Theists, please describe how you experience your god

[The Grand Nudger]

I;m mixing too many things.....? These are -your- stupid stories.  Cut the shit, or get help...what you've been describing as your life and experience does not end well.

[I_am_not_mafia]

I find it interesting from a neuroscience perspective. Schizophrenia for example can be disruptive yet religious experience isn't. Probably because for most religious practitioners it actually takes a lot of time and effort to summon up tangible sensory experiences and the recipient probably wants them.

Many people with (for want of a better term) abnormal psychology often claim that it's just a different way of being. There's never a single cut off point where you either have or don't have a particularly psychological condition. Brains are grown and therefore each one is different. Some are on the extreme end of a bell curve and maybe those with such sensory religious experiences  aren't so extreme that their psychological make-up is considered problematic because they can still function in society.

Found this:

The concept of schizophrenia is coming to an end – here’s why

Just as we now have the concept of autism spectrum disorder, psychosis (typically characterised by distressing hallucinations, delusions, and confused thoughts) is also argued to exist along a continuum and in degrees. Schizophrenia is the severe end of a spectrum or continuum of experiences.

Relevant paper here:

The slow death of the concept of schizophrenia and the painful birth of the psychosis spectrum.

Could it be that the theists who think that they can actually see, hear and touch their god actually be on the psychosis spectrum?

[The Valkyrie]

If you are religious and believe that you experience your god then please describe what you have personally seen / heard / felt etc.

So for example, if you actually hear your god then what language does (s)he speak. What accent does (s)he have? Is it a male or female voice? What does his / her / its voice sound like? Deep? High pitched? Soft?

If you see your god then what does it look like? White skinned, old, blue eyes and wearing white robes with a long strokable beard?

Have you ever felt your god touch your skin?

Or if you do nothing but feel the presence of your god then please describe this sensation as well.

Well this one time, at band camp...

[brewer]

Thread Title: Not a theist, but usually vaginally. At least that's when the name gets called out most often.

[Mystic]

I find it interesting from a neuroscience perspective. Schizophrenia for example can be disruptive yet religious experience isn't. Probably because for most religious practitioners it actually takes a lot of time and effort to summon up tangible sensory experiences and the recipient probably wants them.

Many people with (for want of a better term) abnormal psychology often claim that it's just a different way of being. There's never a single cut off point where you either have or don't have a particularly psychological condition. Brains are grown and therefore each one is different. Some are on the extreme end of a bell curve and maybe those with such sensory religious experiences  aren't so extreme that their psychological make-up is considered problematic because they can still function in society.

Found this:

The concept of schizophrenia is coming to an end – here’s why

Just as we now have the concept of autism spectrum disorder, psychosis (typically characterised by distressing hallucinations, delusions, and confused thoughts) is also argued to exist along a continuum and in degrees. Schizophrenia is the severe end of a spectrum or continuum of experiences.

Relevant paper here:

The slow death of the concept of schizophrenia and the painful birth of the psychosis spectrum.

Could it be that the theists who think that they can actually see, hear and touch their god actually be on the psychosis spectrum?

Thank you, I wrote in a essay about why religious experiences of people with schizophrenia should not be told to be dismissed by those who experience them. Now I know it will lead to disbelief in God all together.

Don't worry, we know how to distinguish truth and falsehood as well, but society telling us we delusional to fight religion, is not the step forward, and our minds are just too fast and we didn't know how to handle our 3rd eye and abilities, but Ahlulabyt (as) if relied on as handhold of God will guide and help and teach.

Have a good day.

[Angrboda]

Found this:

The concept of schizophrenia is coming to an end – here’s why


Relevant paper here:

The slow death of the concept of schizophrenia and the painful birth of the psychosis spectrum.

Could it be that the theists who think that they can actually see, hear and touch their god actually be on the psychosis spectrum?

Thank you, I wrote in a essay about why religious experiences of people with schizophrenia should not be told to be dismissed by those who experience them. Now I know it will lead to disbelief in God all together.

Don't worry, we know how to distinguish truth and falsehood as well, but society telling us we delusional to fight religion, is not the step forward, and our minds are just too fast and we didn't know how to handle our 3rd eye and abilities, but Ahlulabyt (as) if relied on as handhold of God will guide and help and teach.

Have a good day.

Can you post that essay? Your brief description of it doesn't give us much reason to grant credence to your thesis.

[I_am_not_mafia]

I feel a little bit bad about pushing the idea of extreme religious experience as evidence of a psychosis spectrum disorder because I don't want to use someone's mental health to criticise them as people. If religious belief gives them the strength to cope with their symptoms then what right do I have to kick away one of their coping mechanisms? Same goes for your average theist who has grown up in a religious culture and who finds contentment and strength from their faith but do not feel compelled to spread it to others. After all, we all need some way to find meaning in our lives. Personally, as an atheist and a scientist who needs to understand how brains function it is a line of questioning that I need to pursue.

But if someone is trying to spread their delusion to others by using emotional blackmail with the threat of their god's punishment because they themselves are experiencing a form of psychosis then I think it needs to be called out for what it is.

[Mystic]

You inspired me to post this right on the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre facebook page:

My Psychiatrist is a Saint who doesn't use my mental health or the mental health of others to do away with religion and attack it, not so much can be said about most Psychiatrists unfortunately who will use it to dismiss the God experience of most humans and put that on some sort of spectrum were we are an extreme version of it. People with my illness, if people are telling you what you can or cannot believe about your experiences, tell them go to hell and find another avenue of help. You have magical gifts and what you saw with the 3rd eye, believe in it, and rely on guidance of God to move forward. No amount of money will bring the truth of this, rather, it's time to open up other perspectives.

[WinterHold]

Us not being able to detect "dark matter" and "dark energy" is a very small example on why we can't detect God. He's too big, or too different for our eyes and minds to comprehend, the Quran has a verse about just that:

And how do you know this other than what someone else (the quran) has told you? What evidence do you have that exists outside of your/anyones mind? 

Superman exists because I've read books that tell me he does, but you won't be able to detect him. Do you believe that?

I bought the Quranic notion and took a leap of faith regarding the description of God in the book.
The it's an argument from design in its best. I don't think that responses to this argument are valid; so it stands.

[Mystic]

Thank you, I wrote in a essay about why religious experiences of people with schizophrenia should not be told to be dismissed by those who experience them. Now I know it will lead to disbelief in God all together.

Don't worry, we know how to distinguish truth and falsehood as well, but society telling us we delusional to fight religion, is not the step forward, and our minds are just too fast and we didn't know how to handle our 3rd eye and abilities, but Ahlulabyt (as) if relied on as handhold of God will guide and help and teach.

Have a good day.

Can you post that essay?  Your brief description of it doesn't give us much reason to grant credence to your thesis.

Nope, I gave it to my Doctor, and to some others working in the field, who actually care about this field and will benefit from my perspective or may not benefit, but will take into account.