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Original poster

to ask you to tell me about your experienfe of gor or jesus

54 replies

bejeezus · 16/04/2012 06:54

I've heard it said,Moët recently on a thread on jeté, that people have 'edperiencer Jesus'

No one ever elaborates though, or gives any detail

It's very mysterious. I am intrigued

OP posts:
twofingerstoGideon · 16/04/2012 14:26

Well, according to her, he can help with big problems and trivial ones.

Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 15:17

Thanks for sharing that cassette

richman did your friend actually hear a voice, as if it was a person speaking?

I had an experience once, that I can't explain. I'm pretty sure I would think it was god if I wasn't an atheist;

I was in a really frightening and stressful place and was sat discussing it quietly with my friend on her bed. A flame appeared and 'danced' between us. We both saw it. I heard someone say my name, as if they were in the room with us. She didn't hear that. I read something yesterday which triggered this memory

That's not what I want the thread to be about mind. I'm interested in peoples stories

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Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 15:19

Was wondering whether god would bother trying to communicate with athiests

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SoupDragon · 16/04/2012 15:30

"I'm pretty sure I would think it was god if I wasn't an atheist;"

I think this is the key - if you believe in a god, then you will attribute such experiences to them.

Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 15:55

Yeah, but maybe it IS God, and I ignored him??

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Avenged · 16/04/2012 15:55

My gran and I had 76 years of faith in god and we renounced our faith in him because he never once answered any of our prayers or sent us a sign to let us know he was with us.

When I renounced my faith in God (a few weeks before my gran died), I felt like I was released from some dark place and also felt free. It was like I was able to emotionally breathe again IYSWIM.

TotemPole · 16/04/2012 16:18

So he'll help someone find a parking space, but leave innocents to die all around the world?

I think this is the key - if you believe in a god, then you will attribute such experiences to them.

SoupDragon, I agree. Someone who doesn't believe will consider alternative explanations.

Rhubarbgarden · 16/04/2012 16:21

Avenged - very similar experience here. As a Christian I was often troubled by the fact I never felt any 'presence' or had any actual personal experience of god even though others claimed to. Then, after going through a very difficult period in my life and deriving no comfort from my religion, and coming out of it not understanding how a loving god could allow what had happened to happen, and so thinking either god doesn't exist or if he does I want nothing to do with him, I gave it up. What a release. It was just as you describe - my own backwards road to Damascus moment. I've never looked back.

bumbez · 16/04/2012 16:27

I have 0ne, years ago I was suffering much angst just leaving school and not sure what to do with my life. It was late, I was alone and walking back from clubbing. I passed this imposing church at the bottom of my road. I stared at it for ages and then asked the question so if you are God tell me what I should do ( in my head not out loud)
I carried on about 200 yards , a car pulled up, a lady wound down the window and called out "don't give up love", then drove off.
It helped at the time but not enough to convince me to start going to church.

TotemPole · 16/04/2012 16:33

If she'd been more specific and suggested a career path or course of study that would have been your question answered.

You looked a bit fed up and were wandering home in the early hours and she thought she'd try to pep you up. It's the female equivalent of "cheer up love, it might never happen".

southlundon · 16/04/2012 17:16

I have specific instances which non-believers could put down to coincidence or 'good luck' or whatever but which I honestly believe have occurred from God. I believe that my DH and I were certainly bought together by God and he blesses our marriage every day.

But on an even more personal level, I find that I experience God/Jesus not just through specific events but just within me. It's hard to explain but I may be walking along the street, or praying or at church, or in my car looking at the scenery when I am filled with a massive rush of love/happiness/sense of peace or some other realisation hits me at the same time. To me, that is God reaching out to me.

It could be that I'm actively praying/talking to him or I could just be thinking about something else (not completely random though - not like I'm in Sainsburys and thinking about what to have for tea; that'd be a bit odd!) e.g. how lovely the garden is looking or how wonderful my son is. And not just happy thoughts either - it might be that I'm praying for something that's going wrong in my life or for some big situation to change and I'll get a sense that God is watching over that situation.

It all sounds a bit wishy-washy perhaps, but it does feel really real to me. Like getting high in an instance (the happy/love rushes) or just a sense of God's presence by me (when I'm upset or praying for something bad to change).

I'm not looking out for these experiences, I'm not pushing myself to have them. They've happened since I was going to a pretty boring Anglican cofE church and now where I'm at a more happy-clappy church.

And I also have lots of occasions when i don't feel this but I always find it amazing each time it happens.

Right, you can all attack me now! Blush

WhyAlwaysBoris · 16/04/2012 17:32

I have had one, (actually became a christian afterwards because of it) but very personal circumstances surrounding it though and certainly would never post it on an aibu. Agree that getting the thread moved to religion might get you more answers. PM me if you want to know mine, OP.

Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 17:38

I have times when I am suddenly filled with emotion, more often than not it is a feeling of peace and contentment and feeling 'connected' to my life. I feel like its just when I realise to appreciate being alive south

bumb me and a friend always recognise 'those people' that come into our lives at the right time yo direct us. We always call them 'angela's but both of us are atheists

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Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 17:42

My sister had a weird one; a good friend of hers had recently died. She wad sat in the garden thinking about him and asked for a Sign if he could see her. An Apple fell from the sky. No Apple trees around. She thought a bird dropped it.

So, are these the kind of experiences you attribute to God? How are some people sure it is him? I mean it happens to atheists and they start believing don't they?

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Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 17:44

rhubarb and avenged I am usually a very conjured atheists. But when I DO start thinking about opening up to the possibitu, I have to say, it feels dark...

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Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 17:47

conjured

convicted

OP posts:
madhairday · 16/04/2012 17:51

PLenty, but not sure this is the right place

Seriously, may be better in the religion section - AIBU is a little..... aibu ish.

I can tell you about my experiences of Moet, if you like

Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 18:07

Ok, I've asked for thread to be moved

Please tell me

Pleeeeeease Grin

I will PM you Boris when I've worked out how to

OP posts:
TotemPole · 16/04/2012 18:12

The apple thing is weird. It could have been a bird.

bejeezus, click the 'message poster' link at the right of Boris' post.

Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 18:16

Lol...we call them angels NOT Angela!

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Original poster
bejeezus · 16/04/2012 18:17

Thanks totem I can't see it...I'm on my stupid phone

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TotemPole · 16/04/2012 18:17

I guess that goes back to the experience being personal. They may not want to share the details.

Cassettetapeandpencil, it'll be part of a conversation where they are stating God exists.

Why do you think that?
Because I've experienced Him.
How?
Not Saying.

The conversation would have been initiated by them, not me.

So putting forward an argument, makes a statement as 'proof' then clams up when asked for details of this 'proof'.

Maybe it's just the people I know in RL.Confused

BenderBendingRodriguez · 16/04/2012 18:24

at my old work, there was someone who said she'd seen anangel and someone else who gave us a very detailed account of how he'd been visited by jesus while in the grip of a massive drug freakout.

never had myself and happy to keep it that way, being a committed unbeliever. in fact, when my brother died, i felt the last of my slightly woo leanings dissipate into the ether. the magic of being alive is enough for me.

BenderBendingRodriguez · 16/04/2012 18:25

never had any. sorry, typing while wrestling feral 8mo.

southlundon · 16/04/2012 19:36

Hey Bejeezus - I've wondered whether non-believers have the same sort of feelings or not.

I think the thing about these experiences etc in general is it really does come down to faith and our own innermost feelings and convictions. It's tied up with the mystery of how personalities differ and perceptions and all that sort of thing isn't it?

I mean, when I became a Christian (and there are many different ideas of at what point that happens to someone depending on what sort of church you go to I think), my whole perception of life altered. The way I view people, the way I look around, as well as things like my mindset etc has all changed. So I guess that also makes me much more likely to view certain situations/experiences as being God-given.

I guess though, as it's all perception noone else can say I'm wrong if I believe wholeheartedly that those are the things I feel. Likewise, I can't imagien I'd ever tell an athiest that the £50 note they found in the street one day when they were broke was put there by God, but I would probably think so if it happened to me.

I hope this is helping. Blimey this is difficult discussing it impersonally on t'internet as opposed to over a bottle of merlot in the pub

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