NationStates Jolt Archive

Hi. I guess I'm hooked on NSG because I really, really shoud know better than that. I'm going to tell you about the most dramatic and life-altering experience I ever had, and you're going to ridicule it, suck it dry and leave a lifeless husk or worst of all ignore it.

So I was driving on the boulevard today and I was switching stations on the radio and while approaching a tunnel, I heard something that I instantly recognized as a certain fundie Catholic station I despise. Some guy said that we should pray to the Holy Spirit to fill the minds of the faithful with light and the hearts with love, blah blah blah... I repeated the first words of the prayer.
And then it hit me as a ton of bricks.

I saw that the world around me is the creation of God - the truck in the front of me, the leafless trees, the McDonald logo - everything bore His signature. I saw myself surrounded by God - being a part of Him - a bug on the sheet, exposed and crawling blindly forward, unaware of it's surroundings. I was hyperventilating, I felt that the whole world is collapsing around me and rebuilding itself all the same, and yet entirely different. I felt the Niagara of tears flowing down my cheeks, and I protested this change I felt inside me - too late, too late, I thought, nothing will be the same. I was trembling. I felt... invaded. It was a terrible experience. But I admit I asked for that.

Let me give you some background. I'm married to a lovely girl who always believed in God as naturally as we believe that the air is there to breathe. But I was raised in an atheist family and I always found the idea of God rather absurd and much, much too comforting for the human mind to be anything but it's fabrication. Nevertheless, I entertained the idea of world being the creation of some higher being, but rather along the lines of "wouldn't it be cool if...". Deep in my heart, I was convinced that I will never believe because it is simply not my piece of cake. But now and then, never believing it makes any sense, I "prayed" for the blessing of the faith.

Well, now I have it and I have no idea what to do with it. I'm sure I'll figure it out later. In closing, I'd like to say this:

- being on both sides of this fence, I can attest that it's true that if you didn't experienced the faith, you don't know what it is. Just like if you never loved, you don't know how it is.

- I'm slightly drunk now, but I was sober during the described events (oh and by the way, the only contact with drugs I had was grass in the college, two times, years ago)

- miracles do happen, I'm a live proof

- if someone had similar experiences, please share, I feel terribly lonely now :(

- I'm not going to subscribe to the Catholic church, they are retarded. But I know now that there is God.

I was really, really high one time on a mixture of acid, mushrooms and tequila. I felt my head melt into the couch. I didn't want to sit up because I knew my brains would fall out, so I lay there until the skin and bone grew back.

That was pretty life altering, and frankly about as valid as any 'religious' experience. It doesn't tell me there is a God...it tells me that my brain wasn't functioning properly for a while.

Dunno what to say. Good for you I guess. Honostly. I mean I've never had a life changing experience with God, at least not like that. And the Catholic Church isn't retarded, but I respect you in not belonging to one particular relegion, it's your choice.

wow im glad you didnt get into a huge accident in your moment of religious distraction. it would have sucked to have killed or maimed a few people at a time like that.

Recently I told myself I was an athiest, although raised in a semi catholic family, although I didnt beleive in god, I was still scared of him. Everytime that I would have the thaught cross my mind that god didnt exist, I began to worry, would I be punished for such thaughts.

So I came to the conclusion one day that I do believe. I do beleive in a higher being, I will not call him God for that is what the catholics call him, but something does exist. I do whatever I feel is fair to this god. Afterall he didnt put us on earth for us to suffer did he? Some kids call me stupid for "making up my own religion." But I enjoy beleiving in my own creator and loving him, not fearing him.

Dont be a follower of such orginazations as the corrupt catholic church, be your own spiritual leader.

- if someone had similar experiences, please share, I feel terribly lonely now :(
Guess I can relate... with this:

Just like if you never loved, you don't know how it is.

:(

Well, anyway, congratulations on your newfound faith. :)

Wait.. what happened that gave you this epiphany?
Because from what you described it sounds like God drugged you.

I protested this change I felt inside me - too late, too late, I thought, nothing will be the same. I was trembling. I felt... invaded. It was a terrible experience. But I admit I asked for that.
Yea.. you shouldn't have been wearing that provocative clothing.

congratulations on your experience.

mine? not so Earthshattering... but... interesting nonetheless.

Unlike you, I did grow up in a christian family. not catholic but what I would describe as a Protestant/Baptist mix.

After High School, I found myself questioning God and His existance. Even to the point of not believing that He existed (I challanged him to prove his existance in my life.)

Then one day, my mother found herself with an extra ticket to a Benny Hinn conference (yes, I can hear the groans already) and not having anything better to do, I tagged along.

However, my moment of truth came at the end. when Benny (during his healing segment) asked "Do you want to feel the power of God?" of course, everyone around me shouted 'Yes!' and at that moment. everyone in the section I was sitting in collapsed on the ground. I tell you, it felt like I was slammed in the chest with a bowling ball... except instead of pain, I felt joy and a peace so overwhelming, nothing mattered anymore. God answered my challange. He showed me he existed in my life in a way that I could not explain away.

so yeah, you're not alone.

but I do have one question... what does your experience have to do with you being hooked on NSG?

I think I'm hooked on NSG. I'm sitting here at 00:48 looking at threads.

Well, NSG and the Cornish language Wikipedia, which I can't understand a word of.

Now, my following post is less than approving, but it isn't intended to ridicule you or your experience. It just might seem like that without this disclaimer. I'm a strong proponent of religious freedom, so as long as you don't hurt anybody due to your rebirth, it's fine by me.

Now to what I wanted to say:

Then one day, my mother found herself with an extra ticket to a Benny Hinn conference (yes, I can hear the groans already) and not having anything better to do, I tagged along.*groan*

Seriously... Benny Hinn?
but I do have one question... what does your experience have to do with you being hooked on NSG?I thought the title was misleading as well.

I think I'm hooked on NSG. I'm sitting here at ten to one looking at threads.15 to 2 over here, bizzatch! :p

It doesn't tell me there is a God...it tells me that my brain wasn't functioning properly for a while.

:fluffle::fluffle:
I know that if I wanted I could explain what I experienced. It would be hard, because I wasn't high or something, but the brain is complicated machinery and I know it can produce a totally convincing feeling of "the presence of Higher Being" if tickled in the right way. The question is what we want to believe, and I think I want to believe in God. He leaves us free will, no longer showing Himself as a proverbial burning bush. If I didn't want to believe, I have enough ways to convince myself that I just has a brain fart....
But I rely on my brain, and it had no such farts for 38 years, and the experience was dissimilar to anything I ever felt and it was simply f*cking crushing amd really uncalled for, I mean, I was entirely normal one moment and completely freaked out the next.

15 to 2 over here, bizzatch! :p
Gwad. I can see myself up until then.

The twin, time-devouring evils of NSG and Wikipedia. Damn you both!

Well, NSG and the Cornish language Wikipedia, which I can't understand a word of.

You should try http://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degemer
Celtic langueages rule :)

wow im glad you didnt get into a huge accident in your moment of religious distraction.
That was exactly my thought - WHY NOW?! Fortunalely I was in a slow lane.

Are you sure your brain isn't broken? :p

Yea.. you shouldn't have been wearing that provocative clothing.
Right on. Whether it's right or wrong, now it's too late. I'm no longer a virgin. From certain point of view. From other ones it's an old story ;>

yep.

Hawaii (as a venue for anything) is fiscally troublesome so we don't always get the big names like you guys on those continent thingies :p .I was groaning more because I've seen him on GOD TV or the GOD Channel bakc when my dad still got that. Worth quite a few groans, that man is...

*groan*

Seriously... Benny Hinn?

yep.

Hawaii (as a venue for anything) is fiscally troublesome so we don't always get the big names like you guys on those continent thingies :p .

Are you sure your brain isn't broken? :p
It might be... but it tests okay except that little thing. So I guess I'm like a lot of other people b4 me, including scientists and whatnot.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, WHY NOW? What did I do to deserve this NOW? It doesn't make any sense!
I can't explain it all in any other way that this: there is God and we don't know much about Him.
Oh, and by the way: Hell is an human invention :)

I always had this weird uncomfortableness whenever I was in church when I was young. It felt awkward, almost forced to beleive in god. I stopped going after awhile, started finding excuses, and then just didn't go. I started to really connect with non-religious people more than the church-going type, they seemed really weird. Then one day I just decided it was really stupid to keep believing in something I didn't and stopped. That's my religious experience.

However, I do feel like I'm in Plato's Cave/the Matrix on occasion, and it seems like it's happening more often. I'd blame quantum physics and that movie Waking Life, but I'm probably just like, schizophrenic or something.

Worth quite a few groans, that man is...
Well. The spirit works in a mysterious way. Would you tell looking at a mold that it might be beneficial in any way? And yet it might deliver peniciline.
The station I described is from my point of view a black spot - a place where world becomes worse - a racist, xenophobic voice. But even it can serve a higher purpose.

Well. The spirit works in a mysterious way. Would you tell looking at a mold that it might be beneficial in any way? And yet it might deliver peniciline.
The station I described is from my point of view a black spot - a place where world becomes worse - a racist, xenophobic voice. But even it can serve a higher purpose.I'm pretty sure penecilline cures more people than that radio station does :p

I always had this weird uncomfortableness whenever I was in church when I was young. It felt awkward, almost forced to beleive in god.
The institutionalized church is a WEIRD place. I takes a special effort to look past all this shit and see something more than a social club.

I'm pretty sure penecilline cures more people than that radio station does :p
Eh, I wouldn't bet, so much strains now developed the resistance to peniciline...

It might be... but it tests okay except that little thing. So I guess I'm like a lot of other people b4 me, including scientists and whatnot.
*notes that you feel the need to defend this sudden burst of faith*

I JUST WANT TO KNOW, WHY NOW? What did I do to deserve this NOW? It doesn't make any sense!

why not then?

*notes that you feel the need to defend this sudden burst of faith*
just like some feel the need to attack another person's burst of faith? ;)

Eh, I wouldn't bet, so much strains now developed the resistance to peniciline...I know at least three people that antibiotics have helped, and you're the only one I know that that radio station has helped, so...

The institutionalized church is a WEIRD place. I takes a special effort to look past all this shit and see something more than a social club.

Yeah that was creepy too, but I really just felt awkward with having a god at all. The whole idea was weird to me.

*notes that you feel the need to defend this sudden burst of faith*

I'm comfortable in my knowledge that I can destroy that little bubble of faith if I wish :)

I know at least three people that antibiotics have helped, and you're the only one I know that that radio station has helped, so...

in Hawaii, some of our radio stations puts out calls to stolen cars and listeners call the police when the stolen car is seen on the road.
another listener recieved help when his home was broken into and several of his possessions stolen.
many commuters listen to the radio to know when and where traffic is heavy due to accidents or stalled vehicles.
many commuters also listen to the radio for any road closures and what not.

So alot of people are helped by Radio Stations.

So alot of people are helped by Radio Stations.Irrelevant, seeing as we are talking about a specific radios station and seing as I haven't met any of them. ;)

The question is what we want to believe, and I think I want to believe in God.

Um, wait, are you quite sure about that?

and the experience was dissimilar to anything I ever felt and it was simply f*cking crushing amd really uncalled for, I mean, I was entirely normal one moment and completely freaked out the next.

I protested this change I felt inside me - too late, too late, I thought, nothing will be the same. I was trembling. I felt... invaded. It was a terrible experience. But I admit I asked for that.



I JUST WANT TO KNOW, WHY NOW? What did I do to deserve this NOW? It doesn't make any sense!

Irrelevant, seeing as we are talking about a specific radios station and seing as I haven't met any of them. ;)
:rolleyes:
;)
:D

Sometimes, if we've been under certain stress or responsibilities and we're either over them or temporarily free of them, and we're sitting in a car on a bright, sunny day, humming along to some tune on the radio and the preacher man comes on, especially when we've been taking in messages subconsciously from someone close of a few years, our brain relaxes to a certain point where it drops thinking about everyday matters and we're suddenly susceptible to great revelations as the deeper themes of our lives connect to each other.

We can place God onto this feeling or we can call it a huge moment of relief and happiness.

We seek to place physical symbols on that which we don't understand.

Speaking of understanding, do I understand your title correctly to mean you're hooked on NSG because you had to come here and tell us?

I think I'm hooked on NSG. I'm sitting here at 00:48 looking at threads.

Well, NSG and the Cornish language Wikipedia, which I can't understand a word of.

I read the French wiki to try and remember French I learnt in school 5 years ago. Surprisingly I can get the gist of most of it.

2:05am here, and I'm sitting watching live updates from Iowa. And typing on NSG.

I need a life.

But I know now that there is God.

No. No there isn't. You are a fool who has mistaken some odd crazy thing as something it's not.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a "fundie Catholic." Do they believe every single thing the Church says, and and therefore do not take the Bible as literal? Or do they take the Bible as literal, going against the Church? Hmm.

Anyway, congratulations on your newfound faith. I'm not sure I agree with it completely, but it seems to float your boat, so best of luck. I would advise, though, to critically think about what it and its implications are. A degree of emotionalism is necessary, but without reason it can lead to wackiness. Generally critically thinking only strengthens what you believe, or at least clarifies it.

I found God once. He was behind the sofa. I dusted Him off, put Him through the washer-dryer, He came out good as new.

Then I lost Him in a game of poker. Always wondered whether things would have turned out differently if I'd betted the brass candlestick instead.


Anyway, @OP, I get similar attacks of sudden emotion -- irrational anger, despair, love -- but I'm hardly a typical case and can't be recommended by psychiatrists, so you probably don't want to talk to me. The world has enough semipsychoticOCDsocialanxietySADschizotypicalparanoidmanicdepressives.

:rolleyes:
;)
:D

Ooh, totem pole.

Yep, it was God alright. Or a stroke. Did you smell oranges?

Hi. I guess I'm hooked on NSG because I really, really shoud know better than that. I'm going to tell you about the most dramatic and life-altering experience I ever had, and you're going to ridicule it, suck it dry and leave a lifeless husk or worst of all ignore it.

So I was driving on the boulevard today and I was switching stations on the radio and while approaching a tunnel, I heard something that I instantly recognized as a certain fundie Catholic station I despise. Some guy said that we should pray to the Holy Spirit to fill the minds of the faithful with light and the hearts with love, blah blah blah... I repeated the first words of the prayer.
And then it hit me as a ton of bricks.

I saw that the world around me is the creation of God - the truck in the front of me, the leafless trees, the McDonald logo - everything bore His signature. I saw myself surrounded by God - being a part of Him - a bug on the sheet, exposed and crawling blindly forward, unaware of it's surroundings. I was hyperventilating, I felt that the whole world is collapsing around me and rebuilding itself all the same, and yet entirely different. I felt the Niagara of tears flowing down my cheeks, and I protested this change I felt inside me - too late, too late, I thought, nothing will be the same. I was trembling. I felt... invaded. It was a terrible experience. But I admit I asked for that.

Let me give you some background. I'm married to a lovely girl who always believed in God as naturally as we believe that the air is there to breathe. But I was raised in an atheist family and I always found the idea of God rather absurd and much, much too comforting for the human mind to be anything but it's fabrication. Nevertheless, I entertained the idea of world being the creation of some higher being, but rather along the lines of "wouldn't it be cool if...". Deep in my heart, I was convinced that I will never believe because it is simply not my piece of cake. But now and then, never believing it makes any sense, I "prayed" for the blessing of the faith.

Well, now I have it and I have no idea what to do with it. I'm sure I'll figure it out later. In closing, I'd like to say this:

- being on both sides of this fence, I can attest that it's true that if you didn't experienced the faith, you don't know what it is. Just like if you never loved, you don't know how it is.

- I'm slightly drunk now, but I was sober during the described events (oh and by the way, the only contact with drugs I had was grass in the college, two times, years ago)

- miracles do happen, I'm a live proof

- if someone had similar experiences, please share, I feel terribly lonely now :(

- I'm not going to subscribe to the Catholic church, they are retarded. But I know now that there is God.

Someone needs to lay off the shrooms...

*snip*
Yay! Wecome, believer! :)

Cynical comments on NSG notwithstanding, I think you should cherish your experience. Not all of us believers have had such epiphanies, though I personally would really, really love to. :(

And the Catholic Church isn't really one giant uniform monolith, despite its great efforts to make itself look that way. It's basically a bunch of different churches that have all agreed not to contradict the Pope in public.

I'm going to tell you about the most dramatic and life-altering experience I ever had, and you're going to ridicule it, suck it dry and leave a lifeless husk
How about a few might just sig it?

Odd how the last 4 all read "9".

Um, wait, are you quite sure about that?

Yes. I didn't really know what I'm asking for, but after I received it and recovered from the shock of having my view altered, I'm sure I like the world with Him than without. So I'm not going to bend backwards to explain my experience away and live like nothing happened.

We can place God onto this feeling or we can call it a huge moment of relief and happiness.

Believe me, that wasn't anything like relief or happiness. It was mental equivalent of being caught outside by a wind so strong that it tears muscle from bone.
Sorry for sounding so dramatic. I try but really can't describe it. And I know I never will be able to do justice to this moment.

Speaking of understanding, do I understand your title correctly to mean you're hooked on NSG because you had to come here and tell us?
Yes :).

No. No there isn't. You are a fool who has mistaken some odd crazy thing as something it's not.
Perhaps. The beauty of faith is that it's a choice, really. Anything can be explained as just another odd crazy thing.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a "fundie Catholic."
I used the term somewhat loosely. The people who listen to this particular radio station are usuallly old, conservative, rather dumb and they follow the priest who founded this radio like a sect leader.

Thanks for all the comments!

Are you sure your brain isn't broken? :p
Well, there have been cases of people becoming religious because of a brain tumor. It's all in the head, you know. There even was a woman who had a brain tumor, became deeply religious, got cured and literally lost her religion. The tumor activated the part of her brain where religious feelings are stored.

*snip*

But I know now that there is God.
No, you don't. You know that you experienced something which you are choosing to name "God."

I really wish people would quit claiming that their personal, subjective "faith" experiences had anything to do with knowing about the existence of God.

You don't know shit about whether or not God exists. None of us do. If something happened that made you want to believe in God, that's your business. Good for you. But, given that you've rejected Catholicism, you probably shouldn't start off your new-found life of faith by lying so blatantly and arrogantly to random strangers.

I frequently get deja-vu that doesn't happen. Anti-deja-vu if you will.

It's bizarre. Maybe *that* is God... screwing with my head.

No, you don't. You know that you experienced something which you are choosing to name "God."

I really wish people would quit claiming that their personal, subjective "faith" experiences had anything to do with knowing about the existence of God.

You don't know shit about whether or not God exists. None of us do. If something happened that made you want to believe in God, that's your business. Good for you. But, given that you've rejected Catholicism, you probably shouldn't start off your new-found life of faith by lying so blatantly and arrogantly to random strangers.

Heh hit ya head on the wall getting outa bed today umm?

You are sorta right and sorta wrong here I think.

Do you know that you are loved? In strict logical terms you cannot know that, you must place trust in the words and deeds of others, you may feel loved, but you can never know.

Of course though, you can 'know' in your heart that you are loved. As I 'know' in my heart that a creative God does exists.

So all of these little illogical lies we tell others and ourselves, well no need to be so down on them. I think the OP was merely explaining a fantastic happening to us, I sense no arrogance there at all.

Heh hit ya head on the wall getting outa bed today umm?

You are sorta right and sorta wrong here I think.

Do you know that you are loved? In strict logical terms you cannot know that, you must place trust in the words and deeds of others, you may feel loved, but you can never know.

Of course though, you can 'know' in your heart that you are loved. As I 'know' in my heart that a creative God does exists.

Yawn.

I don't know that other people love me. I don't feel the need to lie to myself and claim that I know it. If you do, that's your business, but it's still a lie. You don't know. Just like you don't know about God.


So all of these little illogical lies we tell others and ourselves, well no need to be so down on them. I think the OP was merely explaining a fantastic happening to us, I sense no arrogance there at all.
Let me spell it out again, then.

Having a subjective fantastic experience is fine. Talking about it is fine. Changing your own beliefs in accordance with it is fine.

Claiming that your subjective experience has allowed you to KNOW that God exists is bunk. Personally, I don't know why anybody would want to lie to themselves about their own subjective experience in this context. If you actually believe you experienced God, why would you want to be anything but honest with yourself about that?

Claiming that your subjective experience has allowed you to KNOW that God exists is bunk. Personally, I don't know why anybody would want to lie to themselves about their own subjective experience in this context. If you actually believe you experienced God, why would you want to be anything but honest with yourself about that?

Ahhh Bottle, come on give the guy/girl a break huh. Basicly what you are saying here is 'use correct English'. You really, really object to an incorrect use of the word know? Really?

You know by the context what the OP means, you show this by your own posts here, can't you be a little forgiving and just let the OP have his little lie?

As I pointed out, we all do this anyway, none of us is perfect, and some people need to be self delusional(yep me included) for their own peace of mind.

I guess what I'm saying is, leave the OP alone, don't be so petty.

Hi. I guess I'm hooked on NSG because I really, really shoud know better than that. I'm going to tell you about the most dramatic and life-altering experience I ever had, and you're going to ridicule it, suck it dry and leave a lifeless husk or worst of all ignore it.

I wish you were wrong about that, but it seems you weren't. But on the upside, let them ridicule. It won't be a lifeless husk because of it.

There are two kinds of atheists. First, The kind that don't believe in God and don't really care if you do. These are very rare and I don't see too many of them around here. You know them when you see them, though. Second, there's the kind that simply can't resist trying to drag believers, especially new ones, back down to their point of view. PLENTY of those around here. I think the latter type secretly DO believe and are trying to get people to agree with them as a sort of perverse self-validation.

But don't let them convince you that somehow they understand the nature of your experience better than you do. How could they?

<snip>
And then it hit me as a ton of bricks.

I saw that the world around me is the creation of God<snip>

I'm very happy for you. I've had a couple experiences like this and they really are better than anything else. It's a huge rush and suddenly everything becomes quite clear. Congratulations!

Claiming that your subjective experience has allowed you to KNOW that God exists is bunk. Personally, I don't know why anybody would want to lie to themselves about their own subjective experience in this context. If you actually believe you experienced God, why would you want to be anything but honest with yourself about that?

I think it's pretty arrogant of you to draw conclusions like that based on almost no actual knowledge of Nipeng's experience whatsoever. For somebody who claims to operate so closely within the confines of that which is scientifically provable, you certainly seem to be more than willing to leap to a conclusion based more on your own assumption than on any actual evidence.

I mean, think about it. You're basing your conclusion on:

1)Your belief that there is no God.
2)Your interpretation of the OP's story, which contains no empirical evidence since Nipeng isn't making a scientific case and never claimed to.
3)No actual hard evidence or data to counter the OP's assertion of new knowledge, as explained in point 2.
4)What amounts to a subjective secondhand account of an experience, which wouldn't be scientifically valid in any context.

Only Nipeng is qualified to draw any conclusions here, unless you have some kind of conclusive evidence that he or she is delusional, without resorting to any of the assumptions I listed above.

But I know now that there is God.

Which God? Are you talking in a pantheist or deist sense? Or have you also accepted Jesus for no other reason than having 'experienced God'?

I don't understand why people just happen to join the religion of their parents and dominant one of their culture when they 'find God', and then proceed to follow its dogma.

Which God? Are you talking in a pantheist or deist sense? Or have you also accepted Jesus for no other reason than having 'experienced God'?

I don't understand why people just happen to join the religion of their parents and dominant one of their culture when they 'find God', and then proceed to follow its dogma.

Well the OP has not stated which religion they may join. And not every religious person follows the faith of their folx or their culture.

No, you don't. You know that you experienced something which you are choosing to name "God."

I really wish people would quit claiming that their personal, subjective "faith" experiences had anything to do with knowing about the existence of God.

You don't know shit about whether or not God exists. None of us do. If something happened that made you want to believe in God, that's your business. Good for you. But, given that you've rejected Catholicism, you probably shouldn't start off your new-found life of faith by lying so blatantly and arrogantly to random strangers.
Your bitter, arrogant and irrational post is duly noted. Perhaps it was induced by your own fears and insecurities? Perhaps you are jealous?

As I stated to you in another thread, I don't believe that you are qualified to proclaim that there is no God, and you certainly are in no position to invalidate the spiritual experience stated by Nipeng.

I think it's pretty arrogant of you to draw conclusions like that based on almost no actual knowledge of Nipeng's experience whatsoever. For somebody who claims to operate so closely within the confines of that which is scientifically provable, you certainly seem to be more than willing to leap to a conclusion based more on your own assumption than on any actual evidence.

I mean, think about it. You're basing your conclusion on:

1)Your belief that there is no God.
2)Your interpretation of the OP's story, which contains no empirical evidence since Nipeng isn't making a scientific case and never claimed to.
3)No actual hard evidence or data to counter the OP's assertion of new knowledge, as explained in point 2.
4)What amounts to a subjective secondhand account of an experience, which wouldn't be scientifically valid in any context.

Only Nipeng is qualified to draw any conclusions here, unless you have some kind of conclusive evidence that he or she is delusional, without resorting to any of the assumptions I listed above.
Amen brother.

Which God? Are you talking in a pantheist or deist sense? Or have you also accepted Jesus for no other reason than having 'experienced God'?

I don't understand why people just happen to join the religion of their parents and dominant one of their culture when they 'find God', and then proceed to follow its dogma.

I think you're jumping the gun a bit. Nipeng has indicated an awareness of God. The details remain to be worked out, as I understand it.

Which God? Are you talking in a pantheist or deist sense? Or have you also accepted Jesus for no other reason than having 'experienced God'?

I don't understand why people just happen to join the religion of their parents and dominant one of their culture when they 'find God', and then proceed to follow its dogma.

From talking to religious folks all over, I've come to the following conclusion:

"Spiritual experiences" like the one Nipeng described happened and keep happening to people everywhere, they're in no way focused or culture-specific. Some cultures will try to stimulate experiences like this by use of drugs, techniques of hyperventilation or other methods to reach a trance-like state (chanting, dancing, etc). Sometimes it seems to happen spontaneously, though.

Now, experiencing such a state of mind, people try and make sense of them in the context of their culture and familiar symbolicisms. So most of them will use the religion prevailing in their native culture. So it's just natural for Nipeng to believe that it was god who has revealed himself on this particular occasion, while a Haitian might believe it was Damballa or Bondyè, and an inhabitant of Vanuatu might think it was John Frum.

Well, there have been cases of people becoming religious because of a brain tumor.
Thanks. I'm not saying I'll have my head examined :) - I doubt the insurance would cover my case - but I'll watch out for anything out of the ordinary. But if it turned out it's just a brain damage, I'd be disapponted. Very, very disappointed.

No, you don't. You know that you experienced something which you are choosing to name "God."
Yes, you are right. I BELIEVE there is God. And I really wish you had finished your post at that. Lying is consciously telling something untrue. I didn't do that.

Well the OP has not stated which religion they may join
I have absolutely no idea. And frankly, at the moment I still see the organized religions as just gatherings of people of the same religious denomination, nothing more.

The details remain to be worked out, as I understand it.
And I don't know how to start doing anything about it. Or if I should do something at all.

Now, experiencing such a state of mind, people try and make sense of them in the context of their culture and familiar symbolicisms.
For example they get MRI looking for brain damage. :)

And I don't know how to start doing anything about it. Or if I should do something at all.

Ahhh then,(hold on for sec wheres my protyltising hat!)may I interest you in a spot of Sikhi?:D

I think you're jumping the gun a bit. Nipeng has indicated an awareness of God. The details remain to be worked out, as I understand it.

Perhaps, I'm just interested in how someone would 'choose' a religion if they've just had a spiritual experience.

From talking to religious folks all over, I've come to the following conclusion:

"Spiritual experiences" like the one Nipeng described happened and keep happening to people everywhere, they're in no way focused or culture-specific. Some cultures will try to stimulate experiences like this by use of drugs, techniques of hyperventilation or other methods to reach a trance-like state (chanting, dancing, etc). Sometimes it seems to happen spontaneously, though.

Now, experiencing such a state of mind, people try and make sense of them in the context of their culture and familiar symbolicisms. So most of them will use the religion prevailing in their native culture. So it's just natural for Nipeng to believe that it was god who has revealed himself on this particular occasion, while a Haitian might believe it was Damballa or Bondyè, and an inhabitant of Vanuatu might think it was John Frum.

Indeed. I just find it odd how someone might say they've had a spiritual experience with god and then proclaim themselves a Christian. I don't see the connection unless Jesus was specifically part of the spiritual experience. Does that make any sense?

Perhaps, I'm just interested in how someone would 'choose' a religion if they've just had a spiritual experience.


So would I, TBH... In the spirit of that...


And I don't know how to start doing anything about it. Or if I should do something at all.


The last thing you should do, IMHO, is go 'religion shopping.' God has given you guidance thus far, He will continue to do so. Just be open, and see what happens next!

Well, I enjoy my Godless experience of the world: seeing things for what they are, without any attached illusions.

This experience the guy had leads me to say that "God" is a "God of the gaps", for example to explain unusual or unknown events which cannot be explained by science as acts of God, which nowadays this "God" is becoming smaller and smaller. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just something to be wary of.

Perhaps it's in our genes to believe in a God to perform in society, to give ourselves the illusion or belief in an afterlife. Or maybe it's real, maybe God does exist to perform miracles.

I support people who have genuine belief in God, but people who kill in their Gods name i do not support.

I think the idea of God is socially contructed, that's not to say there really isn't a God, but if there was, why do we need huge cathederals built in his/hers name? Or why do we (or anyone) need to sing about some being that brings hope to some people? Surely the idea of there being a God is enough, banging on about "praising the lord" seems to lead to a social construction to draw everyone else in.

Well that's my thoughts, not sourced, not logically constructed and not logically argued because it's just that, my thoughts.

Your bitter, arrogant and irrational post is duly noted. Perhaps it was induced by your own fears and insecurities? Perhaps you are jealous?

As I stated to you in another thread, I don't believe that you are qualified to proclaim that there is no God,
Good thing she didn't then, isn't it?
and you certainly are in no position to invalidate the spiritual experience stated by Nipeng.

What do you mean by invalidate?

"God" is a "God of the gaps", for example to explain unusual or unknown events which cannot be explained by science as acts of God, which nowadays this "God" is becoming smaller and smaller.
What I experienced can be and was scientifically explained as "something you feel when your brain is tickled in a particular way". Of course that way you can explain away anything.

I think the idea of God is socially contructed
There is God and there is the whole socially constructed hullabaloo, organized religion. In my opinion it is misleading to confuse them.

I think the idea of God is socially contructed

I think it's deeper than that. A natural tendency to interpret the world in terms of humanity. This results in nature having wants, intentions. It is aware of you and can reward or punish you. Human's brains, I think, are so oriented towards human social interaction that we perceive it where it does not exist.

What I experienced can be and was scientifically explained as "something you feel when your brain is tickled in a particular way". Of course that way you can explain away anything.


OK. Could we examine the event which seemed to trigger this revelation? This one:

So I was driving on the boulevard today and I was switching stations on the radio and while approaching a tunnel, I heard something that I instantly recognized as a certain fundie Catholic station I despise. Some guy said that we should pray to the Holy Spirit to fill the minds of the faithful with light and the hearts with love, blah blah blah... I repeated the first words of the prayer.
And then it hit me as a ton of bricks.

Is the tunnel significant? For instance, did you continue repeating the prayer as the radio cut out from being in the tunnel?

I wonder also, could you tell us the prayer you began to recite?

I must admit, the first thing which occurred to me when you mentioned listening to the radio was "subliminals." I realize radio has a very limited range of tones, isn't capable of anything near the subconscious communication of video, but this still seems like a possibility? Was there a musical background of some sort, or just a prayer you were familiar with?

It seems to me that if God was speaking directly to you, this would have happened in a peaceful moment, without the mediation of a preacher on the radio.

============

I thought EI's point here was very valid, too:

I just find it odd how someone might say they've had a spiritual experience with god and then proclaim themselves a Christian. I don't see the connection unless Jesus was specifically part of the spiritual experience. Does that make any sense?

The description in the OP doesn't seem to involve Jesus, only God.

Is the tunnel significant? For instance, did you continue repeating the prayer as the radio cut out from being in the tunnel?
The tunnel is significant only because I didn't switch the station thanks to it. I knew that if I push Scan, it will scan the frequencies until I reach the end of the tunnel. The prayer was after that.

I wonder also, could you tell us the prayer you began to recite?
It was very simple. "Come Holy Spirit" - and cut, because it mentioned people of faith then and I wasn't one. Seems it was enough. All that I remembered from the full text is in the first post.

I must admit, the first thing which occurred to me when you mentioned listening to the radio was "subliminals."
I don't think so, for the technical reasons you mentioned. There was no music in the background. But really, if we are looking for scientific explanation, it might have been a micro stroke for all we know. The important thing is that it left me changed forever.

It seems to me that if God was speaking directly to you, this would have happened in a peaceful moment, without the mediation of a preacher on the radio.
"God works in mysterious ways" - one phrase fits all, don't you think? ;) On the other hand, if I treated this whole religion business seriously from the beginning (I do now), I wouldn't attempt to communicate when driving a car, just like I don't use the cell phone when I drive. It was my choice. As to why the call was finally answered - God knows. :)

The description in the OP doesn't seem to involve Jesus, only God.
Specifically, my experience involves God as a creator of the universe, end of story. I don't even know if He is good at all. I suppose so, because the world is not so bad, on average.

I'd explain that as repressed desire for a supreme being bubbling to the surface, really. There's not too much justification for any sort of deity existing except to make humans think they're special and above everything else.

But that's just my psychologist side talking. Believe whatever you want, just don't let it impair your judgment any more than you can help.

OP:
When they ask me my race on the next census, I will be answering "NSGenerlite", So I wouldn't worry about being addicted.

The physical symptoms sound like a panic attack, possibly accompanied by a form of psychosis.

I've had the experience of suddenly becoming aware of everything around me, from broad horizons to minute details, but God didn't have any part in it. There are just moments when I realize that I'm alive with billions of other living things all breathing in their own ways, all coexisting in a particular part of space/time. I think that's mind-blowing enough on its own.

As for religious experiences... Once when I was a little kid I was watching clouds and finding shapes in them, and I thought I found one that looked like God. But then I realized it was Santa Claus.

Dont worry its one of two things. A: Menopause B: Bad case of gas Either way, the irrational behaviors will cease given a little time.

Good thing she didn't then, isn't it?
But that is exactly what she did.

What do you mean by invalidate?
invalidate:

2. show to be wrong: to prove that something is wrong or make something worthless