(October 19, 2014 at 11:16 pm)psychoslice Wrote:

(October 19, 2014 at 11:15 am)Chas Wrote: False dichotomy.

Yes that's true, only because you are seeing it from your mind, again, the mind can never get it.

That didn't even approach making sense.

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(October 20, 2014 at 9:29 am)ChadWooters Wrote:

(October 20, 2014 at 8:40 am)bearheart Wrote: A supernatural religion is as a matter of fact, opium for the masses.

Thankfully, general revelation rationally supports the Christianity religion.

What is 'general revelation'?

WTF is "general revelation"? If you mean stuff like "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands", then every religion is rationally supported as they all claim their god did it, but they also disagree with all of the other religions.

(October 20, 2014 at 11:31 am)Aoi Magi Wrote: WTF is "general revelation"? If you mean stuff like "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands", then every religion is rationally supported as they all claim their god did it, but they also disagree with all of the other religions.

From Wikipedia

Quote:In theology, General revelation refers to a universal aspect of God, to knowledge about God and to spiritual matters, discovered through natural means, such as observation of nature (the physical universe), philosophy and reasoning, human conscience or providence or providential history. Evangelical theologians use the term to describe knowledge of God, which they believe, is plainly available to all mankind. These aspects of general revelation are believed to pertain to outward temporal events that are experienced within the world or this physical universe.

General Revelation is understood as to the experience of life by a person, and is solely dependent on the ability of the person(s) to clearly comprehend any part of God's hand in external events or things.

General revelation is in contrast with special revelation and direct revelation, the former refers to the knowledge of God and spiritual matters which can be discovered through supernatural means, such as scripture or miracles, and the latter refers to a direct communication from God to a person.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_revelation

(October 20, 2014 at 11:40 am)bearheart Wrote: From Wikipedia

Quote:In theology, General revelation refers to a universal aspect of God, to knowledge about God and to spiritual matters, discovered through natural means, such as observation of nature (the physical universe), philosophy and reasoning, human conscience or providence or providential history. Evangelical theologians use the term to describe knowledge of God, which they believe, is plainly available to all mankind. These aspects of general revelation are believed to pertain to outward temporal events that are experienced within the world or this physical universe.

General Revelation is understood as to the experience of life by a person, and is solely dependent on the ability of the person(s) to clearly comprehend any part of God's hand in external events or things.

General revelation is in contrast with special revelation and direct revelation, the former refers to the knowledge of God and spiritual matters which can be discovered through supernatural means, such as scripture or miracles, and the latter refers to a direct communication from God to a person.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_revelation

I see - so general revelation boils down to looking at the world and saying "Look't it all. Sumbody's musta made it."

That's hardly rational.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein

(October 19, 2014 at 11:16 pm)psychoslice Wrote: All humans are one with all there is,

Ummm ..

Maybe define what you mean by "are one with". Not an auspicious beginning.

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(October 20, 2014 at 11:42 pm)psychoslice Wrote: The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein

That's better. Whether or not Albert said it it is fine quote and I second the sentiment.

(October 21, 2014 at 2:30 am)whateverist Wrote:

(October 19, 2014 at 11:16 pm)psychoslice Wrote: All humans are one with all there is,

Ummm ..

Maybe define what you mean by "are one with". Not an auspicious beginning.

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(October 20, 2014 at 11:42 pm)psychoslice Wrote: The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein

That's better. Whether or not Albert said it it is fine quote and I second the sentiment.

Yep, thank god for old Albert Einstein, he would have understood what I am trying to put into words, he was a true mystic.

(October 18, 2014 at 6:24 pm)bearheart Wrote: A close friend of mine, claims he is a mystic. He claims that GOD speaks to him, and many of his writings are based on such conversations. I have known him for over a decade and have seen this person transform from a lively (normal) young person to a monk, who enjoys solitude, is celibate and spents a lot of time in prayers. He does not comply to any existing religion , but is trying to express himself through a fusion of multiple religious practices and beliefs ( I find it so)
This person has always been the so called spiritual person, an interest for monk hood and spirituality was always expressed by him. A few years back as I now understand he went through some kind of an existential crisis( career setback, relationship issues etc), after which he just vanished for a long time and came back in this new avatar.
Being a friend I have always been in touch with him, and he always listens and calms me down when stressed out. A few months back once when he was visiting my house he started talking about future lives(was referring to some behavior of mine, and how i will have to pay for it in another life). During the same visit he also felt the presence of some energy in my house. Another friend also told me that he claimed to have seen a ghost at his house.This irritated me a lot, and since then been at loggerheads with him. I felt that he was being manipulative and could not believe that someone was doing it to me first hand. At a later point he mentioned to me that he could not explain his powers, other than it being the mere grace and will of god. I argued back saying whatever he talked or wrote was mere common sense, and if he is really talking to GOD, please come out with something really deep and profound that no human ever knew.Never asked him what his other powers were!
Could anyone explain why my friend believes and behaves the way he does? I feel he is addicted to a world of illusion. Is this a medical condition? I can understand a person being religious, but my friend is being more than that.
Just to add and not quite a surprise, he has a few followers who totally adore him and believe in his supernatural claims.

Does he sacrifice goats?

(October 21, 2014 at 11:57 pm)Wyrd of Gawd Wrote: Does he sacrifice goats?

Goat is okay, really tasty!!

But I'd rather it be cats instead, those things are evil.

(October 20, 2014 at 11:42 pm)psychoslice Wrote: The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein

A good quote, I read it like "The intuitive mind is a gift and the rational mind is a good friend you can count on. We should create a society that values both"

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(October 21, 2014 at 11:57 pm)Wyrd of Gawd Wrote:

(October 18, 2014 at 6:24 pm)bearheart Wrote: A close friend of mine, claims he is a mystic. He claims that GOD speaks to him, and many of his writings are based on such conversations. I have known him for over a decade and have seen this person transform from a lively (normal) young person to a monk, who enjoys solitude, is celibate and spents a lot of time in prayers. He does not comply to any existing religion , but is trying to express himself through a fusion of multiple religious practices and beliefs ( I find it so)
This person has always been the so called spiritual person, an interest for monk hood and spirituality was always expressed by him. A few years back as I now understand he went through some kind of an existential crisis( career setback, relationship issues etc), after which he just vanished for a long time and came back in this new avatar.
Being a friend I have always been in touch with him, and he always listens and calms me down when stressed out. A few months back once when he was visiting my house he started talking about future lives(was referring to some behavior of mine, and how i will have to pay for it in another life). During the same visit he also felt the presence of some energy in my house. Another friend also told me that he claimed to have seen a ghost at his house.This irritated me a lot, and since then been at loggerheads with him. I felt that he was being manipulative and could not believe that someone was doing it to me first hand. At a later point he mentioned to me that he could not explain his powers, other than it being the mere grace and will of god. I argued back saying whatever he talked or wrote was mere common sense, and if he is really talking to GOD, please come out with something really deep and profound that no human ever knew.Never asked him what his other powers were!
Could anyone explain why my friend believes and behaves the way he does? I feel he is addicted to a world of illusion. Is this a medical condition? I can understand a person being religious, but my friend is being more than that.
Just to add and not quite a surprise, he has a few followers who totally adore him and believe in his supernatural claims.

Does he sacrifice goats?

Not goats , probably a rational mind!