Keep asking, keep seeking, keep believing. ..turns out to be true

by OnTheWayOut 5 Replies latest jw friends

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    While it has been thoroughly discussed before, it has of course recently arisen again- a suggestion to believe in Christ and just keep seeking, asking, believing that a personal proof and maybe even a revelation will present itself. As it turns out, that is probably true.

    Page 194 of Bart Ehrman's HOW JESUS BECAME GOD explains it well:

    ...the ability to distinguish between self-generated events (that is, imaginary sensations originating in the mind) and externally generated ones (that is, those induced by causes exterior to the mind) is a real skill that humans acquire, and like all skills, it is likely to fail under certain circumstances. This skill is called source monitoring-since it is the skill of monitoring where the source of a sensation comes from, either inside or outside the mind. ....source monitoring judgments are affected by the culture in which a person grows up....Someone who is under considerable stress, or experiencing deep grief, trauma, or personal anguish (or religious awe and expectation as mentioned in a further paragraph) is more likely to experience a failure of source monitoring.

    Ehrman is discussing visions of Jesus among early followers. But it could be easily applied like this: You see a dog and hear it barking. You know that the source is external to your brain- an actual dog is actually barking. You think of that time you were attacked by a dog and you hear the growling and feel the pain of flesh tearing at your leg. You know the source of that sound and pain is internal. It is just a memory turned into a concern. But if your source monitoring skill fails you while you panic at the sight of a similar dog, you may later be sure you were attacked again.

    Keep asking, keep seeking-especially without doubt-and you will be in a time of grief, bereavement, stress, and certainly religious awe and expectations. Your source monitoring is likely to fail, giving you a revelation or vision or voice or just a comforting feeling that was internal but misread as external.

  • GrreatTeacher
    GrreatTeacher

    So, just because you see it, hear it and feel it doesn't mean it's true.

    Ever been in a psychiatric hospital? People there see, hear, and feel things that aren't real all the time. It's hard to convince them that it's not real, but, funnily enough, with medication it will go away.

  • jgnat
  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    Great teacher, I have brought that up before and people seem offended. Go figure.

    Jgnat, thanks for the comic relief and confirmation. Have a great day.

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    Some interesting points. Many of the same people who accept their personal contact with Jesus also reject others' personal contact with the Virgin Mary, or reject non-Christian experiences which are similar.

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    BTTT one last time.

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