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"There are many paths to God. I hope yours will not be too difficult.." -- Ben Hur, the movie
Greetings to all...
At least one person has asked me about my experience, and I suspect that I will be asked again, so I'd like to take the opportunity to tell about my experience discovering God.
To begin, I was a atheist of 17 years when this happened. I've spent, literally, years debating with theists of every flavor, and have studied most religions extensively in order to be able to debate with people. I am a keen student of logic and remain so to this day.
To cut to the chase, I have been through quite a difficult life but over the past year I've been strugging with the concept of humility, which is something I need more of. My battles with others make me quite arrogant and I came to think of myself as intellectually superior to most others. Yet, there has always been a emptiness inside me which neither religion nor philosophy could fill. Even on the brink of Nihilism, I still felt that something was missing from my life.
I came to believe that altruism and humility were things that I needed to practice. This was the beginning of opening my heart to others and with it came the realization that I did not know everything - and still had (and still have) a great deal to learn. However, it allowed me to retire the bitter, angry, cynical side that I'd maintained for so long.
Even as an atheist, I used to pray. My prayer was this: "God, if there is a god, show me a sign that you exist......but let me keep my self intact." -- I wanted to believe in God (whatever "God" is) but did not want to give up myself to it.
I have met many people (who were not religious) but whose lives had been changed in a miraculous way. I knew they were just like me and had no more power than I did. So where did the power come from?
I was pondering this when I suddenly decided to try asking God to help me. I prayed, "God, if there is a god, I'm willing to do your will and accept your guidance in my life. If you can help me, I will do your will." -- I did this in complete honesty and sincereity.
That moment I physically and mentally felt something: something came into me and I felt a power and peace like I have never felt before. I felt a new sense of purpose and direction. And for the first time in my life, I knew that I was not alone and would never be alone again. It was as real and authentic as jumping into a pool or feeling a cool wind on your face.
I believe that the key to my experience was a few things:
1) I had already started to practice humility; recently I had forgiven someone who had done some really ****ty things to me. So my heart was open instead of closed.
2) I genuinely asked God to help me and guide me.
3) I held nothing back for myself. I completely gave myself to God.
When I did all of this, God was right there, and I realized that for me had always been with me; I was simply not ready to see it.
At the risk of being "emo", this song best captures the moment that I discovered God:
YouTube - VNV Nation - Standing
"A stranger here is born it seems,
waking wonders deep in me.
If nothing's ventured, nothing's gained
So I must seize the day..
And biding time, so hard I pray, that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me, I bear me heart for all to see,
With my face turned to the sun, there ever standing still..."
That pretty much sums it up.
I don't know what God is. I don't conceptualize God as female or male, nor as depicted by any religion. What I do know is that since that day, I have had insight, peace, hope, and true serenity in my life. That's not to say that I'm walking around like I'm baked (stoned) all day long; life is still a huge challenge. But I have a power that I definitely feel helps me and guides me.
I know nothing about creationism; I have no concerns about any possible "afterlife". Neither of these things matter to me in the slightest. I just do the best job in this reality that I can. And as I trust God, I find that God teaches me lessons and helps me to grow.
So why do you think you had a revelation and others have not? are you special?
Although I know little about your specific experiences, I can relate to you on terms of having 'difficulty' in life, and little guidance; a sort of insecurity induced by something missing.
I would like to take this opportunity to say 'well done' and congratulations for your revelation-of-sorts. You must be thankful to find hope in your life.
As an agnostic-theist, like I previously mentioned elsewhere, I find it hard to accept God, in a way. I tell myself that I believe in God; even that I know that there is a God, but cannot accept it, due to the way that this world is going. I hope you agree that this is a challenge.
Still, what you said about humility is absolutely correct. Although many people do not like it, we are all equal, and have to accept that we can be wrong sometimes. We are, after all, only human. Also, it is an important trait to prove that we are moral, as morals, in my eyes, show a lot about who we truly are.
So why do you think you had a revelation and others have not?
are you special?
Nice post my friend. thanks.
Not being afraid is the key and letting go of self and what you want. I promise you, you have no clue to what you want until the mind at ease and it releases the fear that is so very pervasive in the world we live in. Leave it alone and you will be amazed at how well it functions. It will blow you away.
I believe that regardeless of our view of god its important to know that it is merely a helper, the outcome of our life is shaped by our will only.
Its just a matter of time.
We all have our turn to be special.
Be patient.
Ask and ye shall recieve.
However, I would speculate that one of the primary reasons the world has so many problems is a lack of spirituality. We are taught that so many of the material things in the world have the highest importance eg. money, social class, possessions, power, reputation, etc. But these things are all fleeting and, ultimately, meaningless.
manored said:
That may be true for you, but it's not true for me. The outcome of my life is shaped by both my will and my adherence to the will of God.
manored said: That may be true for you, but it's not true for me. The outcome of my life is shaped by both my will and my adherence to the will of God.
I was a i thought for many ears a devout christian with a regular attempts at asking gods guidance and illumination..i then realised my desire for a benevolent god was an act of desire rather than the truth..now i have been a christian for 35 years and an agnostic for nearly as long..now dont you think its time for my lightning bolt ?? are you special i ask you again why do the majority of people who ask never even receive an aknowledgement but you get the works :perplexed:
I was pondering this when I suddenly decided to try asking God to help me. I prayed, "God, if there is a god, I'm willing to do your will and accept your guidance in my life. If you can help me, I will do your will." -- I did this in complete honesty and sincereity.
That moment I physically and mentally felt something: something came into me and I felt a power and peace like I have never felt before. I felt a new sense of purpose and direction. And for the first time in my life, I knew that I was not alone and would never be alone again. It was as real and authentic as jumping into a pool or feeling a cool wind on your face.
I believe that the key to my experience was a few things:
1) I had already started to practice humility; recently I had forgiven someone who had done some really ****ty things to me. So my heart was open instead of closed.
2) I genuinely asked God to help me and guide me.
3) I held nothing back for myself. I completely gave myself to God.
When I did all of this, God was right there, and I realized that for me had always been with me; I was simply not ready to see it.
I don't know what God is. I don't conceptualize God as female or male, nor as depicted by any religion. What I do know is that since that day, I have had insight, peace, hope, and true serenity in my life. That's not to say that I'm walking around like I'm baked (stoned) all day long; life is still a huge challenge. But I have a power that I definitely feel helps me and guides me.
I know nothing about creationism; I have no concerns about any possible "afterlife". Neither of these things matter to me in the slightest. I just do the best job in this reality that I can. And as I trust God, I find that God teaches me lessons and helps me to grow.
God is a subjective thing, it acts in the mind of those who believe on him, whatever be the form of him they believe, not in the world.
Also, benevolence is relative. If children stop dying on Africa there will be a super-population and therefore war, and to prevent war population control will be necessary, what some people find good, others bad and others even prefer war over it. Does this means children dying is good? depends of how we solve it.
God is a subjective thing, it acts in the mind of those who believe on him, whatever be the form of him they believe, not in the world.
Also, benevolence is relative. If children stop dying on Africa there will be a super-population and therefore war, and to prevent war population control will be necessary, what some people find good, others bad and others even prefer war over it. Does this means children dying is good? depends of how we solve it.
Hey OctoberMist,
Hey manored,
I am glad to hear that you experienced this. I myself feel that I had a similar experience.
The bit in bold is a key part in this discussion. We naturally as one dimensional individuals perceive that "I" am in here, and "God" is out there, despite the fact that God is omnispresent. They distance themselves from God, not realising that God is omnipresent, and therefore they are a part of God too. Therefore they are only distancing themselves from... themselves. Ironic.
Anyway...
The kingdom of God that Yeshua so famously described is not a literal place; it's a spiritual one. In short, the kingdom of God is within you. God exists where you exist, where everyone else exists and where everything else exists. If you accept this, your soul [ your consciousness towards God] becomes God's domain.God will always be accessible through your soul.
God is not bound to form or gender. Nor time,space, or physicality for that matter.
When I experienced a very similar experience, God guided me onto the spiritual path. What I realize now, is that God intents for me to walk the spiritual path; a task that few have managed and a task that will require all that I am.
This is what God pointed you in the direction of my friend ; the spiritual path. The path to accessing God through the soul. The soul being our own consciousness of God's reality.
On the path you start to appreciate and encorperate love into everything that you do. You feel more humble, more caring, more spiritual. Basically, you become what Jesus told you to do : "You are the light of the world".
What you went through [ your experience ] is known as "The epiphany"; a stage of introduction into the spiritual path. To receive one is a direct implication from God that God wants you to join the spiritual path, and therefore, become one with God's reality.
This can be a little confusing, especially to those who aren't on the path, so I'll leave it at that for now.
Indeed. As Jesus once said "Do not worry about tomorrow"; yesterday is gone,tomorrow is coming. The only thing you can influence is now. Your powers lie in this very moment.
ALSO: Death is a good thing, but that's a subject for a different thread I'm sure.
"God is a subjective thing" is a very universal statement, don't you think?
God isn't subjective. God is only subjective to those stuck in duality. Seperating themselves from the understanding of God. God exists at the deeper parts of all our consciousness and no matter how evil or wicked you are/have been ; God will always be accessible if you unearth the soul. What can be more objective than that?
Now benevolence is subjective, but again, only to those stuck in duality and therefore, an unreal reality of God. At the level of the soul, one begins to feel and implement love into all that one does. Goodness and love therefore becomes a formality.
Love is stronger than hate, so therefore all the hate you feel [ which is natural ; you are human after all ] is overpowered by love. Evil's illusion begins to fade away, and the power of evil begins to shrink. What is left is nothing but love.
If only one definition of "love" exists at the level of the soul, therefore there is no subjectivity at the level of the soul, only a universal concept.
God bless.
-Thanks,Take care
James