Faith Can't Be Measured

Justacomment,

I was a bit unclear what your point was in this last post. Can you clarify?

Are you being sarcastic, or are you deeply spiritual and think I have a problem with your personal experience?

To Justillthen et all,

I’m a deeply spiritual person. I had a revealing spiritual experience where an independent cosmic entity revealed me that God was in the process of self disintegration. I could sense this happening, and could see that soon God will cease being the power in charge of all creation.

If you tell me you do not believe in this, let me tell you that by definition spiritual experiences are not of this dimension. Use whatever definition that you may want for spiritual, but it references what is not physically tangible. It cannot, (so far and certainly with current tools), be tested or measured or compared, or even displayed. So, my vivid experience was absolutely real. Nobody can negate it.

Likewise there is no tangible proof that negates it. If you assert that it is 'just my imagination' is an assumption to try to explain what you cannot.

If you tell me than I’m delusional, you seem to give no credence to what you cannot see or measure. Love, and certainly unqualified love, must be a challenge. But if you feel it, it must be true, right? Sensate. Sensual perceiving. That is the only place that truth can exist? If you can see it?

I am more than clear that my spirituality is real and valid and is not my "imagination". Perhaps if you looked past purely sensual data you might find more, but I 'sense' that will take some time for people that negate spirituality.

Peace.

If faith is imaginary, then so are we.

Gladerunner,

"Spiritual life is based on imagination alone. It is not 'true' it is what you believe/want to be true. The only way for it to be 'true' or a fact, is if it could be tested or measured or compared, or even displayed."

Spirituality is by definition not of this dimension. Use whatever definition that you may want, but it references what is not physically tangible. It cannot, (so far and certainly with current tools), "be tested or measured or compared, or even displayed."

Likewise there is no tangible proof that negates it. Your assertion that it is 'just my imagination' is an assumption to try to explain what you cannot.

You seem to give no credence to what you cannot see or measure. Love, and certainly unqualified love, must be a challenge. But if you feel it, it must be true, right? Sensate. Sensual perceiving. That is the only place that truth can exist, gladerunner? If you can see it?

I am more than clear that my spirituality is real and valid and is not my "imagination". Thanks for the input, though, even as you show that you are still quite fond of making assumptions about my beliefs.

"I am sincerely curious how you can spite religions when your own belief system is just as contrived, and just as bound in personal, subjective perspective?"

Contrived? No, it is not. I guess I will take that as an insult, as well as a prejudiced negation. Perhaps if you looked past purely sensual data you might find more, but I 'sense' that will take some time.

Peace.

juststillthen; "But religions are generally mythology based on spiritual life."
I agree.
"Spiritual life is true, and spirituality is real."
Spiritual life is based on imagination alone. It is not 'true' it is what you believe/want to be true. The only way for it to be 'true' or a fact, is if it could be tested or measured or compared, or even displayed.
"Stories of the sainted ones, and proclaimations of two thousand years ago are not literal."
With all due respect, what morsel, what shred, what essence of your own 'spirituality' is literal?
"Not that God is false, but we have yet to validate the existence of that Elusive One"
As we have yet to validate the existance of ANY spiritual realm/being/state. I am sincerely curious how you can spite religions when your own belief system is just as contrived, and just as bound in personal, subjective perspective?

Christians are not called to causes, but to model Jesus Christ before others.

That's why whenever I think of Cal Thomas, I'm reminded so much of Jesus.
It's like they were separated at birth. Uncanny.

Like the weasley politicians he worships, Cal has learned when you don't like the answer to the question that was asked, just make up another question and answer it instead.

Answer: By the joy and tears in the eyes of the selfless.

No one can look at religion without thinking of gullibility. The astounding gullibility of the American citizen, as shown in the Madoff case, the double election (almost) of Bush, the faith in McCain and Palin, and above all the rise of creationism and the belief, in some cases sincere, in the existence and power of supernatural beings. If the decline of religion continues, it will be due to a general decline in gullibility.

I have got to say that this piece is pretty pathetic. Trolling down de nial. The snarpy jab at 'liberal politics' and the Obama Administration is to be expected from Mr. Thomas, but this is neither the issue nor the question. Nor related to the question.

If anything of politics is attributed to a decline in religious participation it would be, for me, the distaste for the outcome of the intentions of the last 'deeply religious' President, Mr. Bush. There is no greater reason to keep politics and religion separated than that disaster.

As for religion itself, it is on the decline because it is generally false. Not that God is false, but we have yet to validate the existence of that Elusive One. But religions are generally mythology based on spiritual life. Spiritual life is true, and spirituality is real. Stories of the sainted ones, and proclaimations of two thousand years ago are not literal. They have a shelf life. Generally they have outlived expectations. What was believable two hundred years ago hasn't been for a hundred, and will be less so in ten.

Religions as we have known them will decline, naturally. Spirituality I hope does not need to go down with the illusions that have carried most religions to the present day.

So, that's why you claim an overwhelming majority when it suits you, and claim to be an oppressed minority when wondering what the Hel is to blame for things going wrong in your own corporate mass-culture?