Have any of you had an overwhelming religious experience?

[wmjbyatt]

A prophesy bearer, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! If you say so!

You know, while it's true that we have no immediate way (short of our own personal diving revelations) to be sure that the so-called "prophecies" borne by forummaster are, indeed, prophecy, we ALSO have no way to be sure that they're not.

If you're gonna doubt, go all the way. Doubt even your doubt. Doubt that the statement is true, but doubt also that it is false.

 

[blackout]

I know that but do forum owners and moderators? What if I couch the spiritual information I want to share in this loaded term, "prophesies"? I have prophetic visions and revelations but when I've shared them as such, here on this forum for example in the past, out come the heavy guns with accusations of "proselytizing". I cannot hide the fact that I am a prophesy bearer but it seems that anyone who makes such claims is tagged as trying to preach a new organized religion because past prophesy bearing has always been associated with such. The OP of this thread is about people who have had overwhelming religious experiences. Prophetic visions and revelations are part of my personal overwhelming religious experiences.

This thread is obviously not the place for your prophecies.

What if you just make your own thread called,
"My Prophesies".

Then list them.

 

[Misty]

You know, while it's true that we have no immediate way (short of our own personal diving revelations) to be sure that the so-called "prophecies" borne by forummaster are, indeed, prophecy, we ALSO have no way to be sure that they're not.

If you're gonna doubt, go all the way. Doubt even your doubt. Doubt that the statement is true, but doubt also that it is false.

I doubt, just like I doubt all the so called prophets in the bible. On most forums of this nature you have people claiming to be prophets from time to time, not too many take them seriously!

 

[forummaster]

This thread is obviously not the place for your prophecies.

What if you just make your own thread called,
"My Prophesies".

Then list them.

Why is this thread "obviously not the place for my prophesies"? If Paul or Muhammad or Joseph Smith or Mary Baker Eddy were asked to give their reports of their overwhelming religious experiences would they leave out their prophetic visions? Who are you to judge what overwhelming religious experiences entail for prophesy bearers?

 

[blackout]

This thread is a place to SAY that you have had the overwhelming experience
of religious prophecy.
If you want to change the focus
and TALK ABOUT your prophecies specifically,
why derail this thread?

What is the big deal?
Go make a new thread.
It's easy.

If this thread were called,
"have you experienced religious prophecy?",
and then the Original Post
ASKED YOU
to elaborate on your religious prophecies,
THEN you would be on topic.

It's really just simple common sense.

 

[forummaster]

I'm just giving you a hard time or maybe I'm trying to get you to think this through a little farther. I mean, is this the place to "say" that one has had a profound religious experience? OK, I've had one or a dozen but that doesn't tell you anything more than a "yes" or "no" answer and really, we're all wordie types and "yes" or "no" communicates very little information. Is this what you want, "yes" or "no" answers here?

 

[cynic2005]

I know that but do forum owners and moderators? What if I couch the spiritual information I want to share in this loaded term, "prophesies"? I have prophetic visions and revelations but when I've shared them as such, here on this forum for example in the past, out come the heavy guns with accusations of "proselytizing". I cannot hide the fact that I am a prophesy bearer but it seems that anyone who makes such claims is tagged as trying to preach a new organized religion because past prophesy bearing has always been associated with such. The OP of this thread is about people who have had overwhelming religious experiences. Prophetic visions and revelations are part of my personal overwhelming religious experiences.

Did you read the Religious Forums rules?

 

[blackout]

Well look,
I really don't care what you do or you don't do.

It doesn't matter to me what you do or don't post,
or where you post it.
(as long as it's not in my DIR)

It doesn't matter at all to me
how people do or don't recieve your posts.

I was only trying to invite/encourage you
to make your own thread.
But now .... I really don't know why......

 

[forummaster]

As per instruction my answer is, yes.

Evidently this isn't the place to say anything more than that.

 

[Misty]

As per instruction my answer is, yes.

Evidently this isn't the place to say anything more than that.

You can't claim to be a prophet on a forum of this nature, and not expect a very sceptical response from many posters!

 

[forummaster]

Well, that isn't the issue for me. I know fully well that on these internet religious talkboards you will find people claiming to be prophets and like most of you, I too am highly skeptical of such claims. Especially when most of the ones I've seen posting are true to form of unintelligible arguments that make sense only to the person writing them. It's an occupational hazard I suppose but here I am stuck with this fact: I do have prophetic religious visions and I can't lie about it or cater to those who want to talk about religions but are loathe to talk about the connection of prophets and the religions they start when its in our modern times. Prophets are OK...when they're dead and gone. Same old story of fear of having to change one's thinking and on internet talkboards that fear has often translated into banishing the subject of controversy, e.g. me. Anyway, I will find out if that fear is still operational here when I do start posting some of the religious visions and revelations I've received over the years. And I'll be good and start a new prophesies topic.:angel2:

 

[stillsearching]

I think I had an experience like what you are talking about. It was an experience of awareness. That perhaps my religious views and the views that I have always thought to be right could be wrong. Not that I believe it to be wrong, but that others would look at what I believe in and think that I am as crazy as I think that they are. It made me much more tolerant of others and their beliefs.

 

[I Keep Unicorns]

Gah! If you want to share your religious experiences, just go ahead. Whether you've had prophesies, revelations, or visitations from flying man in a white sheet whiz around your bedroom, share them. That's what this thread is for. The whole point is to describe and discuss your experiences, it doesn't matter if other people dislike them.

 

[forummaster]

Funny you should mention my angel's attire and erratic flying habits. I keep telling him to get one of those Flying Nun jobs that are more aerodynamic..:areyoucra

 

[FluentYank3825]

No.
But I've had countless small ones. Most days have such moments.
Breathing the clean air, sunlight, clouds, a view of the mountains, nature is full of them.
Other times poetry, music, a book, a picture or just a moment can carry me to the presence of God.
I find that wonder is all around.

Well said! I experienced all of these same feelings while I was hiking mountain trails with a good friend of mine over the summer! It's great getting close to creation and experiencing nature in all its beauty. It's so refreshingly beautiful.

Well my family had an overwhelming religious experience. I was 15, and they were sitting in the living room. To paint a picture, there was Michael W. Smith playing in the background, about 8 candles lit, and the room was pitch black other than the candle light. All I heard was them screaming at the top of there lungs.Upon entering the room they began flopping on the floor like fish out of water, my step mother would whip her body from her legs to her head while shaking, and screaming. My Dad was silent. I was frozen in horror. They said they were seeing visions of people being slaughtered with axes, and were attemping to knock the axes out of the peoples hands, but were just knocking things over in the room. They started running around, and dancing and like laugh crying? If that is a word. They would laugh, and then cry/scream in periodic breaks. After the Jesus room fun time they began shattering all of the entertainment in the house claiming we only needed Jesus. Then they sent me up to my room to be grounded until I was just as enthusiastic as they were while not letting me out until I read the New Testament through at least 4 Books. The experience shook me to my core, and continued on a nightly basis for 2 months. I went to see my mom that Christmas 2 months later, and never came back. They still don't understand why I left. :run:


Anyways yeah that was pretty overwhelming.

That experience wouldn't have been merely overwhelming to me, but full-on freaky! I remember one experience when I was about 16 years old when my cousin and I were playing around with some pepper and I got some in my eye. My reborn Christian uncle's wife saw what happened and gave me a blessing. It felt so weird, and to top things off, I don't think it even worked.

It's been interesting reading your replies; and I myself have not had any overwhelming religious experiences, but I have had a spiritual awakening, also known as a change of attitude; quite a major one.

I'm an alcoholic that works a 12 Step programme and before I entered AA I was a train wreck; I'd harmed many people in my past and I just wanted to die. AA was my last resort prior to suicide. I was somewhere between atheist and agnostic; spirituality and/or religion meant nothing to me; and life looked bleak, which is why I wanted to kill myself.

But I saw other alcoholics, many of whom were like myself, who were happy and they 'blamed' their happiness on the 12 Steps (google for them if you wish to see them; they're easily found).

So, I started working on the Big Book and the 12 Steps - not thinking that they would do anything - and guess what? They worked and I had a spiritual experience, but one of the 'educational variety'; one that just creeps up on you over time.

My spiritual experience at first was one of joy, because my obsession to drink myself to death was removed (at about the three month point), and I no longer had to fight with myself to not drink. This was a huge thing for me; a huge weight was removed from my shoulders.

But other stuff happened. I'm less selfish and self-centred; not all the time; but I love helping others and trying to put others first. I'm more understanding of other people; particularly the people who have the capacity to annoy me. I enjoy the company of others now. I pray and meditate; they help me keep a good positive frame of mind and I'm surprisingly enjoying my spiritual journey.

And most of all, life doesn't look bleak anymore; I can enjoy the simple stuff like the countryside, my dog, and the remnants of my family that will still speak with me (most have disowned me; but I'm working on making amends to them).

I don't believe in any standard Christian God, but I have a vague concept of a god, or a Higher Power; which is AA speak; and I thank you all for your input.

PS. This is probably my alcoholism (I'm a greedy git and always want more), but I do want a positive overwhelming religious experience, so to those who've had one, I think you're extremely lucky.

I am so glad you were able to use this program to help overcome your addictions. Very powerful, effective stuff!

Existence itself is a powerful, overwhelming religious experience, isn't it? Contemplate only as little as all that information with which you are in direct contact right now, and the mind quakes at the power of it all. This is my religion.

Well said! I have this experience quite often myself!

 

[FluentYank3825]

When I was an active member of the Mormon/LDS faith, I had some very powerful, positive feelings I could term as spiritual, once in a cemetery, the second when my bishop gave me a blessing. I left both feeling something very powerful and emotionally overwhelming. There were other ones I had later on, but none so powerful as these two. However, as I got to thinking about them a few years later I began to question their integrity, asking myself "If people in other faiths and religions besides Mormonism have confessed to having similar powerful, euphoric experiences, why should only one religion have the right to say they can entitle you to such experiences on a daily basis?"

 

[bain-druie]

Yes, I've had overwhelming spiritual experiences. Here's one example:

About two years ago, I had a laparoscopic operation (just like the one I had done two days ago, except this one was more serious). My doctor warned me that he had seen a large ovarian cyst that would burst in a matter of days or weeks, so I should be prepared for it to be painful. I get ovarian cysts chronically, so I accepted it as part of life's difficulties.

Sure enough, a few weeks afterward I woke around 3 a.m. with excruciating pain from the cyst that had burst. That kind of pain....if you haven't had it, it's hard to describe. It doesn't come in waves, like cramps or labor pain, it maintains a steady pitch of burning, cramping agony. It used to hurt too much for me to cry; I couldn't breathe enough to cry. At times I ended up in the hospital for it, and this was going to be one of those times, it was so horrific.

However, I'd been reading about the chakras a little while before that, and I thought I might as well try some chakra meditation before I went to the hospital. I started with the roots, as you should, and immediately felt a little better; calm enough to continue. Concentrated more on the orange/sacral chakra. When I got to the throat chakra, I could feel the light-blue energy coursing down my arms, and out through the palms of my hands. I felt urged to place my hands over the area of pain; when I did, INSTANTLY there was no pain. At all. It was like it had never been.

I was so startled I opened my eyes very wide and yanked my hands away; and WHAM! Instantly the agony was back full force. So I started again, and this time I kept my concentration. The same thing happened; the pain disappeared completely and instantaneously. After a little more than ten minutes, I felt well enough to try sleeping again, and I did.

I found this astonishing because my ovarian cysts were so terrible for so long, and I didn't really think the chakras would work; but they did work, beyond any expectation or hope I had.

Then there were the times with the trees, and the visions of goddesses. But those are different stories, and this post is quite long enough.

 

[Friend of Bill W]

Hello Friend of Bill!
I am so happy that you have allowed the 12 steps to change your life! I have a strong testimony that that program is inspired. I have seen it change lives. My church has obtained permission to use it for all types of addictions including everything from pornography to shopping or eating disorders. I've been to some meetings, and they are awesome.

Hi Davy,

Yes, I have met a lady, an alcoholic, who was having contact with the LDS and she showed me a work book produced by the LDS Church to assist her with the 12 Steps. It looked pretty good to be honest, but I have my reservations (we don't like change or anything different do we?).

It looked pretty good to be honest; and the 12 Steps are amazing, simple, practical, and profound. Steps 1 to 9 create the spiritual awakening (aka change of attitude/perception) and steps 10, 11, and 12 are there to maintain and grow from that.

But I was impressed that the LDS looked outside of their church, found something that was good, and have utilised it. A priest has also told me that Christianity is 'jealous' of the 'congregation' we have at AA; because we're such a loving and helpful lot. I've also heard a Buddhist (on an mp3 download) say that the the Buddhist Sangha could learn a lot from AA homegroups.

After being in AA for two-years I'm still touched at how welcoming, friendly, compassionate and helpful we are as an organisation. I'm currently helping an alcoholic-heroin addict get clean and sober; he's a damaged individual who has spent long periods living on the streets. He's currently living in a dry house, and this guy is always getting invited to people's houses or taken out for meals, given lifts, given money for food, and just loved. I tried to invite him for Sunday dinner tomorrow, but he's already been 'booked' by someone else!!!! And I'm jealous that he's going somewhere else when I'm his ruddy sponsor! LOL!

However, I always encourage any alkie to keep going to AA meetings and not to wholly abandon us for the Church; any church. AA is compatible with any religion (I've a Hindu friend in AA for example); and it's more than suitable for atheists and agnostics too. And to be honest, talking about any particular brand of religion in an AA meeting is frowned upon and against our traditions.

And thanks guys/gals for posting about your religious/spiritual experiences; I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them.