to speak to His folloers in a manner that so closely resembles mental illness. Wouldn't God know that voices in the head are signs of schizophrenia? And wouldn't God like to speak to people in a manner that doesn't have them running for the lithium?
2007-09-12 08:30:07 · 40 answers · asked by ZombieTrix 2012 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't either, and I'm a Christian.
I'm always skeptical of people who claim to hear actual words and the actual "voice of God." I suspect that what they are hearing is their own mind and not God.
When God speaks to me, it's not audible and not even ideation, in the way of discrete words. It's more like epiphanies, concepts, and conclusions that arise in my mind, that are different from the daily mental chatter in my head.
People who claim to hear God's voice directing them are either showing off (and lying) or mentally ill, IMO.
2007-09-12 08:33:25 · answer #1 · answered by Acorn 7 · 11⤊ 0⤋
You're assuming that that is the only way that God communicates with Christians. In point of fact, MOST Christians never hear God speak in an audible voice (although some have, and it's nothing like schizophrenia). God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church (fellow believers). It might seem like a feeling, or a little voice inside you that whispers that something is wrong. You might be reading your Bible and a verse that you've read several times before all of a sudden seems to speak directly to you. You might be going through something and a fellow Christian comes up and gives you the answer you've been praying about. It's hard to explain unless you're a Christian, because God only speaks like that to Christians. If you're not a Christian, God may speak to you, but only to say "Come, Follow Me."
2007-09-12 08:44:00 · answer #2 · answered by treycadeboy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best example in history of how God speaks to his followers is the Incarnation. He spoke in a distinct human voice as the Christ. Jesus cited reasons and made clear, rational arguments from scripture and from everyday experience. In debates, his attackers were often dumbfounded by his quick wits, incisive understanding, and authoritative answers. When some accused him of mental illness (being possessed by a demon), he asked them if Satan were in the business of casting out Satan--not only demonstrating his sanity but winning the argument.
When Christians want to hear God's voice, they ask what Jesus said and did. Nothing especially mysterious there, and nothing at all like schizophrenia.
Cheers,
Bruce
2007-09-12 08:42:47 · answer #3 · answered by Bruce 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you ever consider that the only way god can talk to anyone is in their brain or soul. And where is the soul anyway? Last time I checked the soul doesn't have vocal chords. And finally, maybe he/she doesn't talk to us at all and.....maybe everything you have seen or heard is just mental illness; religious stuff made up to make the priests of all faiths rich and comfortable.
Check out the book The Secret. The funny thing about it is that if you follow it, your religious side (or life focus) actually becomes more happy with internal answers. Go figure.
2007-09-12 08:44:37 · answer #4 · answered by LA Dave 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a question for you as well
How would you have God to speak, Angels show up, then you would have atheist who would have to believe
a phone call, but the phone is a recent invention
If God speaks and a person hears it and no other, why do you think it is in their head? Isn't that projecting something that may not have been said?
come now, have another beer and think about this
2007-09-12 08:47:37 · answer #5 · answered by magnetic_azimuth 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is not how He speaks to us. When you hear someone talk to you, your physical ear picks up sonic vibrations that your brain interprets as words and phrases. However, there is something in your soul that "hears" what is being said, and "understands" the meaning. Two people could say they love you., a stranger, or your spouse. Both speak the same words, but your soul will interpret them completely differently.
When God speaks, He bypasses the physical and goes straight for the heart. We hear Him plainly, just without the sonic vibrations on the ear drum.
So how can we be sure it is the Lord? Because it will be confirmed with His Word, the Bible. God will always confirm that the voice is His through His Word and other means such as opened or closed doors.
In Christianity, our relationship with God is a personal one, so it is very hard to describe. I tried to describe it here...
http://www.schneblin.com/studies/pdfs/getting_past_the_guard.pdf
2007-09-12 08:34:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
You are assuming that the voices of God's listeners are in their head. This is an invalid premise as you can't prove that it is only in their head. The question of how God speaks is an old one and can't be answered scientifically because to do so implies that God can be defined. God can't be defined and so neither can the voice of God. Do I think that everyone who claims God spoke to them are authentic? Absolutely not! But I don't assume everyone is crazy either.
2007-09-12 08:39:12 · answer #7 · answered by James H 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When God speaks it's quite clear as to who it is. The proof is in the actions of the people who claim He spoke to them. Mental illness is very evident for the most part.
2007-09-12 08:34:14 · answer #8 · answered by m_c_m_a_n 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
God speaks to our souls and it is up to us to acknowledge that...sometimes we dont get the answers we like and sometimes we dont even know he has answered us because we are not paying close enough attention ....but as for voices in the head..think that does need to be talked over with a professional
2007-09-12 08:38:09 · answer #9 · answered by gerri51us 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God doesn't speak to people using voices in their head. He speaks to our hearts.
2007-09-12 09:09:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋