or they would not occur. To pretend that identifying brain responses automatically rules out the validity of the experiences is just silly. What experience would NOT have underlying brain responses associated with it? This is why I spent so many years achieving altered states while retaining sober conscious control to evaluate them with. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.
LOL There ya go again Mystic. I didn't give it up willingly. I agreed with the conclusion despite my wants. I'm not a genuis or educated woman so it's easy for me to look at another human being and say "If it can happen to them it can happen to me."
It is so far removed from the truth, that you actually believe a lie.
Ok, god whatever you say
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