Is There A Direct Experience of God? (Moses, hell, scriptures)

[Sunstone]

Through out the ages, people living in many different societies have claimed to have had a direct, unmediated experience of God. What do you make of these claims? Are the people who make them all deluded? Are they mistaken? Or, do some people, in fact, have a direct, unmediated experience of God?

[Buttercup]

I find the claims interesting....but how can I know for sure if these experiences are in fact from God? I'm taking the person's word for it....which is fine. But, if they tell me I shall go to hell for not believing in their experience, my ears are closed immediately.

[Comprehend]

depends on what you mean by unmediated. I think that mortal contact with God must be mediated by the Spirit or else you would be comsumed by the glory of God.

So I believe Moses saw God face to face while transfigured by the Spirit, same with Joseph Smith, and most likely Peter James and John on the mount of transfiguration.

So yes I think the above along with others have seen God.

[Sunstone]

Suppose someone "sees God". How would one know that was not a delusion? How would one know that was not merely a product of some brain dysfunction?

Does the fact that so many people have "seen God" make it any less likely that their experiences are delusions?

[Comprehend]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Suppose someone "sees God". How would one know that was not a delusion? How would one know that was not merely a product of some brain dysfunction?

Philosophically speaking (think metaphysics) there is no way to know that anything you "see" is not a product of a brain dysfunction including the computer screen (see brain in a vat thought exercise, and I guess the matrix for a more simple portrayal).

Religiously speaking, I believe we have a spirit body within our physical body and the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost) can communicate directly to our spirit the truthfulness of a certain experience/thought/moment.

[BruceDLimber]

Hi, Sun!

According to the Baha'i Faith and its scriptures, direct knowledge of God is simply impossible.

The only knowledge we have of Him is what the Divine Messengers He has sent have taught us.

Regards,

Bruce

[Comprehend]

Originally Posted by BruceDLimber

Hi, Sun!

According to the Baha'i Faith and its scriptures, direct knowledge of God is simply impossible.

The only knowledge we have of Him is what the Divine Messengers He has sent have taught us.

Regards,

Bruce

do Baha'i believe in the bible?

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by BruceDLimber

Hi, Sun!

According to the Baha'i Faith and its scriptures, direct knowledge of God is simply impossible.

The only knowledge we have of Him is what the Divine Messengers He has sent have taught us.

Regards,

Bruce

Do the Divine Messangers themselves have a direct experience of deity?

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Does the fact that so many people have "seen God" make it any less likely that their experiences are delusions?

Who has claimed to "see" God ? I know of very few instances where people have claimed to see God. They may "see" Jesus or angels or other heavenly beings or feel a message is from God perhaps?

What would make it seem less delusional to me is how closely I know them personally. If my husband or one of my best friends told me of such an experience, I would be more likely to believe them than a stranger.