Can anyone distinguish a supposed "relationship with God" from normal human phenomena?

Question

"I have a relationship with God, he tells me not to talk to Melissa and he tells me to see whats up with Bobby"

That your relationship with God?

Ok, its something more, fine. Take your time and give a thoughtful specific answer (insert Jepordey theme)

Notice how there is rarely ever any specifics about conversation with God, its always in prose. Right? Ex: "The Lord 'revealed' to me X and Y". Whoa buddy, slow down, dont leave out the key parts now....please go into detail about exactly how the 'revealtion' occured?

"well, I just knew he did, I was on the toliet and the cat screetched just at the moment I was asking God about what to do about Susan".

Ok, so that stood out to you as something beyond normal human experience? In other words, its not equally likely that you could be sitting on a bench and think the same thought, without this neat little God rapport, and hear a cat screetch?

Have you studied "selective attention" as a principle in psych?

Answer 1

schizophrania (sp) has been documented and studied, so whats to say people 7000 years ago didnt have it as well

Answer 2

You typed too much in your question to give you a specific answer. It's possible that there are many people who believe that they are speaking to God, or are being directed by God in some way but are imagining it, or being selective in what they listen to. Or even worse they could be listening to Satan who imitates God. The Bible teaches ways to discern error, and truth. It's a long process.Essentially God is not like a person standing there you have a two way conversation with all the time. I wish it were, but to be honest it's not like that all the time. Personally I find that when I'm getting guidance, I get the message in what I call "threes" more specifically I get the same message from three sources The Bible, the Holy Spirit, and another Christian (like one sentence from a Pastors sermon that rings out). Or there is a certain synchonicity in my thought to what others are thinking. All I know is that I'm way better off now that I've learned to listen to God, and read the Bible than using my own flawed reasoning. His wisdom goes far beyond mine. A non-believer cannot understand, or comprehend these things. It's like describing air. Also most often these "messages" are not specific like "you need to buy a new car", they are more like a coach in a ball game saying "keep your eye on the ball". I could easily think these things, but somehow I know that it's the Holy Spirit guiding me. So it's almost impossible for me to convey what it's like or proove it. Every once in awhile something specific like "put on the brakes!" happens and it saves my life.

Answer 3

I am always wary of someone who claims to know the will of God. I have found that the only thing I can be sure of is what is not the will of God (meaning that if I am driving myself crazy to get what I want, than it is likely not the will of God)

My personal belief is that in the situations that occur as you describe (I have heard these things too), these people are justifying an action or outcome they desire as a revelation and the will of God. I will not go so far as to say that revelations cannot take place like this, but I think it EXTREMELY unlikely.

BTW I am a christian who came into the faith after being hardcore against it for most of my life.

Answer 4

John 10: 14 I am the Good shepherd, and I know My sheep; and I am known by My own.

Trust me my first visitation of the Spirit was golden Light & immediately PEACE, I stopped crying instantly. What the Spirit revealed to me, happened 3 years later,exactly as I was told. And I remembered, and Praised God This was beyond normal human experience nor was it selective attention. Until you experience His presence, you can not imagine how beautiful & peaceful it is. We that are His we know His voice.

Answer 5

Awhile after I got Saved, GOD Talked to me.
Verbally, at First--Writing Second.
I was out Working at my Job, it was a Little Windy too. I noticed a Piece of Paper "Meandering" across this Lawn in Front of me.
It Flipped and Bounced to the Left (about 20 feet), Flipped and Bounced to the Right (about 15 feet) Back and Forth it went, Blown by the Wind comning ever so Closer to me Till it Landed on my Left Foot.
A Voice in my Head said 'Pick it Up".
I Picked Up that Piece of Paper and Read it.
It said "How to get Filled with the Holy Spirit".
I took it home and Followed the Directions.
GOD Filled me and I have Grown Ever So Much More Since then.
GOD Talks to Man.
In More than One Way.
Ditto..............................

Answer 6

I can only describe it as a loving, comforting, peaceful feeling beyond human. I suppose people experience it differently, but I’ve never heard a booming voice or anything remotely like that, it’s more like thoughts accompanied by this very special loving feeling. It’s the special feeling that makes it unmistakable to me.

Often, if I’m taking a walk alone, for example, I sense this loving presence as though I’m not walking alone. It’s very calming and reassuring. That’s the best way I know to put it.

Answer 7

I have a relationship with GOD. It is not brain surgery or selective attention. It is a simple relationship like the one I have with my wife and sons and daughter. God tells me things in such detail that sometimes I can not even describe it in words. We are born with everything we need for this relationship then the world starts to teach us away from it at birth. Think about it. In the USA it takes eighteen years of life training for us to function on the lowest levels of our society. It takes years of "unlearning" to get back to where we should of been all along. You are looking for super natural when GOD is what is. GOD is like the air. We just need to breathe. What I am trying to say is that you cant see the forest when you are in the city studying it in a book. You need to be in the forest. Try this... "Hi GOD. I really want to know you for real and not just think about you. Can I hang out with you just for a little while?" Try it. Its simple and you will find your answer.
May GOD richly bless you.

Answer 8

If someone DID have a 'relationship with God', which you seem to be defining as any interaction with Him - could it not come through normal channels of human experience/feelings and therefor resemble natural human experiences? Who is to say it is not God's will to act in this manner?

If it did not come through natural human channels, but some other godly soul-feeling routes, it could never be fully explained to someone who has not had the same experience.

Answer 9

To me, "typical" doesn't inevitably ought to do with the way we function. It refers to those who blindly adjust to the values and ideology of mainstream society. those are in a lot of situations unintellectual those who're both incapable of wondering independently, or who in basic terms have an extremely narrow view of the international. something that doesn't contain activities, autos, fb, pop subculture, celebrities, barbecues, or the Judeo-Christian god is considered "strange". I genuinely do not believe that folk might want to enable themselves to be molded by technique of the society they stay in, because there are such diverse different societies they could study from and they could locate more effective interesting and perfect for them. Plus, exploring different cultures and option techniques of wondering broadens human beings's horizons and makes them more effective open-minded. It became continually my personal opinion that a persons' beliefs, pursuits, and existence outlook are what set them apart from everyone else. Artists, instructors, scientists, architects, etc and so on-- those human beings all serve a distinct purpose in society. a international without range will be both dysfunctional and mundane.

Answer 10

When you truly seek God's help/voice in your life, you will have a feeling come over you that you can't explain, hence the prose you speak of. If you truly seek Him, you will know what all us nutcases are talking about. I urge you to try it and find out what it's like - it really does change your life forever.

God Bless you in your search.