13
votes
Accepted
How do Christians discern genuine spiritual experiences from hallucinations or other mundane psychological phenomena?
I have to provide a sort of common-sense answer to a question like this because I am not aware of a trend of people having hallucinations with respect to spiritual experiences that have resulted in ...
- 31.6k
6
votes
Accepted
According to Catholicism is feeling nostalgic a sin?
In a word, no.
First of all, merely feeling anything cannot possibly be a sin, because sin necessarily entails an act of the will.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (referencing two great doctors, ...
- 13.2k
5
votes
Accepted
Will we still feel affection towards others when we are in heaven?
We are not quite sure how our affectivity (emotions, passions, and so on) will work in Heaven before the General Resurrection, however the Church teaches dogmatically that all human beings will ...
- 13.2k
5
votes
How do Christians discern genuine spiritual experiences from hallucinations or other mundane psychological phenomena?
A Christian who is suffering from an hallucination which they take to be a genuine spiritual experience will never discern it to be false, at the time. But once soundness of mind returns to them, then ...
- 26k
5
votes
Accepted
Do other Christian denominations/groups have an equivalent to the "burning in the bosom" of Mormonism?
Please take my answer with a grain of salt, because I am not from another denomination. I have served a 2 year LDS mission and had in-depth discussions with thousands of faithful Christians of many ...
- 214
4
votes
What are the "signs of grief" for which a pastor should be on the look out?
Being stuck in grief is referred to by professionals as "incomplete grief" or "complicated grief." It is often defined as grief that is not resolving or normalizing within 6 to ...
- 199
4
votes
Accepted
Why is beating one's breast used to show sadness and guilt?
The basic idea is that of "smiting oneself." As Howard Marshall puts it, commenting on Luke 18:13:
The breast or heart is regarded as the seat of sin, and hence the act is one of grief or ...
- 4,312
4
votes
How do Christians discern genuine spiritual experiences from hallucinations or other mundane psychological phenomena?
The entirety of the book of Job (1) is an account of a man who, though a perfect man among his peers, and in regard to his own conscience, yet was deeply exercised within himself and feared one thing ...
- 22.8k
3
votes
How do Christians discern genuine spiritual experiences from hallucinations or other mundane psychological phenomena?
"How do Christians make sure this is not the case? How do Christians discern genuine spiritual experiences from hallucinations or 'mind tricks' in general?"
The same way believers in every ...
- 31
3
votes
Accepted
What are Christian explanations for the similarities between ecstatic spiritual experiences of Christians and those of other religions?
I have no interest in arguing against the possibility of physical benefits from yoga; I also readily acknowledge that endorphins can be released through physical activity. But that exercise can make ...
- 11k
3
votes
Do other Christian denominations/groups have an equivalent to the "burning in the bosom" of Mormonism?
In the methodist tradition there is John Wesley. The story goes how he reluctantly attended a meeting in Aldersgate. Someone read from Luther's Preface to the Epistle to Romans. About 8:45 p.m. "...
- 3,427
3
votes
Accepted
According to Protestants is God (The Father or The Spirit) capable of human emotions?
The answer is YES, God is capable of human emotions.
The common topic in theology for this question is the discussion on 2 contrasting attributes of God: passibility vs. impassibility. This answer ...
- 21.8k
3
votes
Are there Christian equivalents for the four sublime attitudes or brahmaviharas of Buddhism (metta, karuna, mudita, upekkha)?
Yes, there is in Christianity something similar to the four sublime attitudes in Buddhism. Instead of four, however, there is one, and that one is composed of eight significant attitudes. Those eight ...
- 9,653
3
votes
Does the nature of God's love for us include what we humans would call "constant, strong, and genuine affection"? (Catholic)
The Catechism says
God's love for Israel is compared to a father's love for his son. His love for his people is stronger than a mother's for her children. God loves his people more than a ...
- 14k
3
votes
Accepted
According to Aquinas, does "love" towards something always bring "desire" towards that something?
St. Thomas Aquinas defines love (amor) as something that "belongs to the appetitive [spec., concupiscible] power which is a passive faculty" (Summa Theologica I-II q. 27 a. 1 c.).
"Love (amor) is ...
- 37.9k
2
votes
What is the "fear" of God?
What is the Fear of the Lord?
The word Fear in the Hebrew is one of God's Names.
Fear is our reaction when we see God as He really is and then see ourselves in the light of who God is."
The ...
2
votes
Are there Christian equivalents for the four sublime attitudes or brahmaviharas of Buddhism (metta, karuna, mudita, upekkha)?
In classical philosophy, which inspired much of Christianity and continues to teach Western Christianity, the notion of the four loves that C.S. Lewis expounded on may be corollaries to this Buddhist ...
- 33.7k
2
votes
How do Christians discern genuine spiritual experiences from hallucinations or other mundane psychological phenomena?
It almost seems from the preamble to your question that you are really asking two questions.
How can true prophetic visions or dreams be discerned from mundane dreams or hallucinations?
How can I ...
- 399
1
vote
Accepted
Why would having emotions imply that an entity is composite?
In context, the article is talking specifically about matter and form. Essentially, he is asking whether God has some material component intrinsic to His nature. You can see that in the opinion given ...
- 3,337
1
vote
Accepted
Are there Christian equivalents for the four sublime attitudes or brahmaviharas of Buddhism (metta, karuna, mudita, upekkha)?
Yes and no. If you take those concepts in Christianity that are close to the four you list and break them into parts, then the difference will be seen.
The parts are ideas (the Word), emotional ...
- 11.2k
1
vote
What is meant by 'genuine affective' considering a homosexual relationship?
In traditional Catholic parlance, “affectivity” refers to the passions (in modern parlance: generally feelings or emotions) of love that one person might experience for another. It is roughly a ...
- 13.2k
1
vote
Which scriptures are used to justify ignoring feelings?
I can't speak for every church but, what comes to mind here for me, and i hope it answers this question is.
Romans 8:5-8 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh ...
- 11
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