Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Do you believe in guardian angels?

366 replies

beakerandburette · 14/05/2014 21:50

I have an 2mo DD and recently I have been finding white feathers in her cot, pram, Moses basket ect. I mentioned it to my mum and she suggested it could be an angel, I'm a little sceptical but I must admit it is a little bit strange.

So do you believe and have you had any experience of this?

OP posts:
Hakluyt · 07/06/2014 16:44

People are entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts.

If something is true, it's true. Truth is not subjective.

lottieandmias · 07/06/2014 16:53

I think some truths are subjective.

lottieandmias · 07/06/2014 16:58

By which I mean truths relating to one persons perception.

headinhands · 07/06/2014 17:04

assume people haven't had experiences

I'm sure they've had experiences. It's how they interpret them that is the issue at hand.

headinhands · 07/06/2014 17:05

Either angels are real or they aren't, that's philosophy, determining reality.

Scousadelic · 07/06/2014 17:06

Hak On your point of vulnerable people being tricked out of money, obviously that is vile but shutting down discussion on anything psychic or spiritual is not going to solve that and, possibly, bringing things out into the open might make it more difficult for charlatans. As a society we have approached the issue of vulnerable girls being pressured into sex by empowering them with openness and information, would that approach not work here too? If someone has seen discussions of why some people believe and others don't they may make a more informed decision whether to be involved with these practitioners.

I also think the "given false hope" argument is difficult. I can think of situations where I would sooner have hope than not even if it was ludicrously optimistic. If an outcome is inevitable, would you force reality on someone if hope gave them a more positive outlook that made their life easier?

I admit I don't know the answer to these questions but think we have to be careful before imposing our own judgements on others

SquidlyTunes · 07/06/2014 17:25

headinhands, you've misunderstood and incompletely quoted my previous post to alter its meaning (from respecting people to respecting beliefs). You should've quoted that line in full:

The most serious concern for me is the lack of respect and care shown for others as real human beings

And thus in replying with: "Beliefs don't need respecting. The idea that we should automatically respect them is both dangerous and silly", you are mistakenly answering something I never said and a point I didn't make Smile.

Of course some beliefs are very dangerous and lead to hatred towards others, such as the example you gave, and thus your statement about not automatically respecting every view is valid, and measures should be in place to address and curb those, and indeed there are such things (eg. anti-racism and hatred laws, etc.). If expressed in the context of an online forum like this, I would expect such views to be deleted by the moderator and the poster possibly denied future access.

But as I say, all that's completely missed the point I and others have been saying. Which is, that it IS fine to express disbelief and different views, but HOW you do it is very important and personal attacks on someone (others have given examples of this) are NOT acceptable.

Hope that makes it clearer. But if not, consider this: If your boss or good colleague at work made a suggestion on how something should be done that you thought utterly ridiculous, how would you answer? Presumably you would rightly say you didn't think it was a good idea and explain why....but would you also make personally attacking statements about him/her (eg. telling them that they're stupid, an idiot, etc. for thinking and suggesting it)? I would hope not.

But hopefully you get the point and appreciate the distinction Smile

sunshinemmum · 07/06/2014 17:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hakluyt · 07/06/2014 17:57

It's interesting that we are filling up the thread with stuff about one or two posters who get bit overexcited in their scepticism, but completely ignoring the appalling abuse that the peddlers of "woo" perpetrate. Personally, I would rather have a sceptic who takes it a step too far than a person who claims to be able to find lost children psychically. I find the fact that the "woo" brigade have signally failed to challenge the person who made that claim deeply worrying.

lottieandmias · 07/06/2014 17:59

What 'abuse' are we talking about? Confused

lottieandmias · 07/06/2014 17:59

Most of us probably agree that trying to get business on here is not on.

Hakluyt · 07/06/2014 18:07

Have you heard of Sylvia Browne?

No more comment about the poster claiming to have found lost children?

sunshinemmum · 07/06/2014 18:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lottieandmias · 07/06/2014 18:28

Indigo has helped me in the past with no suggestion of wanting to do so for a fee. I've also had another energy healer who gave us hours of her time for free in RL.

Hakluyt · 07/06/2014 18:28

"Again we have no more details on this, because she was railroaded off the thread."

Can you think of any possible way that her categorical statement that she found missing children using her gifts is an acceptable thing to say?

An I am happy to link to proper academic studies showing that Reiki performs no better than placebo.

Hakluyt · 07/06/2014 18:29

Lottie she said she had found missing children.

sunshinemmum · 07/06/2014 18:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HermioneWeasley · 07/06/2014 18:38

To answer the OP, no I don't believe in angels but I do believe in birds. I suspect they are more likely to be the source of your feathers.

sunshinemmum · 07/06/2014 19:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sunshinemmum · 07/06/2014 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hakluyt · 07/06/2014 19:14

On the other thread she asked somebody to set up a
scientific test of her powers. I said that I would and asked her to pm me her details. She hasn't posted since.

It's not a witch hunt. She has made very specific claims and therefore should expect to be challenged on them. And I find it worrying that apparantly the 'woo believers' are happy for her to make such claims.

But anyway. Back to discussing the best form of words for a non believer to express her views without causing offence, might I suggest "you know hun, I' m not absolutely sure I agree with everything you say but I m probably wrong. What do I know after all- and what do those silly old scientists know"

HermioneWeasley · 07/06/2014 19:23

hakluyt I think I love you

lottieandmias · 07/06/2014 19:23

She hasn't made specific claims though.

sunshinemmum · 07/06/2014 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lottieandmias · 07/06/2014 19:30

I would be the first to admit that I have had experiences of religious organisations who behave in a damaging way to individuals. I once lived with a girl who was apparently a Christian at university. Her views were abhorrent for my way of thinking. She thought gay people were better off dead so they could be with God. The local Christian Union promoted similar views.

But it's not fair to assume that all people who believe in a spiritual world are damaging other people. Most of the time they are not.