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'A mental peace/calming came over me'

'I Just knew' after I'd studied it out, drawn my own conclusion and prayed

'A burning sensation in my bosom'

Etc, etc.

These are the typical descriptions, no further delving into details typically, that are used to describe one's Mormon 'spiritual' experience(s).

Looking back at what I was was indoctrinated to believe and described were 'promptings of the Holy Ghost' (a la Mormonism's beliefs) I have since come to realize were simply emotional manifestations that I induced and prompted to give myself a sense of satisfaction that some higher power was looking out for me and confirming 'truth' to/for me of something I wanted regardless of the non-subjective truth of the matter at issue. I have tested the new appreciation for what was going on, as I can to this day pick something among my desires, I can focus on it, meditate about it, and induce the identical state that I had previously experienced. The only difference is now I do not ascribe this sensation of emotions as coming from any external source, much less a Holy Ghost.

So, I think 'spiritual' is just another way of saying that aspect of one's emotional state, specifically that produced as a result of quiet introspection and meditation. If one is inclined to ascribe that to the Holy Ghost and only ascribes what is socially accepted notions, notions of morality as we relate to and with others in a civil, golden rule kind of a way, as 'spiritual', at least such a divinest is sincere. But I yet think the are misguided in not realizing how easy it is to produce whenever one wants to take some basic emotion stage-setting steps.

I've met and read about many opportunistic Mormons that ascribe any emotion they have if they go through this study it out/come to my own conclusion/pray about the conclusion/have good feelings overwhelm my consciousness, even as to anti-social notions, as being divine confirmations from the Holy Ghost (e.g., 'it's okay for me to charge excessively high prices to others in my business because I got a good feeling after I prayed about it', 'it's okay for me to have sex with other men's wives and young daughters, because god commands it'). I think these individuals are self-deluded sociopaths.

Emotion is the typical stimulus for declaring a spiritual manifestation. Spituality, however, is a black box of justifications. Hugh Nibley complained about General Authorities telling him that we live the Law of Consecration "spiritually." (try telling your bishop that you live the law of tithing spiritually at tithing settlement!)

How about, Zion is gathering and the ten tribes are returning -- "spiritually."

One can imagine apologists, some having emotional development issues, feeling uncomfortable with the "touchy-feely" baggage of spirituality, but yet believing things can be known spiritually -- in just such a way that the knowledge is true, but not demonstrable.

An MTC teacher I had once told our class about his father who, being logical and never showing emotion, bore powerful, emotionless testimonies. Everyone knew that he was logical and only comfortable with facts and so it was a big boost to the faith of others knowing that he had a testimony. One imagines the truth was communicated to him through some kind of hyper-logical means, through a "third eye" of insight.

sock puppet wrote:'A mental peace/calming came over me'

'I Just knew' after I'd studied it out, drawn my own conclusion and prayed

'A burning sensation in my bosom'

Etc, etc.
...

I don't suppose there's any way to try this out in real life, but I can't help wondering how many people would use an expression like 'A burning sensation in my bosom' if they had not been primed by missionaries or other members to describe their experience this way.

malkie wrote:I don't suppose there's any way to try this out in real life, but I can't help wondering how many people would use an expression like 'A burning sensation in my bosom' if they had not been primed by missionaries or other members to describe their experience this way.

We would need to ask Paul of the new testament. He was very big on feeling the holy ghost.

malkie wrote:

sock puppet wrote:'A mental peace/calming came over me'

'I Just knew' after I'd studied it out, drawn my own conclusion and prayed

'A burning sensation in my bosom'

Etc, etc.
...

I don't suppose there's any way to try this out in real life, but I can't help wondering how many people would use an expression like 'A burning sensation in my bosom' if they had not been primed by missionaries or other members to describe their experience this way.

When I was negotiating my passage out of Mormonism, I had a home teacher bear his testimony to me. He recounted that he'd prayed about the Book of Mormon and had felt "a burning in [his] bosom." When I seemed nonplussed, he continued that he "was pretty sure that it wasn't heartburn." He was offend when I couldn't stop laughing.

why me wrote:

malkie wrote:I don't suppose there's any way to try this out in real life, but I can't help wondering how many people would use an expression like 'A burning sensation in my bosom' if they had not been primed by missionaries or other members to describe their experience this way.

We would need to ask Paul of the new testament. He was very big on feeling the holy ghost.

Do you mean that he used that expression - 'A burning sensation in my bosom' - to describe his experience?

Gadianton wrote:One can imagine apologists, ... yet believing things can be known spiritually -- in just such a way that the knowledge is true, but not demonstrable.

Not demonstrable is the key to an organization to be able to use it as a tool to keep the 'knowledge' mystified. Explain it, in detail, would make it no longer 'special' or with magical qualities. And how would that drill-down explanation go?

The MTC instructor's father that was logical, only comfortable with facts, bore 'powerful' testimony. Devoid as it may have been of emotions, it was no doubt broadly stated without any explanatory power. That is the essence of 'spirituality'.

Testimony bearing is a psychological weapon against those who are thereby left to wonder, 'why not me?' 'God has witnessed these 'spiritual' truths to all these other people, but not to me. Why not? Am I not worthy as his child too?'

Then there is the re-orientation for a Mormon nexus between any positive human emotion and god messaging. 'Oh, brother Jones, God is sending you the same witnessing. You just don't realize that's what it is. After you have helped your elderly neighbor rake his leaves in the fall and you have a sense of satisfaction, or watched your daughter in the school play and you get choked up with pride to the point you could just burst, those are times when God is telling you it is good and true."

The explanatory power of psychology is a threat to the basic tools of indoctrination used by COJCOLDS.

Is the 'burning in the bosom' a known physiological episode?

What I mean is, do we know what is happening in the body when this supposed phenomena occurs?

This is what ultimately did it for me and why I am now an atheist. I believe that religion has simply hijacked normal human emotions, such as elevation, awe, guilt, and shame, attributing mystical origins to these emotions. I used to do this on my mission. I would show an investigator an emotional video and then claim that the emotions they felt came from the "spirit." Smart people were skeptical, but I wrote that off as "when they are learned, they think they are wise...." I wish I had understood at the time how I was attempting to emotionally manipulate the investigators.

I feel the EXACT same burning/peace/exhilarating spirituality while translating Phaistos Disc. I have no doubt the ancients who prayed to stone idols also felt this.