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

Mike182 · #1 06-23-2007, 06:32 AM

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?

Panda · #2 06-23-2007, 06:50 AM

Isn't faith often solely bases on personal experience? I would have thought it is more than good enough for faith but not good enough for proof.

Ori · #3 06-23-2007, 06:51 AM

I guess so, but only you will know that.

Or you could be hallucinating. Either way, have fun.

Mike182 · #4 06-23-2007, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panda

Isn't faith often solely bases on personal experience? I would have thought it is more than good enough for faith but not good enough for proof.

oh i certainly agree that as proof for others it is completely inadequate.

PureX · #5 06-23-2007, 07:00 AM

Quote:

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 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.

Mike182 · #6 06-23-2007, 07:04 AM

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.

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

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

doppelgänger · #7 06-23-2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike182

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

If it's good enough for you, that's good enough for me.

Nanda · #8 06-23-2007, 09:08 AM

Quote:

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 would imagine that personal experience would be the most important thing in choosing what you believe...