Comments on: Religious revelations are religious delusions http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/ Skepticism and critical thinking in a world of new age, religion and credulous pop culture Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:56:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Science, Reason & Rationality http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-465 Science, Reason & Rationality Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:02:50 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-465 This article has been updated at this link: http://critical-critique.blogspot.com/2008/04/religious-revelations-are-actually.html Thanks, Nick This article has been updated at this link:

http://critical-critique.blogspot.com/2008/04/religious-revelations-are-actually.html

Thanks,
Nick

]]> By: CriticalCritique.com http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-322 CriticalCritique.com Sat, 17 May 2008 00:43:49 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-322 I appear naive only to believers in imaginary things. The so-called reasoning by believers in such delusional things consists in finding arguments for going on believing as they already do... ~ Nick I appear naive only to believers in imaginary things. The so-called reasoning by believers in such delusional things consists in finding arguments for going on believing as they already do…

~ Nick

]]> By: CriticalCritique.com http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-317 CriticalCritique.com Fri, 16 May 2008 15:55:01 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-317 You have not said anything that I already know. Thus, I am still not convinced. And I still stand by my principles. Thanks for the comment anyways. ~ Nick You have not said anything that I already know. Thus, I am still not convinced. And I still stand by my principles. Thanks for the comment anyways.

~ Nick

]]> By: Nathan Prophet http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-316 Nathan Prophet Fri, 16 May 2008 14:58:13 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-316 You appear quite naive regarding your "analysis" of revelatory truths. Many scientists, mathematicians, poets, artists, musicians, etc., remark that an idea or solution to a problem "came out of the blue," "came to me in a dream," "just appeared to me," and so on. True, these ideas and solutions are more than likely, brain-centered in the individuals; however, these are types of "revelations" in that they appear instantaneously and not as the result of some analytical thought process. Again, these particular types of revelations are probably the result of what has been called the subconscious working "behind the scene." But, who is to say that some entity such as God or some collective consciousness yet undiscovered did not have some role in these revelations? We simply do not have a definitive answer to their source. Personal epiphanies are commonplace; enlightenments that seem to come into a person's awareness unsolicited from "out of the blue." In like manner, what is called religious revelations or spiritual revelations could be a product of an individual's brain, or it could come from "God" (in the most general sense of that word), or a combination of sources. Again, we simply do not know the facts. Perhaps you should go through the discipline and dedication that those who claim to have spiritual revelations to see if that resulta in you experiencing such revelations. Perhaps years of yoga, fasting and meditation; perhaps confession of your sinful nature and recognition and acceptance of Christ's role in your salvation; perhaps intense prayed, and so on. Clearly, some claimed revelations are simply the result of a sick mind; a mentally ill person, and some revelations are falsely claimed by persons who would exploit other people for their own gain. A revelation that is predictive can be tested. If a person receives a revelation that the world will end on March 3, 2012 or Jesus is returning to Earth on December 25, 2010, then we can wait and see if that revelation is true or not. Non-predictive revelations, such as revelations concerned with morality cannot be tested. These are of the nature that "abortion is murder", "euthanasia is wrong", and so on. The phenomenon cannot be dismissed so cavalierly as you have done. You just make wild, unsubstantiated claims and assume that you what you conclude is true. Was that truth revealed to you? regards, Nathan. You appear quite naive regarding your “analysis” of revelatory truths. Many scientists, mathematicians, poets, artists, musicians, etc., remark that an idea or solution to a problem “came out of the blue,” “came to me in a dream,” “just appeared to me,” and so on. True, these ideas and solutions are more than likely, brain-centered in the individuals; however, these are types of “revelations” in that they appear instantaneously and not as the result of some analytical thought process. Again, these particular types of revelations are probably the result of what has been called the subconscious working “behind the scene.” But, who is to say that some entity such as God or some collective consciousness yet undiscovered did not have some role in these revelations? We simply do not have a definitive answer to their source.

Personal epiphanies are commonplace; enlightenments that seem to come into a person’s awareness unsolicited from “out of the blue.”

In like manner, what is called religious revelations or spiritual revelations could be a product of an individual’s brain, or it could come from “God” (in the most general sense of that word), or a combination of sources. Again, we simply do not know the facts.

Perhaps you should go through the discipline and dedication that those who claim to have spiritual revelations to see if that resulta in you experiencing such revelations. Perhaps years of yoga, fasting and meditation; perhaps confession of your sinful nature and recognition and acceptance of Christ’s role in your salvation; perhaps intense prayed, and so on.

Clearly, some claimed revelations are simply the result of a sick mind; a mentally ill person, and some revelations are falsely claimed by persons who would exploit other people for their own gain.

A revelation that is predictive can be tested. If a person receives a revelation that the world will end on March 3, 2012 or Jesus is returning to Earth on December 25, 2010, then we can wait and see if that revelation is true or not. Non-predictive revelations, such as revelations concerned with morality cannot be tested. These are of the nature that “abortion is murder”, “euthanasia is wrong”, and so on.

The phenomenon cannot be dismissed so cavalierly as you have done. You just make wild, unsubstantiated claims and assume that you what you conclude is true. Was that truth revealed to you?

regards,

Nathan.

]]> By: Critical Critique http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-258 Critical Critique Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:14:37 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/04/21/religious-revelations-are-delusions/#comment-258 For article update and revision, visit: http://www.criticalcritique.com/2008/04/religious-revelations-are-actually.html For article update and revision, visit: http://www.criticalcritique.com/2008/04/religious-revelations-are-actually.html

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