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It was my perception that I had more experiences with the Spirit of the Lord than most. On countless, various occasions I felt the warmth of the Spirit in my chest, peace in my heart and mind, overwhelming love, what I can only describe as a brightness and clarity in thought, a sure confidence, a connection with God that was so real that it approached tangibility, a knowledge that God was my friend and father, excited joy, a passion for helping the Lord prepare for his Second Coming, a sense of the immensity and beauty of God's plan, heart-aching in prayers, crying out of amazement and gratitude, I sometimes sensed that certain things would happen before they did, I miraculously got unexpected scholarship checks when I needed them, etc. I knew and loved the holy scriptures.
I really believed I knew God and had an intimate relationship with Him. And guess what? Now I am an atheist. I experienced most everything a devout believer has experienced and now I completely believe I misinterpreted it all. The raw experiences were real and I did have them, but the interpretations I gave those raw experiences were mistaken.
I know many more people like me. Former believers who were certain that they had experienced God and knew Him personally and are now atheists. I felt what I used to call the Spirit many times, I now feel forced by the evidence to have to think differently about those powerful experiences. I now believe that those experiences are produced entirely by the biological brain.
Experiences are always vulnerable to reinterpretation when we adopt a new perspective. So, the argument that "if you had only experienced what I have experienced, then you'd believe" does not have any validity for me.
It was my perception that I had more experiences with the Spirit of the Lord than most. On countless, various occasions I felt the warmth of the Spirit in my chest, peace in my heart and mind, overwhelming love, what I can only describe as a brightness and clarity in thought, a sure confidence, a connection with God that was so real that it approached tangibility, a knowledge that God was my friend and father, excited joy, a passion for helping the Lord prepare for his Second Coming, a sense of the immensity and beauty of God's plan, heart-aching in prayers, crying out of amazement and gratitude, I sometimes sensed that certain things would happen before they did, I miraculously got unexpected scholarship checks when I needed them, etc. I knew and loved the holy scriptures.
I really believed I knew God and had an intimate relationship with Him. And guess what? Now I am an atheist. I experienced most everything a devout believer has experienced and now I completely believe I misinterpreted it all. The raw experiences were real and I did have them, but the interpretations I gave those raw experiences were mistaken.
I know many more people like me. Former believers who were certain that they had experienced God and knew Him personally and are now atheists. I felt what I used to call the Spirit many times, I now feel forced by the evidence to have to think differently about those powerful experiences. I now believe that those experiences are produced entirely by the biological brain.
Experiences are always vulnerable to reinterpretation when we adopt a new perspective. So, the argument that "if you had only experienced what I have experienced, then you'd believe" does not have any validity for me.
Agreed.
I realized that especially in church, music was always needed to feel this presence. It's an effective tool at swaying the masses.
So, at what point is a person considered insane for hearing or seeing things that the rest of use can’t see or hear?
Ask the Artist, Photgrapher or Musican that question.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hueffenhardt
I now feel forced by the evidence to have to think differently about those powerful experiences. I now believe that those experiences are produced entirely by the biological brain.
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Sorry for your loss. Too bad you let people talk you out of what you knew was true.
How is an atheist trying to convince a Christian of atheism any different from a Christian trying to convert an atheist to Christianity? I, personally, have never tried to get anyone to give up their faith. I have no problems with people being religious - as long as they respect my beliefs as well. I've never told anyone to believe what I do - however, I have been told by numerous people that I should follow their truth and find Jesus. I've been told repeatedly that I will burn in hell, that I am wicked, that I am lost, etc. To be perfectly honest with you - most of the time it doesn't really phase me. I'm comfortable in my own beliefs. But - what is so different about it being the other way around?
I think this is why I get along with you better than most here of either perspective. I think you and I are among the few not trying to convert anyone to anything.
Downside of that I suppose is that you kind of risk being misunderstood. I imagine there are people who think I'm trying to convert people and maybe you've experienced the same. Although I can see how your situation is maybe worse as you're more of a minority where you're at. Down in rural Northwest Arkansas being Catholic was as bad or maybe worse than atheist, so long as they weren't baptized yet (they don't practice infant baptism) an atheist could sometimes just be seen as "lapsed", but I haven't lived there since I was a baby.
On a different matter I'm interested to know why some atheists here seem to believe that discrediting "The Bible God", as you believed you've done, inevitably means being an atheist? Couldn't someone believe in some other kind of God, including some other kind of theist God? (I believe skeptic Martin Gardner classed himself as a "philosophical theist" of no specific religion.) And what, if anything, would you say to such a person?
I think this is why I get along with you better than most here of either perspective. I think you and I are among the few not trying to convert anyone to anything.
Downside of that I suppose is that you kind of risk being misunderstood. I imagine there are people who think I'm trying to convert people and maybe you've experienced the same. Although I can see how your situation is maybe worse as you're more of a minority where you're at. Down in rural Northwest Arkansas being Catholic was as bad or maybe worse than atheist, so long as they weren't baptized yet (they don't practice infant baptism) an atheist could sometimes just be seen as "lapsed", but I haven't lived there since I was a baby.
I agree that this is why we get along so well!
I think I am misunderstood on this forum sometimes - but face to face - I usually get along really well with everyone - even the extremely religious. Oh - and I'm not much of a minority in New York! I'd say that most people are either not religious or mildly religious. There aren't a lot of hard core religious people around - not that I know of, anyway.
Do you have a southern accent? I just can't picture that!
I do see fear and uncertainty in the eyes and mouth. A bit of pensiveness.
What is the feeling behind the work? What is it saying?
You are correct, it is fear and uncertainty.
Notice the title. “Dying Kingdom”
Along with the destruction of the rain forest there is also the destruction of its inhabitance.
But just because I may have a good imagination and can clearly visualize things in my mind does not make them real.
I think some people must get there imagination confused with reality.
I could imagine what a god would look like and could even imagine a god talking to me. But I would realize it was me making up the image and story.
As a wise man once said. “Reality is fine, I can deal with it.”
Now I need some sleep
Cheers and good night all
Remember, Just be a good person and don't worry about the hereafter.
And you'll sleep much better not worrying about hells or gods. lol
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