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Atheist Forums › Community › Religion v
Have you had experiences you'd describe as sacred, mystical and/or religious?

Poll: Have you had such experiences?
This poll is closed.
No, I don't believe I have or am quite certain I have not.
23.94%
 17 23.94%
Maybe, but it was too indistinct to be sure and/or is too poorly remembered to describe in any detail.
1.41%
 1 1.41%
Yes, I believe so or am quite certain that I have.
9.86%
 7 9.86%
What I experienced could be described as a merging with something greater than or less narrow than my ordinary self.
4.23%
 3 4.23%
What I experienced could be described as a kind of disembodied or general awareness in which I was more a spectator than an actor.
5.63%
 4 5.63%
What I experienced could be described as improved perception and insight and a correspondingly increased sense of power or confidence.
4.23%
 3 4.23%
My experience was confusing, frightening or unpleasant.
0%
 0 0%
My experience was largely uplifting, energizing or euphoric.
8.45%
 6 8.45%
The experience I had made sense to me while it was happening within a frame of reference I already had. (Which one?)
8.45%
 6 8.45%
The experience I had has not been one of which I've been able to make a great deal of sense.
0%
 0 0%
The experience I had was one I've come to recognize as fitting a frame of reference I did not possess at that time. (Which one?)
7.04%
 5 7.04%
The experience has made an enduring change which is quite clear to me. (Regrets or glad?)
4.23%
 3 4.23%
The experience has probably changed me but it is hard to say exactly how. (Regrets or glad?)
4.23%
 3 4.23%
The experience was transitory and I now feel back to normal or largely the same. (Regrets or glad?)
1.41%
 1 1.41%
As a result of this experience, I now feel more connected to other people and/or something greater.
4.23%
 3 4.23%
As a result of this experience, I now feel different and somewhat more estranged from other people than I used to.
0%
 0 0%
What I experienced was a one time thing.
2.82%
 2 2.82%
What I experienced was spread out over multiple events.
7.04%
 5 7.04%
Whatever it was, it was something I'd like to experience again.
0%
 0 0%
Whatever it was, it was something I wouldn't expect to experience again.
2.82%
 2 2.82%
Total 71 vote(s) 100%
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Have you had experiences you'd describe as sacred, mystical and/or religious?
Whateverist Away Donators
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#45
RE: Have you had experiences you'd describe as sacred, mystical and/or religious?
August 21, 2014 at 12:48 pm
(August 21, 2014 at 10:59 am)paulpablo Wrote: I've had experiences that seemed mystical and at times I thought they were, but I'm a deeply unspiritual person now ..

I can relate. Like you I assume everything I've experienced is based in brain chemistry and structure. That which James labeled religious experience and everything I've experienced, I'm convinced, is entirely natural.

What these experiences have contributed to for me is a revolution in how I conceptualize the 'self' or personal identity. Just as there are many autonomic systems in your body which do not require your conscious attention or intention, the same is true for the mind and consciousness.

We traditionally postulate just one nexus of consciousness in a person. I think that is mistaken. There is a much broader band of consciousness going on all the time, of which what we are aware of is only a part. Awareness is not limited to what you focus your attention on, and neither is its cognitive processing.

So I think these kinds of experience tap into these deeper levels of consciousness. It is here where you will find the hole into which the conceptions of a god fit so well. But there are better ways to understand it in my opinion.
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Atheist Forums › Community › Religion v
Have you had experiences you'd describe as sacred, mystical and/or religious?

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RE: Have you had experiences you'd describe as sacred, mystical and/or religious? - by Whateverist - August 21, 2014 at 12:48 pm

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