From atheism to Christianity? How so?

[Whateverist]

I was working on a house project in the basement when I was overcome by a profound sense that the biblical text was somehow actually alive, every “jot and tilde”. And I remembered hearing this idea before in the writings of Swedenborg. I gave him a second look. To my surprise it started to make sense. He explained the Holy Trinity, Christ’s mission, and spiritual reality in a logical way. And for the first time really the Holy Scriptures opened up for me, filled with riches and insights on so many levels.

I think you have a greater than usual capacity for apophenia. You can intuit relationships and meaning in many contexts. Your propensity for meditation and engagement in creative pursuits leaves you open to that.

I think that is wonderful but I wonder why you are so eager to objectify it. Your opening remarks about people turning to the local cultural avenues for spiritual pursuits seemed spot on. So it is certainly understandable that you would do the same. But doesn't this recognition require that you hold your own spiritual truths a little more loosely and less literally? I suspect that while the bible lit up and spoke to you, many other texts could have done the same. You don't believe that people in other cultural milieus who have similar experiences revolving around other texts are in any way inferior to your own, do you?

Why should we think that there is anything objective whatsoever about meaning? Meaning is something that springs from us, taking on the trappings of various cultural settings as you yourself have said. There should be no question of absolutes when it comes to meaning. There is only meaning which is authentic for you and meaning which is not yours. It isn't so much something we manufacture as something we discover in and through ourselves.

What I don't understand is why you attach so much importance in establishing your beliefs in historic precedents. For the sake of finding a like minded community, okay. Otherwise, what difference does the pedigree make? You don't have to justify it.

Any way, thank you for the insights. I find you and your story very interesting and appreciate your sharing.