Do you believe in Guardian Angels? (church, scriptures)

[Scott1]

Far be it from me to interupt the humor, but for anyone interested in learning about this important part of the Christian faith:

Who are our Guardian Angels?
No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, for to His Angels God has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91: 10-12 A heavenly spirit assigned by God to watch over each of us during our lives. The doctrine of angels is part of the Church's tradition. The role of the guardian angel is both to guide us to good thoughts, works and words, and to preserve us from evil. Since the 17th century the Church has celebrated a feast honoring them in October throughout the Universal Church. Since the last calendar revision this feast is Oct 2.

He has charged His angels with the ministry of watching and safeguarding every one of His creatures that behold not His face. Kingdoms have their angels assigned to them, and men have their angels; these latter it is to whom religion designates the Holy Guardian Angels. Our Lord says in the Gospel, "Beware lest ye scandalize any of these little ones, for their angels in heaven see the face of My Father." The existence of Guardian Angels, is, hence a dogma of the Christian faith: this being so, what ought not our respect be for that sure and holy intelligence that is ever present at our side; and how great our solicitude be, lest, by any act of ours, we offend those eyes which are ever bent upon us in all our ways!

[James the Persian]

Yes, I do. It's part of our faith and, although I've never had any particular experiences with them, it's something I've never really felt any need to question.

James

[Lux et Umbra]

I voted other because I'm sort of in between yes and no. When I was younger I went though a period when I was obsessed with them, espeically Gabriel for some reason. Now the interest comes and goes. There have been times when I suspected an angel was around, but being agnostic about things like this I was never sure. I don't think it's impossible. I also don't think they look like the sterotypical image, though it's possible that they come to people in that image because that's what we're so used to.

[kaysquared89]

I vote Yes...

As an 8th grader, my life turned upside down. My family was in the process of a move from the IL to NY, and my brother was battling cancer. It was a very dificult time for me because I was so stressed and nervous and afraid that my brother might die. My best Friend's Grandmother, whom I never met prior, took me into her home one day. She embraced me as if I was her own grandchild, and it comforted me. She brought me to a small corner of her living room, to a table that held a small candle on it. She hugged me, telling me that that was the spot she sat and prayed for my family every night. She went on to tell me that everything was going to work out, because it was in God's plan.

I don't know, to me she seemed like a messenger from God, telling me to have faith and all would work its self out. The fact that a stranger could act so openly towards me, comforting me and helping me when I needed most seemed like an act of God. So I at least like to think of her as my guardian angel, looking out for me.

[Feathers in Hair]

I not exactly sure what I believe. I have known several entities that I would call 'healing guides', but I'm not sure what to call them. I'm not sure if they are seperate beings, creatures unto themselves, aspects of my own personality or reflections of the divine. (Or any of the other options that exist out there.)

[Wandered Off]

I put "no". Their existence would, for me, raise more questions than it answers. It implies that some events (or people?) warrant protection, while others do not. If so, the criteria for choosing which is which are not at all evident. If there were intelligence behind the claimed actions, I would expect to see a more consistent, discernible, and ethical pattern.

[Super Universe]

I absolutely believe, but they're not angels, it's your conscience, which is your soul. Your conscience loves to offer you extreme choices, one selfish (bad), and one generous.

Now the thing is, your soul conscience or "Guardian Angel" isn't there to protect your human form. It's there to present the choices and allow you to choose. It's there to make you feel regret for the poor choices you've made in the past. In it's own soft and suttle way, it helps you become a good person, if you listen and look for it. But it will also go away if you ignore it enough.

Now, this doesn't mean that you wouldn't still have contact with real angels, it's just extremely rare.

[Reety]

I voted "yes"

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by Wandered Off

I put "no". Their existence would, for me, raise more questions than it answers. It implies that some events (or people?) warrant protection, while others do not. If so, the criteria for choosing which is which are not at all evident. If there were intelligence behind the claimed actions, I would expect to see a more consistent, discernible, and ethical pattern.

It doesn't imply that some people warant protection more than others at all (at least not the Christian understanding - I can't say for the weird new age angel beliefs). In Christian belief everyone has a guardian angel whether they are aware of it or not and it's a spiritual guardian who watches over you not a guardian who's going to jump in and save you from a car crash.

James