Have you ever had an experience (either edifying or frightening) which you *would* have interpreted as a spiritual occurrence had you been inclined to believe that spiritual occurrences are possible. This could include--just to name a few hypothetical examples--periods of paranoia (especially at night, or in a large empty building), or euphoria, or a sense of some invisible thing outside of yourself trying to interact with you. Any other experiences you can think of would of course be welcome.
2007-07-19 15:57:39 · 14 answers · asked by delsydebothom 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"God"...No, I'm not equating atheism with anything. I'm asking a question.
2007-07-19 16:03:23 · update #1
"Skeptic". I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it! I've been really busy. Me and Beth won this sweepstakes, and I've been training for a job selling pots.
2007-07-19 16:09:45 · update #2
"Giovanni Geezus" Some understand paranoia of unseen things as a spiritual reaction to malicious forces in the area. Even though I absolutely believe in the spiritual realm, I should say that I believe that paranoia is usually self-induced.
2007-07-20 04:17:33 · update #3
"Father Fecking Ted" I know that's what it sounds like to you. I'm speaking strictly about the hypothetical situation in which you were inclined to believe in the spiritual.
2007-07-20 04:20:48 · update #4
Nothing comes to mind.
2007-07-19 16:04:09 · answer #1 · answered by wdx2bb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did not know you were writing a series of questions; why didn't you tell me?
Anyway, yea! I've had tremendous experiences that could be seen as spiritual. These are the spiritual experiences often described by Buddhists.
They were also described in detail in the book "Why God Won't Go Away." They told me for the longest time that if there was a God, it was very much unlike the Christian God. If you would like to know about it, let me know.
EDIT: I looked at your other questions and they were addressed to ex-theists. I saw them before but I did not answer because I was really never a theists (I was a pantheist at best).
2007-07-19 23:06:17 · answer #2 · answered by skeptic 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have as most everyone has. How I interpret those feelings is the question that should be asked. Some interpret those feelings rationally, realizing they are just chemicals released into the brain under certain circumstances and others interpret them irrationally and call them ghosts or spirits.
Is an orb on a photograph a spirit or is it a piece of dust reflecting light?
2007-07-20 11:20:14 · answer #3 · answered by millajovovichsboyfriend 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, no.
I have had lots of strong emotional experiences and also times when things have just seemed to fall into place a little too simply...when I was more open to supernatural things and the idea of maybe there being something out there (never exactly a god.....except when I was very young) I sort of wanted to ascribe these things to that....but it always felt like I was trying too hard....
So, whilst I kind of tried & even wanted to have experiences like this, no I never really did.
2007-07-19 23:11:34 · answer #4 · answered by SonoranDesertGirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never experienced anything I would consider spiritual. Of course, I occasionally jump at shadows or get skittish in creepy situations. I don't see how that can be called spiritual though. Just an active imagination.
2007-07-20 12:02:04 · answer #5 · answered by Lew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a child I was afraid of the dark and large empty spaces.. But alas I grew up and now know there is nothing in the dark that isn't in the light and there's nothing in the large empty space...
There is nothing supernatural... There is no one watching me 24/7.. When a person grows up they should put away childish fears unfortunately religion reinforces and capitalizes on keeping childish fears alive...
Isn't it sad that a parent will tell their child "There is not monster under the bed, in the closet, there is no boogie man in the old vacant house.. There is nothing to be afraid of... Oh but wait except god, fear god, if you do not fear god you will go to this horrible place called hell... And yes god loves you, so fear the god that loves you or you will go to hell...
Makes a lot of sense doesn't it..
2007-07-19 23:15:09 · answer #6 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being paranoid is a spiritual occurrence? That's news to me and my pipe.
2007-07-19 23:04:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nope.
2007-07-19 23:12:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like our animal instincts to me
2007-07-19 23:06:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do you equate Atheism with inability to experience spirituality? Are you ignorant?
2007-07-19 23:02:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋