If you know a person was truthful his whole life and of high moral character...

[Mystic]

You said "is known to be sane."

John Wayne Gacy was known to be sane, as was Dennis Rader. /story

I don't see relevance.

[Shell B]

I don't see relevance.

Really? You can't see the relevance? Interesting.

If a totally fucknuts insane person can seem sane then anyone can. Besides, determining a person's status of prophet is a matter rife with opportunity for human error. There is absolutely no proof a prophet could give that would leave his status without a shadow of a doubt. There is also, of course, the fact that there is no such thing.

[Mystic]

I don't see relevance.

Really? You can't see the relevance? Interesting.

If a totally fucknuts insane person can seem sane then anyone can. Besides, determining a person's status of prophet is a matter rife with opportunity for human error. There is absolutely no proof a prophet could give that would leave his status without a shadow of a doubt. There is also, of course, the fact that there is no such thing.

Are you saying we can't know a person is sane?

[Shell B]

Are you saying we can't know a person is sane?

Yes. To be more precise, I am saying that a person "being known" as sane has no bearing on their actual mental state. Many criminally insane people manage to put on a mask of sanity. You can make certain decisions based off a person's behavior. However, you cannot decide a person is a prophet based on perception of credibility.

[Jackalope]

Are you saying we can't know a person is sane?

Yes. To be more precise, I am saying that a person "being known" as sane has no bearing on their actual mental state.

For what it's worth, "sane" is a legal term, not a medical one.

That being said, pathological mental disorders are not necessarily evident to observers. Some people are very good at concealing it.

[Godscreated]

@ MysticKnight, Jonah comes to mind as a prophet who had great character flaws yet God used him to give a message of prophesy.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

You can't know everything about a person, they might have some bad hidden motives.

Indeed. Ask the fool if it has ever heard of pedophile priests (or Protestant clergy)

He also argued you can know people by their actions

Ask the fool if it has ever heard of the word 'hypocrite'.

he would believe he is telling the truth.

So what? Argument from incredulity.

Does anyone know of an example of a person whom was of high character and changed for the worse?

Apart from myself? No. The reason for such an apparently flippant response is that I am not a mind reader,so have no way of knowing.

My position is that people of high character often do a great deal of good without being found out.

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Allan Shore "Denny,aren't you afraid you will die without anyone ever really knowing you?

Denny Crane "Hell no! I want them to know MY version"

Me too.

[Mystic]

In the case of sanity here, if he was truthful, then he would be schizophrenic. Can you know a person is not schizophrenic back then (there were no medications)?

[Shell B]

What are you talking about? Schizophrenics are not the only people who have delusions .

[Mystic]

What are you talking about? Schizophrenics are not the only people who have delusions .

Constant hallucinations would mean schizophrenia. So in the case of a person claiming to see and hear an Angel, and telling the truth, he would be schizophrenic.

Also hearing a voice would mean schizophrenia.