For those of you who experience the presence of the Holy Spirit all the time, why do you think some others who claim to believe in God and Jesus do not have that same connection to them? When I try to explain what it is like to truly be with God, most people think I'm bonkers.
2007-04-26 05:53:28 · 20 answers · asked by Poohcat1 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think you're bonkers. I think you're choosing to attribute normal, natural feelings to a "holy spirit" simply because that's the game played in your social circles.
But you do need to recognize that there is no reason at all for anyone to believe that you're right about this "with God" stuff. It's exactly as though I had a group of people who all claim that they can fly by flapping their arms, and who wondered why people outside that group doubted their claim.
As long as we don't see any flying, you got nothing, no matter how enthusiastically your friends support your claim.
2007-04-26 05:56:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
I am a Roman Catholic and it is not necessary to feel the presence of the Spirit all the time. Experieces such as this are not a requirement for being saved.
If we are in a state of grace (free from mortal sin) and living in God's friendship and partaking of the sacraments we can be assured we will be with God in Heaven one day.
Sometimes there will be days we will feel His presence more, and maybe the Spirit will move us at times in subtle or obvious ways, but we should not depend on such experiences for validation, nor should we question others if they don't experience it.
So...I don't think you are bonkers. I just think you are over-emphasizing the important of "religious experiences" and "manifestations of the Holy Spirit." We should not ask for or expect signs or wonders from God. We should just be content to trust Him and obey Him and know He is always with us whether we "feel" it or not.
God bless.
2007-04-26 13:09:07 · answer #2 · answered by Veritas 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have often wondered that myself. There are times when I look at the state of the world and I am tempted to be an atheist; but I have had too many spiritual experiences for me not to believe that there is a higher power of some kind. For example, I have been on religious retreats and felt as though I was in the presence of something divine. There have also been times when I was struggling with certain issues, when all of a sudden the answer will come to me, and it's not anything I would have been able to realize on my own.
I wonder why God chose me to have these experiences when so many others do not. Maybe some people only need faith to believe. And then there are people who have had similar experiences to mine; but they were too stubborn or closed-minded to accept they came from God, so they just shrugged it off and said, "It's just a coincedence."
2007-04-26 13:01:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Holy Spirit is in all who are saved. I know I prayed faithfully and fervently for a long time to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and it never happened, apparently God loves some people such as yourself more than others.
2007-04-26 13:29:19 · answer #4 · answered by me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this on for size. If you have never had a broken leg could you describe it someone with all the necessary information? Another thought is no two people experience the same thing the same way. Be happy with your presence.
2007-04-26 14:10:16 · answer #5 · answered by Ell 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How do you explain the billions of people who follow other religions but claim to feel the same thing? I wouldn't call you bonkers, but you certainly aren't thinking about this very clearly.
2007-04-26 12:57:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Let me help you explain it..........it is a feeling of loving life (God), confidence in your beliefs and contentment.
I first felt it as a religious experience as well but have since come to realize that you don't need God to have that feeling in your life all the time..
2007-04-26 12:59:27 · answer #7 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is extremely difficult to understand why someone would be convined that god exists. why , because for instance some believe that christians are brainwashed they heard the story since they could understand language , some think that it is out of fear that you started to believe and from that point you started to believe without beeing fear, some just dont see at all why god could exist , etc etc etc.
2007-04-26 12:59:29 · answer #8 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what does that mean? your not special dont think you are. everybody is always truly with god. he doesnt pick and choose..it has nothing to do with your acceptance either. everybody has the same connection whether they know it or not.
2007-04-26 12:57:23 · answer #9 · answered by The Vet Tech 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know Holey Mary experience the presence of the Holy Spirit IN her....
But she was brokenhearted 'cause he never called back.
2007-04-26 12:58:19 · answer #10 · answered by SHEÖL 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋