Communicating with Him

[genkaus]

Many years ago, I was tuckpointing in my basement which is fairly repetitive work. Consequently, my mind wandered while working. Various topics like what to have for dinner, hoping my grout mix was right, whatever. Out of nowhere I had a very strong intuition. No visions or voices, just this very strong and deep seated insight. I just knew that the scriptures were alive in some real and important sense, particularly the Torah. Not the ink and paper, but the significance of each letter and phrase filling the text with a transcendent vitality. I was familiar with this concept from reading Swedenborg a long time ago. At that time I had dismissed his writings as fantastic mystical nonsense, but I knew, just knew, that he was on to something. I also knew that, because every word and letter was important, it was critical that I learn biblical Hebrew (which I started although progress has been slow.) Because of this, my main form of prayer is study and deep contemplation of the text. As I reflect on the scriptures, I feel a change in myself, opening to be more attentive to the operations of Providence.

Knowledge requires justification and/or demonstration. A strong feeling of certainty, while a powerful emotion, is not knowledge. Therefore, you cannot "know" the text was alive or had any significance. You just feel that it does.

[fr0d0]

Everything that happens is Gods doing. All that's different between an Atheists taken meaning and a theists is perspective.

[FallentoReason]

Many years ago, I was tuckpointing in my basement which is fairly repetitive work. Consequently, my mind wandered while working. Various topics like what to have for dinner, hoping my grout mix was right, whatever. Out of nowhere I had a very strong intuition. No visions or voices, just this very strong and deep seated insight. I just knew that the scriptures were alive in some real and important sense, particularly the Torah. Not the ink and paper, but the significance of each letter and phrase filling the text with a transcendent vitality. I was familiar with this concept from reading Swedenborg a long time ago. At that time I had dismissed his writings as fantastic mystical nonsense, but I knew, just knew, that he was on to something. I also knew that, because every word and letter was important, it was critical that I learn biblical Hebrew (which I started although progress has been slow.) Because of this, my main form of prayer is study and deep contemplation of the text. As I reflect on the scriptures, I feel a change in myself, opening to be more attentive to the operations of Providence.

I was a lot like this as well. I saw prayer as being more 'practical' rather than speaking words with eyes shut. At least then I didn't have to worry about not being able to hear God..

[Welsh cake]

I just want to ask you theists how you know when God has spoken to you?

Oh they know alright.

Just check their medication boxes. Not a single pill taken. ^^

Everything that happens is Gods doing.

And yet he deserves all of the praise but none of the blame for his actions?

You can't have your cake and eat it fr0d0.

[Drich]

I just want to ask you theists how you know when God has spoken to you? I don't mean to ask this in a mocking sort of way or anything of the sort. I sincerely want to hear from you guys how it happens.

You don't necessarily have to share a particular instance of this happening, as I don't want to create a thread where atheists will come and start making fun of it or whatever. Actually.. I guess it's kind of hard to ask this question and not have people start posting silly stuff as a bi product of my question..

Anyways, I'm just interested because it seems like every Christian friend I have has had personal conversations with God.. So is there a definite way of knowing?

It begins with the reading and understanding of the bible.

[Neo-Scholastic]

It begins with the reading and understanding of the bible.

Agreed, anything that is personally experienced must conform to scripture. Although, we seem to have a different take on scripture.

[downbeatplumb]

You can't have your cake and eat it fr0d0.

I always found this an odd saying.

What else are you supposed to do with cake?

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

I just want to ask you theists how you know when God has spoken to you? I don't mean to ask this in a mocking sort of way or anything of the sort. I sincerely want to hear from you guys how it happens.

You don't necessarily have to share a particular instance of this happening, as I don't want to create a thread where atheists will come and start making fun of it or whatever. Actually.. I guess it's kind of hard to ask this question and not have people start posting silly stuff as a bi product of my question..

Anyways, I'm just interested because it seems like every Christian friend I have has had personal conversations with God.. So is there a definite way of knowing?

It begins with the reading and understanding of the bible.

I don't think most Christians think God talks to them literally. It mostly works something like this: they pray for something, and then something later in the week happens (such as a job opening, a Bible verse they read, a heartfelt fortune cookie message, or really just anything) that they think "answers" their prayer in someway. I think it's just a similar problem that people going to psychics experience. The psychic gives people vague enough answers that anyone can interpret it to mean what they want it to mean to make it relevant to them.

[downbeatplumb]

It begins with the reading and understanding of the bible.

Have you actually read it? makes bugger all sense if you read it like a narrative, the only way any meaning can be gleaned is to cherry pick.

[Minimalist]

a heartfelt fortune cookie message

That kind of says it all!