could the religious experiences that some people have, by caused by?

Question

the brain. ie could religious experiences be self generated? Afterall we don't know that much about the brain. Until we understand much more about it should we rule out the possibility that the god some people hear - is really their subconscious?

Afterall - all that god ever says to people is stuff like 'i love you' etc etc. He never says anything useful like "Run - there is a big wave heading your way"

Answer 1

Most definately, I never considered it was really 'god' that spoke to these people.
A lot of people have delusional moments and hear voices in their head. If people want to believe it was god speaking to them then there is nothing wrong with blissful ignorance. Unless the 'god' voice told them to do something bad, in which case they should be made aware that it wasnt god and that they need professional help.

Answer 2

Following that argument, it could be said that the scientific experiences people have can be caused by the brain and are self-generated. (Oh, wait, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle already covered this.) Er, then it could also be said that the experience of reality could be caused by the brain, i.e., self-generated. (Whoops, that's already covered too, by Plato's cave analogy.) Hm. Well, maybe other people are illusions caused by the brain. (Yikes. Solipsism has preceded me.)

It can be argued that the brain self-generates all it perceives. It can be argued that the brain is an idea generated by something outside of it. It can be argued that the brain doesn't exist, nor do any people.

Anything can be argued.

But anyway, God has said things like, "Run--there is a sea I'll hold open for you for a few moments, but hurry because it is going to close behind you and then look like one very big wave to those who are chasing you down."

Answer 3

There are many instances where God has helped people avoid disaster by speaking to them, it's not always a voice in your head, it can be through a prophetic word from another person, or in a dream. If you are unaware of the power of the Spirit working in the world today, maybe you should try going to a spirit-led church. I personally was bathed in god's presence without anyone 'tellling' me He was there, I wasn't even looking for Him, at least I didn't think I was but He got me anyway, and cured my depression, I had no idea at the time that modern miracles still happened. God used me to heal a couple of people too, non christians who were amazed because they thought 'nothing would happen,' Those of you who don't hear God think those of us who do are mad or lying, so there's no way to really 'prove' God is very much at work today, it's something you have to experience.

Answer 4

Let me share a few things.

First, as a result of Spiritualist healing, I had a demon for 14 years from 7 to 21, at which time I was exorcised.

I experienced may things during that time, such as telepathy, precognition and astral projection. The demon communicated with me almost constantly, giving me information about things I could not otherwise know (but proved accurate), guiding me in use of my abilities, encouraging me to go deeper into occult things, and deluding me into thinking I could gain telekinesis, absorb energy from the Sun, and from overhead power lines. In human terms I was exhibiting the symptoms of psychotic schizophrenia.

At 21 I was exorcised and baptised in The Holy Spirit. I had 1 telepathic experience after that, no precognition and the astral projection stopped after a few weeks. The voice was gone. it took me a long time to adjust to my new view of the world, but eventually I did.

God rarely speaks to me, because my previous experiences make me suspicious of thoughts not my own. However, I have had feelings of bubbling joy for which there was no explanation, a joy which just made me want to laugh and laugh. I have felt like a baby curled up on God's lap, or felt as if I was being hugged.

God has given me a kind of Wisdom which allows me to see patterns. I can see which events have been brought about by God's will, and can sometimes see where they are going. When I look back over my life, I see patterns indicating a plan that has taken years to fulfil. This gives me the faith that these matters are under God's control and are nothing to worry about. This gift was very important to me when after a lifetime of fairly solid employment I was unemployed for nearly a year and a half. No matter what I did, I could not get a job, despite my experience. However, I knew that if God wanted me to have a job, nothing could stop me getting it and if He did not want me to have one, nothing I did would allow me to get it. I have been working for my current employers since April 2005 and it is the best job I have ever had. I would never have taken it if my circumstances had not gone the way they did over the last 10 years.

Answer 5

I hope youre not a "Science vs. God" kind of guy. Psychosomatism is the technical term for this effect. I'm not sure what kind of "religious" experiences you're referring to, because you didnt refer to them. You can't see God in a microscope, so you've come to the logical conclusion that there is no God, right? Keep connecting those dots. Sooner or later the lines you make will resemble something you want it to, and you'll insist the way you connected the dots is the one true way. People who drew the same lines have the same religion as you.

Answer 6

it rather is the reason there is not any perfect faith, basically the religion it is physically powerful for the guy. it is like whilst human beings exclaim there is largely one guy or woman for them your "soulmate". If everybody had a soulmate then how do human beings fall into love returned and re-marry? yet thats not the subject count of debate in case you sense your faith is physically powerful for then you definitely save it. in case you prefer to discover a splash extra advantageous than bypass precise forward. Your precise with the sentiments all peoples of all religions get it is why there is plenty confusion of the main appropriate. human beings in simple terms might desire to get it that some human beings get some issues and others would possibly not. If there is not any God or Gods or Goddesses then those feeling have been in simple terms very effective! Hhaha very marvelous that some thing "stupid" element like faith could make a guy or woman sense so heat and fuzzy. yet rather i don't understand what those emotions are if all religions are fake, which they are not through fact none of them are actual or fake, their in simple terms neither.

Answer 7

I think many reported experiences of the 'religious awakening' type are self-induced, by people who are subconsciously looking for meaning.

Taking the 'I met God' experiences out of the equation however, things such as Astral Projection warrant alot of further research in my opinion.

Answer 8

I suppose it is possible that all religious experience is delusional but I've had very few other delusions. Plus, my hallucinations were not simply auditory and some of them have even been useful.

Psychotically yours,

Pabs

Answer 9

Its the brain ' screws loose. lack of intelligence to even think re religion, its for controlling the masses, ' though shall't not.'' cobblers'

Answer 10

there does exist an idea that we are all one consciousness experiencing ourself subjectively. so, if i am just one piece of a large puzzle, persay (sp?), then it could be argued that all my thoughts are those of god, because god is not a separate being. i am god. everyone is god. ha!