This is, obviously, a direct response to the thread "Atheists, what would you consider a direct communication from God."
So, theists, if I were to tell you on this forum that I have just personally heard from God, told to me in a way that convinced me utterly (the lights went out, yet I could still see, I couldn't hear anything, but the words formed in my head like magic), that God wants us all to abandon formal religions because they are doing huge harm among his people -- war, terrorism, killing, etc. -- do you believe me? Why or why not?
If another Joseph Smith came along and proclaimed that he found even more texts, not on gold tablets but ones made of actual sapphire and diamonds, and they disputed what the first Joseph Smith claims he found, would you believe him? Why or why not?
If you found what appeared to be an ancient text that told a story of a fellow named Apuleius had been turned into a donkey, would you believe it? There is such a text, it's called Apuleius and the Golden ***.
For what reason would you reject the presumed revelations in the Mahabharata, or the Granth Guru Sahib?
I welcome all other suggested communications from God, and responses to why you would or would not accept them.
So, theists, if I were to tell you on this forum that I have just personally heard from God, told to me in a way that convinced me utterly (the lights went out, yet I could still see, I couldn't hear anything, but the words formed in my head like magic), that God wants us all to abandon formal religions because they are doing huge harm among his people -- war, terrorism, killing, etc. -- do you believe me? Why or why not?
If another Joseph Smith came along and proclaimed that he found even more texts, not on gold tablets but ones made of actual sapphire and diamonds, and they disputed what the first Joseph Smith claims he found, would you believe him? Why or why not?
If you found what appeared to be an ancient text that told a story of a fellow named Apuleius had been turned into a donkey, would you believe it? There is such a text, it's called Apuleius and the Golden ***.
For what reason would you reject the presumed revelations in the Mahabharata, or the Granth Guru Sahib?
I welcome all other suggested communications from God, and responses to why you would or would not accept them.