Hearing God?

02572

Is it possible?

Onesimus

How deep are you into your faith?

If it was enough to get you running back into your house it could be for real.

soterpisc

http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/

Not trolling either

02572

Thanks

spdmrphy

Not trolling either, but I would strongly suggest you speak to your GP.

Onesimus

Yeah the first thing St.Paul did was go to his local GP :rolleyes: :pGood advice but I'd prefer you go see a priest and discuss it with him first. If he directs you to go visit your GP ( which is a good idea as even though my St.Paul Qoute makes a point, the Church needs you to use reason as well as faith. ) Then you must go as it could be something serious and not supernatural at all.

Onesimus

Onesimus

02572 wrote: »

Is it possible?

Yeah hearing God is possible. There are so many levels on which he speaks to us though. There is the supernatural level ( which is extremely rare ) and there are levels such as speaking to us through scripture, a breeze, the fragrance of perfume, the sound of thunder or the laughter of children. He can even use people to speak to us ( not in a clairvoyant sort of way I mean in other ways such as the beggar on the street seeing you upset and suggesting you read the scriptures or pray the rosary. ) And he often smiles at us through the faces of Holy men and women.

There are many channels God uses to speak to us but when our intellect is darkened by sin we shut God out and are often deaf to his cries. So we need to practice the sacraments, pray, fast, and clean our souls and invite him in.

soterpisc

Onesimus wrote: »

Yeah hearing God is possible. There are so many levels on which he speaks to us though. There is the supernatural level ( which is extremely rare ) and there are levels such as speaking to us through scripture, a breeze, the fragrance of perfume, the sound of thunder or the laughter of children. He can even use people to speak to us ( not in a clairvoyant sort of way I mean in other ways such as the beggar on the street seeing you upset and suggesting you read the scriptures or pray the rosary. ) And he often smiles at us through the faces of Holy men and women.

There are many channels God uses to speak to us but when our intellect is darkened by sin we shut God out and are often deaf to his cries. So we need to practice the sacraments, pray, fast, and clean our souls and invite him in.

The original post to this thread was a lot more elaborate, he then cut it to hearing god.

it as originally something like.. I went outside and heard "God"...

SteveDon

02572 wrote: »

Is it possible?

No.

If such things are happening you must go see a mental health professional straight away. Just in case this is something it is always better to deal with these things as early as possible.

Onesimus

soterpisc wrote: »

The original post to this thread was a lot more elaborate, he then cut it to hearing god.

it as originally something like.. I went outside and heard "God"...

Yeah I'm just now trying to imagine Moses in a straight jacket and the pharoah qouting him a link to a mental hospital located in his empire. ummm

He cut it so I decided to tell him the truth that yes it is possible to hear God but that such an occurance is extremely rare in the supernatural aspect of the question. He cut it because he is afraid people will think he his nuts. So he decided to change it ( I'm assuming thats why he changed it ).

There are also phsychologically impaired people who claim that God speaks to them. One instance I saw of this was a man who claimed that God told him to fornicate with his brothers wife. But the OP's case needs to be looked at I guess both on reason and faith and he should just go ahead and visit a priest about it ( most of whom are trained in phsychology ) and my advice would be to visit a Jesuit priest about it who are highly trained in these things and will then tell him also to visit a pshychologist too.

Relax OP, some of the questions you should be asking yourself as well is whether or not you have heard voices in the past or if you have ever taken drugs ( LSD ) in your early years which can have later effects on you in life. But take my advice and go visit that priest and pshychologist.

I think a lot of the other Christian posters here were wrong just to post you a mental health site on the whim without going into more detail like I did. I found it highly inappropriate for them to do and it seemed uncharitable. The other posters who suggested you go see a mental health professional are presumably atheist too.

Onesimus

SteveDon

I don't want to discuss whether or not God can actually speak to a person.

To be fair telling the op to go to a priest is most likely a waste of his or her time.

Hearing voices, whether they are believed to be from God or something else is a clear sign that one's mental health is at risk.

I have seen this happen to people first hand and i can tell you that if (hopefully not) it is something serious that the sooner you seek out professional help the more likely it is that your mental state can be controlled and it wont go on to ruin your life!

It is likely that if one is devoutly religious that the voices they hear can manifest themselves as God.

Its like telling someone with cancer to go and cure it with acupuncture.

Please be a bit more mature and responsible.

Onesimus

SteveDon wrote: »

I don't want to discuss whether or not God can actually speak to a person.

To be fair telling the op to go to a priest is most likely a waste of his or her time.

Hearing voices, whether they are believed to be from God or something else is a clear sign that one's mental health is at risk.

I have seen this happen to people first hand and i can tell you that if (hopefully not) it is something serious that the sooner you seek out professional help the more likely it is that your mental state can be controlled and it wont go on to ruin your life!

It is likely that if one is devoutly religious that the voices they hear can manifest themselves as God.

Its like telling someone with cancer to go and cure it with acupuncture.

Please be a bit more mature and responsible.

it isnt great advice because your an atheist, posting to a posters question which is obviously to ''Christians'' and not ''atheists'' if he wanted an atheist opinion he would have posted in the appropriate atheist Cave ( forum ).

It it beneficial for him to attend a priest as well as a phsychologist so that his faith isnt affected by some secular minded ''professional'' who is as religious as your Richard Dawkins.

Thats what the mature and responsible Christian does.

PDN

SteveDon wrote: »

I don't want to discuss whether or not God can actually speak to a person.

Then please don't waste our time by posting in the Christianity Forum.

Improbable

Onesimus wrote: »

it isnt great advice because your an atheist, posting to a posters question which is obviously to ''Christians'' and not ''atheists'' if he wanted an atheist opinion he would have posted in the appropriate atheist Cave ( forum ).

It it beneficial for him to attend a priest as well as a phsychologist so that his faith isnt affected by some secular minded ''professional'' who is as religious as your Richard Dawkins.

Thats what the mature and responsible Christian does.

I think the very first thing that should be done is to speak to a medical professional. Giving ANY other response is simply irresponsible. After that, whether you speak to a priest about it is up to you.

Onesimus

Improbable wrote: »

I think the very first thing that should be done is to speak to a medical professional. Giving ANY other response is simply irresponsible. After that, whether you speak to a priest about it is up to you.

Sometimes these these things can be sorted by Pshychologists without receiving medecine at all. I know of many cases of people suffering from all sorts of mental illnesses and visited a Jesuit Pshychologist priest and never received meds ever and they are as right as rain. Some also with severe mental illness were also advised to visit medical professionals who can distribute medecine ( i.e Phsyciatrist ) as well as having appointments with their priests.

It's good to visit a priest first ( the right priest that is ) and I stand by my advice.

SteveDon

PDN wrote: »

Then please don't waste our time by posting in the Christianity Forum.

I was offering a serious opinion that i have formed from personal experience.

I thought id jump in because of course Christians may think that it is possible to hear god speak to them.

Reenforcing the belief that God did actually talk the OP is dangerous and could verify their delusion for them.

Despite what you or I may believe, you must admit that hearing voices is an alarming sign. And as such one must reply with advice with ones mental health in mind.

Because after all if God truly is speaking to the OP then whatever help he/she gets will be outweighed by his power surely.

I am not trying to be offensive, just realistic.

georgieporgy

I would venture to say if you don't hear God speaking to you there is something seriously wrong with you.

lmaopml

The op didn't really clarify in what way exactly he or she is hearing God, or even if they are - or are just kinda curious. I'd love him/her to expand...?

Seems a little early to be recommending the GP's and Priests prior to knowing more specifics

Improbable

georgieporgy wrote: »

I would venture to say if you don't hear God speaking to you there is something seriously wrong with you.

And what is your basis for saying that?

Onesimus

Improbable wrote: »

And what is your basis for saying that?

His Basis for saying that is being a Christian with faith in a Christian forum. Now go back to your cave for discussing the Non-existence of God where you belong.

Kepti

lmaopml wrote: »

The op didn't really clarify in what way exactly he or she is hearing God, or even if they are - or are just kinda curious. I'd love him/her to expand...?

Seems a little early to be recommending the GP's and Priests prior to knowing more specifics

You either didn't read or missed the post where someone explained that a more elaborate original post was edited out.

facemelter

Onesimus wrote: »

His Basis for saying that is being a Christian with faith in a Christian forum. Now go back to your cave for discussing the Non-existence of God where you belong.

if god has been telling you anything its how to scald other people for giving their opinions if they differ from yours , telling some one to go back to a cave because they gave a person asking a question on a forum some advise is a bit harsh , i think directing someone to a priest could do no really good unless the person was feeling unsure about their religious beliefs , and if medical help was needed it would be prioritised ( in my opinion ) over seeing a priest

On a serious note op I think more clarification is needed , do you mean directly? or through more indirect ways ?

PDN

facemelter wrote: »

i think directing someone to a priest could do no really good unless the person was feeling unsure about their religious beliefs

Like if they were asking a question about God on a religious internet discussion forum?

Improbable

Onesimus wrote: »

His Basis for saying that is being a Christian with faith in a Christian forum. Now go back to your cave for discussing the Non-existence of God where you belong.

My question could just as easily have been asked by someone who was a christian and if it was, I doubt it would be dismissed so casually. Nowhere in my post did I say that god does not exist.

My reasoning is that the vast majority of christians do not hear god speaking to them directly (I don't think...) so I was asking what his basis was for making such an assertion.

If you actually have a comment to make on my question or would like to discuss it, I welcome it. If you're directing me to not post in a christianity forum simply because I'm not christian, I don't really care.

lmaopml

Kepti wrote: »

You either didn't read or missed the post where someone explained that a more elaborate original post was edited out.

Fair enough.

georgieporgy

Improbable wrote: »

And what is your basis for saying that?

on the basis of the evidence that is easily available to anyone looking for it.

For example, in Scripture we are exhorted by our Lord to "pray always".
Prayer as you know means communication, and communication is a 2 way thing . Just like communication between humans can fail if there isn't a willingness to listen on both sides, so too can it fail between God and Man if the latter doesn't even pick up the phone .

We are often impressed by the diplomatic skills of certain ambassadors who succeed in bringing warring parties to the negotiating table. These individuals didn't acquire their talents overnight- they had to start learning their ABCs like the rest of us. We are also aware of the many people who don't bother to make an effort in school and are happy to remain illiterate for life. We tend to call such people "stupid".

If you refuse to learn the language you will probably not understand it when you hear it.

If you wish to know more I recommend "The Interior Castle" by Teresa of Avila.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/tic/index.htm

sephir0th

Onesimus wrote: »

Yeah hearing God is possible. There are so many levels on which he speaks to us though.

So how do you differentiate between hearing God and being mentally unstable?

georgieporgy

sephir0th wrote: »

So how do you differentiate between hearing God and being mentally unstable?

simple. if you don't hear God, you are mentally unstable

Kepti

georgieporgy wrote: »

simple. if you don't hear God, you are mentally unstable

In what way?

PDN

sephir0th wrote: »

So how do you differentiate between hearing God and being mentally unstable?

There would seem to be two ways.

a) Consult a medical expert who can look for signs of mental instability.

b) Investigate further what it might be like to hear from God.

After all, think of it like this. If you went around telling people that you were a Bishop, then that might well be a sign of mental instability.

But if I did so, then I would simply be telling the truth.

Eramen

Improbable wrote: »

And what is your basis for saying that?

Well I believe the Christians on this forum are trying to investigate the possibilities of God speaking to a person, exploring in what way or manner this could be conceivable.

That is before all you 'pretend atheists' aka anti-theists, came here and imposed your rather snide, ideology-tainted remarks on things, generally seeking to derail everything into a 'god-bashing' agenda.

I think the obnoxious back-patting in the form of 'thank you's' and the usual faddish New Atheist behaviour should be left at the door on these topics. We have a whole AA forum dedicated to measuring oneself by ridiculous anti-theism and and proving yer 'scoopieror intelligunce'.

Anyhow, I believe that it depends on the adherents concept of God, and this in turn will affect the 'communication' that takes place.

I do not believe God can actually speak to you, because he is an infinite value that can have no place in 'the world'. Therefore in Christianity this communication has always taken place not through God the father, but rather the Son, who is embodied within the physical reality aspect. He is the 'Word of God' or Logos. It is the second person of the Holy Trinity, whose personality is not to be strictly associated with Jesus of Nazareth (though it was Christ), but one that exists for all eternity with the Father, and outside of him in all things. No one can reach the Father except by the Son, as it is stated.

In the Gospel of John: "Before Abraham was, I AM." This reflects the eternal status of the Son, as he never diminishes or fails to be. This was also decreed by the early Church who recognised the true, limitless character of the Son of God. It can be seen too in Eastern iconography in works depicting Jesus Christ, around the Nimbus / halo there will be the Greek characters for "I AM" or "The Being One". As these attest, the Son is always in existence, in all places, in a continuous being. He is not an object or character, but a never-ending light that shines on and energises the attentive mind, whether through experience or the intellect etc.

I think this is the manner of 'God speaking' is conceivable.

Improbable

Eramen wrote: »

Anyhow, I believe that it depends on the adherents concept of God, and this in turn will affect the 'communication' that takes place.

I do not believe God can actually speak to you, because he is an infinite value that can have no place in 'the world'. Therefore in Christianity this communication has always taken place not through God the father, but rather the Son, who is embodied within the physical reality aspect. He is the 'Word of God' or Logos. It is the second person of the Holy Trinity, whose personality is not to be strictly associated with Jesus of Nazareth (though it was Christ), but one that exists for all eternity with the Father, and outside of him in all things. No one can reach the Father except by the Son, as it is stated.

In the Gospel of John: "Before Abraham was, I AM." This reflects the eternal status of the Son, as he never diminishes or fails to be. This was also decreed by the early Church who recognised the true, limitless character of the Son of God. It can be seen too in Eastern iconography in works depicting Jesus Christ, around the Nimbus / halo there will be the Greek characters for "I AM" or "The Being One". As these attest, the Son is always in existence, in all places, in a continuous being. He is not an object or character, but a never-ending light that shines on and energises the attentive mind, whether through experience or the intellect etc.

I think this is the manner of 'God speaking' is conceivable.

So what does this mean with regards to the OP's claims that he heard god? I'm assuming since you said that you don't believe god can actually speak to you that you don't think the OP actually heard god in the sense of hearing his voice in his head, which I have to presume is what the OP meant since the post has since been edited. If that is the case, what do you make of georgieporgy's statement that "if you don't hear God, you are mentally unstable"?

Quandary

georgieporgy wrote: »

simple. if you don't hear God, you are mentally unstable

By that rationale, that makes me and quite a few billion others mentally unstable?

snafuk35

The Danish philosopher Kierkegaard discusses in his works the experience of Abraham when he hears the voice of God telling him to sacrifice his son Isaac.
He cannot tell anyone and not even his son what he is commanded to do, he cannot refuse to obey the commandment of God and he walks with the boy to the place of sacrifice.
In any modern society, Kierkegaard freely admits that Abraham would be carted off as a lunatic.
His point was that religious belief goes against reason and goes against convention and is completely counter to human understanding.
He was a believing Christian who rejected all established religion and rejected the intellectual rationalists who attempted to remove the supernatural from Christianity.

If you read the Old Testament and the New Testament and if you read any of the doctrines of the Christian faiths, they all describe that human beings are seeking to recover a personal relationship with God.
Originally Adam spoke to God in the Garden of Eden but through sin mankind was cut off and doomed to toil and suffer mortality and to ultimately die.
Jesus is supposed to be God made flesh and Christian are supposed to believe they can actually talk to Christ.

If Christ had been born in the 21st century, he would probably have been committed and banged up in a secure mental institution.

So when a person actually believes they can hear the voice of God and obey him and are declared insane, they are surely following what they have been told by Christian doctrine.

Christianity therefore endorses mentally ill people who believe they can hear voices.

Why is there such embarrassment when mentally ill people who claim to hear voices who have been brought up in the Christian faith actually believe they are hearing God's voice.

I mean for a person who is hearing voices surely this is from their perspective proof of the supernatural. Especially because they can hear the voice and nobody else can, just like Abraham.

Either Jesus and Abraham were mentally ill or they were hearing voices.
So which is it?

The Quadratic Equation

snafuk35 wrote: »

Either Jesus and Abraham were mentally ill or they were hearing voices.
So which is it?

You missed one option. It's actually a trilemma.

As the historicity of Jesus is not disputed by any reputable historian, a person should decide for themselves that on the overall balance of probability :

Jesus was either probably mad ?, probably bad ?, or probably telling the truth ?

- This is the correct full question worth careful consideration.

Improbable

The Quadratic Equation wrote: »

You missed one option.

Was Jesus mad, bad, or telling the truth ? - is the correct full question.

lord, liar or lunatic?

snafuk35

The Quadratic Equation wrote: »

You missed one option. It's actually a trilemma.

As the historicity of Jesus is not disputed by any reputable historian, a person should decide for themselves that on the overall balance of probability :

Jesus was either probably mad ?, probably bad ?, or probably telling the truth ?

- This is the correct full question worth careful consideration.

It requires careful consideration but only a moment's consideration from any honest sane rational person.

Jesus was a complete nutjob and the fact that he got a lot of followers among superstitious credulous ignorant peasants in some dusty backwater of the Roman Empire does him no credit.

JohnMc1

snafuk35 wrote: »

It requires careful consideration but only a moment's consideration from any honest sane rational person.

Jesus was a complete nutjob and the fact that he got a lot of followers among superstitious credulous ignorant peasants in some dusty backwater of the Roman Empire does him no credit.

Why are we still letting people like this post here? Send them back to the Atheist forum. Its obvious they're just here to be disruptive.

PDN

JohnMc1 wrote: »

Why are we still letting people like this post here? Send them back to the Atheist forum. Its obvious they're just here to be disruptive.

Two little tips:

1. If you see a red or yellow card beside a post then that means the poster has been infracted.

2. If you wish to address or comment on moderating policy then please address it via PM or Feedback.

philologos

I think the best answer I could give to this question would be that God speaks to me through His word. God is living and active in this world, and if God is the God of the Bible He will show Himself to be consistent with it. This is why I put the highest emphasis on the Bible, then on all things else. If God ever does speak to me in any other way, or audibly or so on, it will be coherent with what He has already shown us.

kjw47

snafuk35 wrote: »

It requires careful consideration but only a moment's consideration from any honest sane rational person.

Jesus was a complete nutjob and the fact that he got a lot of followers among superstitious credulous ignorant peasants in some dusty backwater of the Roman Empire does him no credit.

Actually since many prophecies written centuries before they came to pass-prove that the bible was written by Gods inspiration, which proves Jesus was real-the Messiah. The Israelite leaders were looking for the Messiah to come when Jesus came, but Jesus spoke truth and they hated truth like the majority always has, so they rejected him and hated him.

dead one

hearing god is used in spiritual sense, It means if you're following word of God, then you are hearing God...

snafuk35

kjw47 wrote: »

Actually since many prophecies written centuries before they came to pass-prove that the bible was written by Gods inspiration, which proves Jesus was real-the Messiah. The Israelite leaders were looking for the Messiah to come when Jesus came, but Jesus spoke truth and they hated truth like the majority always has, so they rejected him and hated him.

But can you prove this?

snafuk35

dead one wrote: »

hearing god is used in spiritual sense, It means if you're following word of God, then you are hearing God...

If that is true anybody could claim they are hearing God and following him. What happens when they contradict each other?

kjw47

snafuk35 wrote: »

But can you prove this?

Only to those who live in light--those who live in darkness cannot see.
For example the books of Daniel-revelation are going down under the eyes of all creation, but few see the realities of what is happening.

PDN

snafuk35 wrote: »

But can you prove this?

Moderating Instruction
Take this kind of stuff to the Atheist/existence of God Thread please. It is off-topic here.

tsoparno

I think i can hear God, he's telling me to get outta this nutty thread!

georgieporgy

tsoparno wrote: »

I think i can hear God, he's telling me to get outta this nutty thread!

That's not God. That's PDN

tsoparno

georgieporgy wrote: »

That's not God. That's PDN

Do ya remember the fella in the cell next to Hannibal Lector? He used to hear from God too:D

Fanny Cradock

And do remember that Stalin fella who didn't believe in God. What's your point?

tsoparno

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

And do remember that Stalin fella who didn't believe in God. What's your point?

The smiley face tells you its a joke, what's your point?