Ace

Hello,

To any current theists as well as ex-theists, can you tell me what people mean when they say they feel Christ/God/etc. in their lives? Does God "talk" to you in your head? Is it a good feeling you get? Some of my friends have said this (usually at the end of a long and pointless debate), and I often hear it as a reason for believing (well, I guess it'd be the reason for believing), so I want to know what it really means.

Thanks.

Also, this is my first post in one of the upper forums so if it's not in the right place...

mike T.W.

The problem is it can be hard to describe and also, it might be different from what another person says. I can only (personally) say that I feel a particular religiosity in certain circumstances, however - this feeling is hard to describe in words. I will confess though, that I do not feel anything bizarre or supernatural and my "feeling" is probably that of a simple religious fervor. Maybe the more enthusiastic people feel something more - who knows.

Hope that helps for what it's worth.

lastnightonIo

You feel an overwhelming sense of peace and rightness--this is the world, you fit into it. You hear, not so much a voice, but a wordless idea in your mind: love.


All of this is you, boys & girls. It's your self. Don't give it the name of a god. Protect it as your own, for it's all you can be absolutely sure of.

Ellis14

I never God's voice in my head when I believed in him, but I got an immense sense of satisfaction, pride, and joy when I "knew" I was doing what was right and "serving" him. Any suffering or discomfort I got only made me feel more special and close to him because I "knew" it was for a good cause.

It does give you great comfort to believe that you have a best friend who is the greatest and kindest being in the universe who will always care for you and love you. To believe that you have found The Truth whilst the rest of the world rots in sin is somewhat reassuring.

Through logical thinking and realising the facts though, I see that the feelings were genuine but my make-believe friend wasn't. Never doubt a theist when they talk of their "feelings" of God. Their feelings are genuine, even if their God isn't.

xorbie

This doesn't seem to be a discussion on whether or not this is a valid argument for the existence of God, so I'm moving it down to GRD.

xorbie
EoG Mod

BlessNot

As a recent defector from Xtianity the feeling of Jezzzuzz in one's heart is based on nothing more than an illusion in the mind and the biggest congame ever perpetrated on the minds of men. It's the typical fundamentalist, indoctrinational mind virus that is purposely used to stifle the human mind and to hold every thought captive to a God who's existence is based on an impossibility.

Al Kafirun

Let's see, its bragging rights, its righteousness over everything else, its being a jerk and never having to say you're sorry as long as your intermediary to God approves, etc. As with any cult, if you join the team, become of a collective mind you'll be rewarded with acceptance and praise. Its being told your special, especially effective with those who command no authority or favor in the 'material' world. Its fleeting, though and requires constant upgrading with urgency and ambition.

Rational BAC

Not a fundy myself, but the feeling of being close to God is very real for many Christians. Of course it all may be an illusion, but if it gives someone an inner peace deep down inside, and inspires him or her to live a better life than he or she would have lived, what is the harm?

BlessNot

Living a life of disillusionment but then realizing later on in life that everything you thought was the truth turned out to be a lie is harmless ?

Beliefs are never something that is harmless. Beliefs can lead to some strange behavior problems for some but not all.

BadBadBad

I'm glad for you RBAC. Here's what it's like to commune with God for others:

"Deanna Laney said she resisted at first, but the signs kept coming. The baby came to her with a rock, and later in the day squeezed a frog, and she believed God was suggesting that she should either stab, stone or strangle her children.

A sobbing Laney recounted in a videotape played at her capital murder trial Wednesday how she smashed her sons' skulls with rocks to prove her faith to God.

"I was telling him no, and each time it was getting worse and worse, the way that it would have to be done," Laney said. "I thought it was the Lord saying to me, 'You're just going to have to step out in faith. This is faith. You can't see why. You just got to.""

cnn