Have you seen a vision?

[Anonymous]

I know a not-crazy-seeming woman who is pretty religious and says she saw a vision of the risen Christ. We are in a sort of bible-study class together; I believe in God but I'm pretty unsure what I think about Jesus. So in this context, she mentioned this. And I absolutely believe that she did, or at least, that she believes she did. She's not saying it to impress me or because she got carried away with a story, in other words.

This sort of upsets me, however, because of course I would believe in Jesus if I saw him in a dream-like vision! And then there's the idea that many people have had such visions, but not me.

So, have YOU had a vision or something similar? If you haven't, on what basis do you believe in not just God, but Jesus? Like, if you feel a presence, why call it Jesus instead of just God?

I've been mulling this over and thought I would put it out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a not-crazy-seeming woman who is pretty religious and says she saw a vision of the risen Christ. We are in a sort of bible-study class together; I believe in God but I'm pretty unsure what I think about Jesus. So in this context, she mentioned this. And I absolutely believe that she did, or at least, that she believes she did. She's not saying it to impress me or because she got carried away with a story, in other words.

This sort of upsets me, however, because of course I would believe in Jesus if I saw him in a dream-like vision! And then there's the idea that many people have had such visions, but not me.

So, have YOU had a vision or something similar? If you haven't, on what basis do you believe in not just God, but Jesus? Like, if you feel a presence, why call it Jesus instead of just God?

I've been mulling this over and thought I would put it out there.

Mother teresa heard Jesus speaking to her from the cross, telling her to open hospitals for the dying. But then Jesus never spoke to her again after that, causing her to question her faith.

[Anonymous]

I start by saying that I, too, am not certain about my feelings of Jesus and where he exists in the spiritual realm. But, if God is all knowing, perhaps he presents himself to people when they need to see him based on their own spiritual journey? Perhaps you haven't been at that point yet and maybe she has?

As an aside, I also believe that our spirit exists after death and, perhaps may be reborn in a new body and to live a new human life. So in my view he may never present himself in this life, but maybe in a future one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I start by saying that I, too, am not certain about my feelings of Jesus and where he exists in the spiritual realm. But, if God is all knowing, perhaps he presents himself to people when they need to see him based on their own spiritual journey? Perhaps you haven't been at that point yet and maybe she has?

As an aside, I also believe that our spirit exists after death and, perhaps may be reborn in a new body and to live a new human life. So in my view he may never present himself in this life, but maybe in a future one.

Which Christian faith teaches this?

[Anonymous]

I have seen a vision, but it was after relaxing and meditating in the bath after a particularly intense acupuncture session. It was related to religion, but did not involve Jesus or God. It was a message for me, but it was also a by product of brain chemistry and relaxation. Personally, I saw the vision as less of a "sign" and more- I am finally relaxed enough to let this experience happen.

When I am stressed,which is typical, and not open to any and all experiences, they do not happen. I feel like the vision I saw was presented to me so I would take my spiritual journey more seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have seen a vision, but it was after relaxing and meditating in the bath after a particularly intense acupuncture session. It was related to religion, but did not involve Jesus or God. It was a message for me, but it was also a by product of brain chemistry and relaxation. Personally, I saw the vision as less of a "sign" and more- I am finally relaxed enough to let this experience happen.

When I am stressed,which is typical, and not open to any and all experiences, they do not happen. I feel like the vision I saw was presented to me so I would take my spiritual journey more seriously.

What was your vision? Are you saying that visions are not available to you unless you've prepared for them by means of meditation and acupuncture?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if you want to hear my input, as I'm not Christian. I'm a practicing Hindu, and I do see visions. I've been in the mystic side of things for long enough to know the difference between a hallucination and my intuition/messages from the Divine.

The way I see it, a lot of this cannot be explained through logic. Many mystics in many religions receive visions of their form of the Divine, and if we took them very literally then we'd starting fighting with each other.

For me, they have been unmistakably real - the Hindu deities appeared before me and predicted some specific shit that absolutely went down in my life after each vision. The deities created glitches in my reality that other people noticed and were bewildered by, and appeared to other people and told them the same things they were telling me. I've had enough signs over the years to know that I'm actually getting messages from the Divine and it's not my crazy brain.

So yeah, visions are a thing that happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if you want to hear my input, as I'm not Christian. I'm a practicing Hindu, and I do see visions. I've been in the mystic side of things for long enough to know the difference between a hallucination and my intuition/messages from the Divine.

The way I see it, a lot of this cannot be explained through logic. Many mystics in many religions receive visions of their form of the Divine, and if we took them very literally then we'd starting fighting with each other.

For me, they have been unmistakably real - the Hindu deities appeared before me and predicted some specific shit that absolutely went down in my life after each vision. The deities created glitches in my reality that other people noticed and were bewildered by, and appeared to other people and told them the same things they were telling me. I've had enough signs over the years to know that I'm actually getting messages from the Divine and it's not my crazy brain.

So yeah, visions are a thing that happen.

What are the signs that convince you that the messages ae coming from the Divine and not from your brain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if you want to hear my input, as I'm not Christian. I'm a practicing Hindu, and I do see visions. I've been in the mystic side of things for long enough to know the difference between a hallucination and my intuition/messages from the Divine.

The way I see it, a lot of this cannot be explained through logic. Many mystics in many religions receive visions of their form of the Divine, and if we took them very literally then we'd starting fighting with each other.

For me, they have been unmistakably real - the Hindu deities appeared before me and predicted some specific shit that absolutely went down in my life after each vision. The deities created glitches in my reality that other people noticed and were bewildered by, and appeared to other people and told them the same things they were telling me. I've had enough signs over the years to know that I'm actually getting messages from the Divine and it's not my crazy brain.

So yeah, visions are a thing that happen.

What are the signs that convince you that the messages ae coming from the Divine and not from your brain?

That would be getting a little personal (details about my private life, etc), so I tried to give the best answer I could with what I said earlier: predictions came true, other people noticed weird shit happening that was literally against the laws of physical reality, and other people received the same messages from the exact same deities that I received. That's as far as I can tell you, without going into personal detail, about the signs that convinced me that this was real, and not from my own brain. (Obviously there is more, but again, private.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I start by saying that I, too, am not certain about my feelings of Jesus and where he exists in the spiritual realm. But, if God is all knowing, perhaps he presents himself to people when they need to see him based on their own spiritual journey? Perhaps you haven't been at that point yet and maybe she has?

As an aside, I also believe that our spirit exists after death and, perhaps may be reborn in a new body and to live a new human life. So in my view he may never present himself in this life, but maybe in a future one.

Which Christian faith teaches this?

I never said I was Christian and OP didn't ask for responses only from Christians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if you want to hear my input, as I'm not Christian. I'm a practicing Hindu, and I do see visions. I've been in the mystic side of things for long enough to know the difference between a hallucination and my intuition/messages from the Divine.

The way I see it, a lot of this cannot be explained through logic. Many mystics in many religions receive visions of their form of the Divine, and if we took them very literally then we'd starting fighting with each other.

For me, they have been unmistakably real - the Hindu deities appeared before me and predicted some specific shit that absolutely went down in my life after each vision. The deities created glitches in my reality that other people noticed and were bewildered by, and appeared to other people and told them the same things they were telling me. I've had enough signs over the years to know that I'm actually getting messages from the Divine and it's not my crazy brain.

So yeah, visions are a thing that happen.

What are the signs that convince you that the messages ae coming from the Divine and not from your brain?

That would be getting a little personal (details about my private life, etc), so I tried to give the best answer I could with what I said earlier: predictions came true, other people noticed weird shit happening that was literally against the laws of physical reality, and other people received the same messages from the exact same deities that I received. That's as far as I can tell you, without going into personal detail, about the signs that convinced me that this was real, and not from my own brain. (Obviously there is more, but again, private.)

I'm getting messages from the divine too, but I can't go into details. That's private. Trust me.

[Anonymous]

I never grew up with a religion but have come to accept that I have visions of things I can't explain. I saw an energy healer once and she told me I am a healer. I learned recently my great-grandmother was a healer in her community. Today, I live in a region where people believe in sacred landscapes, and visions (through animals) are integral to their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never grew up with a religion but have come to accept that I have visions of things I can't explain. I saw an energy healer once and she told me I am a healer. I learned recently my great-grandmother was a healer in her community. Today, I live in a region where people believe in sacred landscapes, and visions (through animals) are integral to their lives.

So your environment and family background encourage this belief. Have you ever healed anyone? If so, what was the expereince like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never grew up with a religion but have come to accept that I have visions of things I can't explain. I saw an energy healer once and she told me I am a healer. I learned recently my great-grandmother was a healer in her community. Today, I live in a region where people believe in sacred landscapes, and visions (through animals) are integral to their lives.

So your environment and family background encourage this belief. Have you ever healed anyone? If so, what was the expereince like?

I am still learning what it means to be a healer but am realizing my greatest gift is empathy. I know and feel what someone is going through without them telling me. I seem to have a calming influence on people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never grew up with a religion but have come to accept that I have visions of things I can't explain. I saw an energy healer once and she told me I am a healer. I learned recently my great-grandmother was a healer in her community. Today, I live in a region where people believe in sacred landscapes, and visions (through animals) are integral to their lives.

So your environment and family background encourage this belief. Have you ever healed anyone? If so, what was the expereince like?

I am still learning what it means to be a healer but am realizing my greatest gift is empathy. I know and feel what someone is going through without them telling me. I seem to have a calming influence on people.

That's very nice. There are many naturally empathic people. It's a personality trait, like agressiveness and cheerfulness. Empathy can even be taught, to some extent, to people to whom it does not come so naturally. They may not have the innate "feel" for people that you do, but they can learn to notice and address cues from others.