Explanations for the Holy Ghost?

[_GoodK]

I don't think that Mormons are lying (at least not all of them) when they say they feel the spirit or a confirmation from the Holy Ghost telling them something is true.

I am not sure how to explain this... any ideas?

[_Doctor Steuss]

I don't think that Mormons are lying (at least not all of them) when they say they feel the spirit or a confirmation from the Holy Ghost telling them something is true.

I am not sure how to explain this... any ideas?

Even as someone who believes that there is potential validity to the HG witness, I think that there is a biological mechanism responsible for it. Perhaps a norepenephrine/dopamine/seratonin response(?) Or maybe something to do with VMAT2 (however, I think that the majority of Hamer’s dilly has been discredited as not having enough data to draw his conclusions).

I often wonder how accurate “Killer” Kane’s description of it being like an LSD trip from the Lord is. I’ve experienced the former, but not the latter.

[_SatanWasSetUp]

Well, I got down on my knees and prayed about it and received an overwhelming feeling that it was NOT true. Of course this was after I first studied it out in my mind. When I got on my knees and prayed about it, I actually felt a little dumb because the answer was so obvious. Then a feeling came over me that the Book of Mormon was not true and Joseph Smith was not the prophet he claimed to be. It all became very clear to me, and I felt a burden come off my shoulders.

How do TBMs explain my experience?

[_Moniker]

Some people say that they don't really get those spiritual experiences and others claim they do. So, for the ones that don't how do they account for not having a witness to the HG? I'd guess the ones that do get a strong confirmation of some sort are the ones that have more of a predisposition toward them -- and I'd look to brain chemistry to explain this.

[_Mister Scratch]

I agree with Dr. Steuss. Think about it: How do you "know" when you are in love? Moreover, how/why would you believe somebody else when they *claim* to be in love? There are some observable actions, and people will behave in certain ways (longing glances, fluttering eyelids, etc.). You can even sometimes notice real, physical manifestations of this: blush reactions, sweating palms, etc. The same holds true, I daresay, for the HG.

[_Infymus]

The Holy Ghost is nothing more than sensations under your nipples.

When my wife and I prayed about getting married, as we were instructed, I felt absolutely nothing. And so I faked it and told them that we had prayed and felt strongly about it. Truth was, I loved her and God could go F* himself. It was my life, but at that time, lying was better than stating I had felt nothing - of which would have turned into a big hullabaloos about not being spiritual enough, blaa, blaa, blaa.

Thank God I married her. She is one heck of a woman. Screw the Cult.

[_Tarski]

I don't think that Mormons are lying (at least not all of them) when they say they feel the spirit or a confirmation from the Holy Ghost telling them something is true.

I am not sure how to explain this... any ideas?

Its nothing but perhaps a seretonin rush. They imagine they are feeling the Holy Ghost. In most cases, that's it.
But no matter how intense the feeling or judgement or experience, it is not being beamed into the brain. The brain can manage to come up with it on its own. The brain is the organ in charge of feeling, thought and judgement. All sorts of things are possible.

[_unwell3398]

Personally, I believe "the spirit" is felt by all those, Mormon or any faithful follower of a religion, who are reading what is pleasing or faith promoting to them.

Some people have also expressed the same sort of feeling to seeing the first snowfall around Christmas or being extremely proud of a child. I think it's just a physical sensation of happiness.

[_Moniker]

Personally, I believe "the spirit" is felt by all those, Mormon or any faithful follower of a religion, who are reading what is pleasing or faith promoting to them.

Some people have also expressed the same sort of feeling to seeing the first snowfall around Christmas or being extremely proud of a child. I think it's just a physical sensation of happiness.

Some say they never get these sensations, or burning bosom moments, when they're seeking confirmations. That seems to suggest that some are more prone to them than others are.

I don't really understand how they account for that. I've read LDS state that they should just keep seeking confirmation and it would come or they weren't asking correctly.

Yet, that seems to suggest that there is some special "trick" to getting the HG respond to someone seeking it. It just seems odd every time I read anyone suggesting that... Of course sin could be cited, also, to account for why some don't get the confirmation. There's always excuses, it seems.