Actually, I am being really unreasonable. However I would like to ask those who have experienced Angel Feathers to....

[DioneTheDiabolist]

...answer a few questions that I have.

1). What does it feel like when you see that feather?

2). What are your thoughts when this happens?

And

3). What would you say are the long term (if any) effects that you would attribute to these encounters.

I understand that this belief has been the subject of some ridicule here. I have no intention of ridiculing anyone. This thread has been inspired by a previous AIBU thread, but is not a thread about a thread. I am not a journalist. I am not seeking results to use in an academic submission or publication. What I am seeking is knowledge and understanding in the hope that I can use it to help others.

IABU for the following reasons:
I only posted in AIBU for the traffic. If MN rule that I have breached guidelines, can it be moved and not deleted.

And I ask the skeptics not to put people off answering honestly. If you think it necessary, I can start another thread for all your thoughts to be discussed. Perhaps the scientifically minded of you could look at this as an information gathering excersise.

It is a folk belief which assigns an added meaning to common occurrences.
The meaning tends to remain the same, such as walking under ladders in unlucky. Often it derives from obsolete danger or belief. Ladders are associated with the noose.

It is different to Faith and relationship with God, because this is dynamic, live. The Bible is described as the living word because it is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. Christians should not be looking for signs or putting their faith in rituals, although they may perform rituals and see signs IYSWIM.

Hettie indulge me. Point out my great gaffs, the ones which compromise my scientific understanding.

How do you know that a superstitious person is wrong in their belief that walking under a ladder is baseless yet your belief is valid? How have you decided that their folk belief is wrong? What do you mean by folk?

How do you know cracking a mirror won't bring 7 years bad luck?

Superstition is dead in the harm it can do, it is not responsive. Walking under a ladder may be the safest option. No one should have their day ruined due to the number of crows they have seen. The Victorians had no reason to mistrust a person because their eyes were only a certain distance apart....

Advancing a God of the gaps argument....... "Unified theory anyone?"

QM is "woo".

That kind of crap.

Not convinced your grasp of epigenetics is all that sound either. Neither is mine. particularly, but it's extremely easy to see why it's really not remotely analogous with anything in the Bible.

head there is no bad luck for me because 'I am the head and not the tail.'

Hettie you've not convinced me. I think you are lost in translation for me.

Oh - and all that nonsense about alchemy, of course.

Folk is just a term for people.

Well, maybe I'm mistaken.

"QM is woo" does indeed sound like someone who knows what they're talking about.

You'd have to know more about Alchemy to see the connections Hettie. A lot was linked to belief if they could turn base metal into Gold they themselves could transform into Gods, become Divine. The ultimate Humanists...

The woo was slightly tongue in cheek, however it does hold a certain amount of mystery.

Sub I still don't understand how you are able to reject the superstition as essentially false (although comforting) yet accept the claims of Christianity.

head because superstition and Christianity are not the same thing, as I explained in my 9.47 post.

I do not find superstition at all comforting, quite the opposite.

^and 9.36 post.

I don't actually think the angel feathers thing is anything to do with folk law. I challenge anyone to find a reference to it more than...ooh....20 years old.

No I meant how you know Christianity is true beyond what you think it is i.e. Relationship with god

Such as how do you know your relationship with god isn't just in your head as it were

Christianity is many things, one of which is superstitious. (Illogical and historically wrong are two more things)

Praying to a god is as superstitious as not walking under a ladder. Or saluting Mr Magpie. Or touching wood.

And it has the same effect. Nada.

A friend occasionally found them in difficult times including in an ambulance and in hospital while she was waiting for her first dose of chemo. She believed they were from her aunt and they brought her great comfort.

Just spotted this thread. Thought it referred to some new type of ultralight condom.

Guess that's a bit inappropriate? Sorry.

curlew There is such a thing as modern folklore or urban myths, if you like.

Hettie you are confusing Christianity with false religion.

head how do I know? That is where Faith comes in.

But the superstitious person has faith that it works too. So not sure how you logically reject their system per your own? The way you explained superstition is essentially the same for religion: pattern seeking, looking reasons etc

I am not saying Angel feathers are merely folklore or superstition, just they can be. Where people find comfort from them I am happy to believe they are the work of God. Where people become superstitiously obsessed with them and seeking them out I would not connect this with God, that is something rather darker...