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Inconceivalbe started a thread not long ago asking who God was to the posters. I've often wondered how God felt to others. I understand that many of you may make knee jerks to this topic. I'm not suggesting that sensing God translates to the truth of God. I don't "believe" in God, and yet, I've always associated certain experiences with God. I don't know why I associated these experiences with God since I wasn't raised to do so -- yet, I did anyway. Not a God of the Bible, or religion -- just a presence of sorts. When you were a believer did you have these experiences? Did they change once you left the Church or lost faith? I lost my belief in God as a child and yet, I never could escape these sensations.

I was thinking earlier how it's quite distracting, at times, for me, to have sensations that there's something more. If I wanted to, right now, I could close my eyes, part my lips slightly, breath in deeply, fill my lungs, exhale slowly and float upwards... Almost as if I'm light -- if you've ever smoked marijuana that is the closest I can come to describing these self induced sensations. Tears or outward emotional reactions almost never occur, for me, yet, they have, as well, at times. If I'm confronted with stunning beauty or sense tranquility I can rise above the mundane of the everyday. Sometimes if I wanted to talk to God I felt enveloped or as if there was a presence with me at the same moment as feeling elevated in some sense. Not just a wee happy feeling, more almost as if soaring above and my body loses mass, almost. A part of eternal, or oneness with all, and loss of self. I purposefully try to avoid talking to God, even as an experiment, because it actually is frightening for me after I leave the experience since when I'm in it I have no doubts, at all. I'd rather not tussle with the issues of doubts. I actually find myself fighting against these sensations. I try to avoid certain things where I know I may be overcome with these sensations as I fear I may go right back into a constant state of uncertainty.

Now I attribute these sensations to brain chemistry.

Yes I'm a cuckoo. :)

What about you?

I tried my best to feel God, but never did. It was a one sided unrequited relationship with me giving all and getting nothing.

Moniker wrote:Inconceivalbe started a thread not long ago asking who God was to the posters. I've often wondered how God felt to others. I understand that many of you may make knee jerks to this topic. I'm not suggesting that sensing God translates to the truth of God. I don't "believe" in God, and yet, I've always associated certain experiences with God. I don't know why I associated these experiences with God since I wasn't raised to do so -- yet, I did anyway. Not a God of the Bible, or religion -- just a presence of sorts. When you were a believer did you have these experiences? Did they change once you left the Church or lost faith? I lost my belief in God as a child and yet, I never could escape these sensations.

I was thinking earlier how it's quite distracting, at times, for me, to have sensations that there's something more. If I wanted to, right now, I could close my eyes, part my lips slightly, breath in deeply, fill my lungs, exhale slowly and float upwards... Almost as if I'm light -- if you've ever smoked marijuana that is the closest I can come to describing these self induced sensations. Tears or outward emotional reactions almost never occur, for me, yet, they have, as well, at times. If I'm confronted with stunning beauty or sense tranquility I can rise above the mundane of the everyday. Sometimes if I wanted to talk to God I felt enveloped or as if there was a presence with me at the same moment as feeling elevated in some sense. Not just a wee happy feeling, more almost as if soaring above and my body loses mass, almost. A part of eternal, or oneness with all, and loss of self. I purposefully try to avoid talking to God, even as an experiment, because it actually is frightening for me after I leave the experience since when I'm in it I have no doubts, at all. I'd rather not tussle with the issues of doubts. I actually find myself fighting against these sensations. I try to avoid certain things where I know I may be overcome with these sensations as I fear I may go right back into a constant state of uncertainty.

Now I attribute these sensations to brain chemistry.

Yes I'm a cuckoo. :)

What about you?

I do have similar experiences but I would emphasize a sense of openess and mystery rather than a presence. What is present for me, if anything, is the open universe- not a bleak universe, more an enchanted universe. That it is perhaps related to brain chemistry doesn't bother me. So what?
The brain is both more and less than it appears to be. Less because it needs this whole nexus of human intersubjectivity and connections to the world for it to be the semantic engine that it is. More because it sometimes appears to be just a lump of matter---its intricate activities are hidden from that perspective like a book to a person who cannot read.
You can only read a brain by interacting with an embodied brain that is connected to a face and hands and an organ of speach.

So go ahead and let yourself soar. Call what you sense "God" if you like--or make another word (The One, the True, or The Spiritual Imagination). Just don't get sucked into some vehicle of dogma and doctrine. Don't confuse scientific knowledge with the imaginations of gurus and self proclaimed prophets with their Kolobs and Crystals. Stay free. Stay sane.

God, How Does He Feel To You?

Like some sort of noodly appendage......?

To me, God felt like a sudden release of endorphins and oxytocin - but the feelings associated with those hormones were directed at "God" and the universe, rather than a mate.

I'm still in a transitional phase regarding theism. I am on my way to leaving the concept of a personal God behind me. For me it was never about feelings anyway. Natural theology is more appealing to me now. I believe I know God exists based on other evidences, scientific or not, but it is difficult to believe God participates in our daily lives.

Bond, I'm sorry.

Tarski, I no longer associate these sensations with God. I did so when I was quite younger and then tried to squelch them for most of my adulthood for I wasn't certain where they emanated. I no longer think of them in terms of God - over the last year I learned to think of them as spritual/mystical/numinous experiences and it is a relief to think of them in this way. I am not drawn to organized religion or hooky pooky peddlers of supernatural mystical wares. I just know that spiritual experiences, for those that believe, are linked to God and this is why I framed the question this way. I think enchanted is a good term to describe the universe while undergoing one of these experiences -- sometimes, for me, it seems to be an epiphany of sorts and just awe while feeling part of something larger than self.

Beastie, I too would say that the way these feel is much like the rush of falling in love. It's a bit like ecstasy and pupils dilated to soak in the beauty of, in this case, the universe rather than a significant other. I'm glad you and Tarski know what I'm talking about as I've come across some that are leery of skeptics or agnostics/atheists having these experiences.

BCSpace, I'm offended! :)

Dart, I've often wondered how those that don't have spiritual experiences come to their belief, or keep their belief, in a deity. I think it's interesting how you've done so.

Dart, I've often wondered how those that don't have spiritual experiences come to their belief, or keep their belief, in a deity. I think it's interesting how you've done so.

Well my belief in deity was neevr dependant on Mormonism or any other faith. I think the evidence is there.

Now I attribute these sensations to brain chemistry

No emotion is felt without brain chemistry getting in on the act. But it is not proved that all human perceptions are a result of brain chemistry. I am looking at my monitor. Does it really exist, or is my brain just confusing me?

Talking about brain chemistry as if it explained everything, is like saying the Egyptian Pyramids were built because of machinery involving sand, water and sun.

Sounds like somone has been converted to Tarskism ;)

God doesn't feel like anything to me because I consume chemicals that interfere with spiritual sensations. Caffeine, etc. ;)