What is intuition? Spiritual, religious or scientific answers welcome?

Question

Thanks Elizabeth I'm reading Myers currently and its why I asked the Q to see what others thought.

Answer 1

It is several different things.

Most generally, it refers to having a hunch about something - believing something but being unable to trace the logic and evidence leading you to that belief. Of course we're almost never really aware of the reasons for our beliefs, so intuition is absolutely normal thinking (see the video below: if you haven't seen this before, you're in for a real treat).

"Intuition" also refers to the belief people have that these feelings reflect some kind of unexplained special power. Many people claim to have "intuited" things they could not have otherwise known. What's really going on here is the usual psychic thing: people who are simply too unaware of their surroundings to notice that they don't have special powers. Usually when challenged, they embellish their stories until it's all-too-obvious that they're making it all up just to defend their belief about being "special".

Malcolm Gladwell's bestseller "Blink" is an excellent introduction to the topic.
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Oh, good to see you're reading David Myers' book. It's excellent. I've met him a number of times back in his "Pursuit of Happiness" days. Very interesting guy.

Answer 2

Knowing something that could not be known through the usual means.

For example (this is more unconscious use of intuition, but it works too) - I was looking for a specific book and I found out it was out of print (so I thought if I found some, I would get a copy too). I sat down determined to find one and a thought occured to me that a certain bookstore might have it. I have only been there once and it was far from me. So I wondered how I would check that store and it occured to me a friend of mine likes going there occassion...and that I should call him now.

I call my friend and he tells me he was just heading out the door to go there. He will check for me...and I said buy a copy only if you can get it for under $10 (I wasn't that much in need of reading it) - and if there are 2, buy them both for me.

He calls me an hour later, not only does the bookstore have only 2 copies on their shelf - the cost was $5 a book - and both were signed by the author.

To this day he reminds me about this...he said it was a great show of intuition.

I had done a net search and the only copies of this book I could find were over $50 each and one was in New York and the other in Canada.

The odds of just happening upon 2 copies on demand is quite low. But I knew where to go and I caught my friend going there.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 3

I have a very strong intuition . It has kept me safe many times . It is so accepted by my grown sons who live together , that if they get in a serious argument , they know I'm going to show up at their house . They used to get mad as teenagers when I said "I have a feeling " because my feeling mostly came true . This is the connection I have with my children . I spent a lot of wasted time in my younger years thinking I was some sort of psychic . Then I was shown by the Holy Spirit that He has always been with me and has protected me . This gift was given by God .Times I didn't listen to my intuition I was always sorry . I usually don't ignore it anymore .

Answer 4

Intuition is adaptive. It is that subconscious part of our brain telling us what to do when consciously we haven't thought about or don't know the answer. It is probably based on unconscious assimilation of knowledge and instinct. There is only so much our conscious mind can hold. Also, when we needed in our past to react quickly and instinctively to survive this trait aided us where if we stopped to think things through we would have been killed. Instinct however, can sometimes lead us astray when we have assimilated false information or misinterpret the cues in our environment.

There are an interesting set of essays on the topic at this link.

Answer 5

Scientifically speaking "intuition is when synapses in the brain that are receiving data from memory and the senses and emotions result in a person coming to a conclusion about something that they don't have one specific reason for".

Spiritually speaking, the Bible teaches that sometimes God gives people a "word of knowledge or wisdom" where God reveals truth to someone about a person or a circumstance in order to accomplish some goal that helps the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit. 8 For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;

Answer 6

Intuition is your subconscious mind telling you what it thinks you should do.As the subconscious is about a thousand times bigger than the conscious mind and processes thousands of times more information it is best for you to follow your intuition as chances are that your subconscious has got the picture right.

If I were to answer this spiritually I'd say that your spiritual guardian is giving you telepathic advice and you should follow.

Answer 7

i've got self assurance that we are going to be living our lives the way we are actually, and society will proceed to adapt the way it has, and human beings will make possibilities and settle for further and further issues - like how returned while "i like Lucy" became into placed on television, it became into the 1st time somebody pregnant were on television and it became right into a super deal - or like how they are accepting each swear observe on television now different than the F observe, and while i became right into a baby it became into undesirable to take heed to rattling on the television - and then the international would be looser and looser in morals, and then as quickly as we've all had our possibility and we've all mad our possibilities for a whilst... i've got self assurance that Jesus is going to come again returned, like he promised. he's already risen as quickly as, and he will come again, after the moon turns pink and all those signs and warning signs - and he will come again donning scarlet gowns and every person will comprehend he's returned, and then he will deliver the righteous as much as heaven precise away, and those in limbo who did no longer make the best possibilities will stay and he will reason turmoil and upturn valleys into mountains and mountains into valleys and then which would be that! even though it is not an end, after that we've lots extra which would be happening. it is purely a level in our lives.

Answer 8

Intuition is what you immediately know about something without any reasoning process.
It can also refer to a decision made without consciously considering the options.

Answer 9

Intuition is an inner knowing, it cannot be truly confirmed unless you confirm what your intuition is. Tell the truth, it counts

Answer 10

My oppinion is that it is a 6th sense. Something that accompanies the soul rather than the bodies we are in. When a warning from the spiritual plane is sent to us, some of us sense it more than others because we are more in touch with this side of things. It's most likely our guides and loved ones trying to help.