is personal experience good enough? (ritual, spiritual, faith, religion)

[Terrywoodenpic]

As you go through life Many of the things you were taught and many of you own preconceptions, Reveal them selves as either false or not exactly true.

Depending on your perspective you can see this as either loss of faith or strengthening of faith.

I would prefer to see it as the honing of ones faith...seeing more clearly the essentials and the falling aside of those things that confuse and weaken a faith.

[Papersock]

Originally Posted by Mike182

is this subjective, personal experience a good enough basis for faith?

It's good enough for some people.

[Mestemia]

Originally Posted by Mike182

my religion is based on my personal experiences of the supernatural, or at least what i perceive to be supernatural. i have images and visions in which i communicate with deity figures, i physically feel a spiritual connection with what i perceive to be dis-incarnate entities.... is this subjective, personal experience a good enough basis for faith?

I do not understand what it is you are asking.
What do you have that is not based upon personal experience, either directly of indirectly?

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Mike182

is this subjective, personal experience a good enough basis for faith?

I personally believe that anything we perceive as reality is based on faith; a faith in our senses and our brains to interpret information correctly. Religious faith is a bit different, as it often does not involve direct personal experience.

However, your experiences provide you with a relationship with your deities. Even if your deities are merely illusory (but what isn't?), or more imagination than anything, they still have a significant impact on your vision of reality.

So, yes, it is the perfect basis for faith! Just be sure to be careful when dealing with experiences of this sort. I recently had a student where I work end up in a mental institution due to some dramatic experiences with the Divine. (Of course, his were drug-induced.)

[roli]

Originally Posted by Mike182

my religion is based on my personal experiences of the supernatural, or at least what i perceive to be supernatural. i have images and visions in which i communicate with deity figures, i physically feel a spiritual connection with what i perceive to be dis-incarnate entities.... is this subjective, personal experience a good enough basis for faith?

I guess the question would be,allthough they are personal experiences, are the images and visions that you have, which allow you to communicate with particular diety figures authentic or counterfeit.
By authentic,I mean are they of God ,Jesus or are they of a dark nature.
The bible speaks of the devil.2Cr 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
1Jo 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I mean there are many entities out their that appear as God or divine.but in reality they are counterfeit
The bible also says about our struggles in this life.
Eph 6:12For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

[Draka]

Originally Posted by Mike182

my religion is based on my personal experiences of the supernatural, or at least what i perceive to be supernatural. i have images and visions in which i communicate with deity figures, i physically feel a spiritual connection with what i perceive to be dis-incarnate entities.... is this subjective, personal experience a good enough basis for faith?

It is the best basis for your faith. Why would you base your faith on something which contradicts what you see, feel, and experience, in any way, for yourself? If what you can personally attest to brings to your mind and heart things beyond the physical human scope of understanding, then I say go with it. You are tapping into that which is beyond this realm and it is the best way to aid your understanding of spiritual matters. In all, you are having faith in yourself to understand what you experience and faith that what you experience is real. That's what it is all about.

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by roli

I guess the question would be,allthough they are personal experiences, are the images and visions that you have, which allow you to communicate with particular diety figures authentic or counterfeit.
By authentic,I mean are they of God ,Jesus or are they of a dark nature.

Since they are personal experiences, and everyone's symbolic inner world provides different reactions to such things, if Mike182 felt they were of a positive nature--even though another may see the same thing as negative--would they be authentic to him?

In other words, what is "of God or Jesus" in relation to an individual?

[PureX]

Originally Posted by PureX

I don't think it's a basis for faith at all. Faith is a reaction to our lack of knowledge and experience. It's not a product of our knowledge and experience.

What you're talking about isn't a practice of faith so much as it's a practice of spiritualism.

Originally Posted by Mikea82

the spiritualism i am talking about require a belief in or acceptance of Deities, so how are the two different in this respect?

You are describing a spiritual experience based on belief rather then on faith. These are not the same things. Beliefs are based on evidence and reason, regardless of how logical (or illogical) or accurately (or inaccurately) interpreted these might be. Faith, on the other hand, is a reaction to a lack or evidence, or experience, or knowledge, that we can use as a guide, and is a course of action founded on hope, instead.

[roli]

[quote]

Originally Posted by PureX

I don't think it's a basis for faith at all. Faith is a reaction to our lack of knowledge and experience. It's not a product of our knowledge and experience.