Why Do We Believe Hallucinations in the Bible Were Historical Events



Many experiences written about in the Bible were hallucinations. Those who wrote the Bible admit it. Yet, they are treated as historical events similar to the way we consider the 2016 election. None of us believe the 2016 election did not happen. When Paul talked to Jesus long after Jesus was dead we are to believe it was as real as the 2016 election. How can people today believe such stuff

Today on the religious site, The Christian Post, there occasionally are stories of dreams and visions. These are giving the same prominence as documented news stories. Christian Post does refer to them as visions, however, so readers can decide on their importance.

The link discusses whether or not hallucinations or visions are a sign of mental illness. A conclusion seems to be that they are not, by themselves, mental illness. Mentally ill people, however, can have so many hallucinations they lose touch with reality itself.

It seems to me the line is never perfectly clear between the religious practices of hearing voices, seeing things no one else sees and talking to someone who is not present and these same behaviors in mentally ill people. People who are not religious also hear voices and talk to beings not present.

There are functional ways to sort some of this out. My late brother, a psychiatrist, used to tell me mentally illness is present when one cannot function in society. That would be a person who could not go into his/her job or that could not leave home.

We could do something similar for history. Past events would have a high probability of having happened if there are written records from eye witnesses. More than one eye witness would be helpful. Also helpful would be the ability to replicate the event today.

The Bible is full of miracles which cannot be replicated. And, it contains events which no one claims to have witnessed personally. On top of that are the hallucinations, visions and dreams which are mixed up with what are supposed to have been actual events.

I remain a skeptic of those events which likely did not happen.

Comments

  1. Matt NoahJuly 30, 2018 at 5:40 PM

    Jon stated, "The Bible is full of miracles which cannot be replicated."

    One should sit back and ponder the statement, let it sink in, ooze through one's cerebral material and then conclude the following. God performed the miracles in the person of Jesus Christ. Just who is Jon employing to replicate the miracles he said cannot be replicated? If he tried employing a human, me might have trouble. If he's demanding God replicate some of those miracles, he might do well to not test the Lord.

    There are events which people consider miracles today which Jon would surely discount, e.g. the miracle of the birth of a child, the miracle of transubstantiation, the cures at Lourdes (France), modern medicine, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JinxJuly 30, 2018 at 7:52 PM

      Prove it. You can't and its nothing but hog wash.

      Delete
    2. Jon LindgrenJuly 30, 2018 at 7:59 PM

      Jinx was responding to Matt. (I can't edit posts like I used to do at Area Voices.)

      Delete
    3. SnoriJuly 30, 2018 at 9:40 PM

      Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. The bible is mostly "someone told me" hearsay and outright delusions.

      Delete
    4. BeckyJuly 31, 2018 at 6:28 AM

      I've been pondering this statement for a bit, and I think you're completely right, Matt, to apply that line of thinking to literature. In fact, I'm using that principle to develop my own religion surrounding the events and miracles which take place throughout the Harry Potter series. Jo Rowling is the true prophet who brought us the wondrous tales of the adventures of our God our son, Harry Potter, and our father, Dumbledore, and what miracles can happen if only we find the right wand, movements, and incantation.

      Delete
    5. Matt NoahJuly 31, 2018 at 9:32 AM

      Becky - You're too late. There are enough fantasy-obsessed people out there who believe in all sorts of science fiction, despite being told it was made up in an author's mind or on a storyboard in Hollywood.

      The "line of thinking" that Catholicism is based upon is an unbroken story of both an Old Covenant and a New Covenant. It is the passion and death of Jesus Christ, His resurrection and ascension in to Heaven. The early Christians were persecuted to death. All for a fable? A lie? The apostles, less Judas, were martyred for their Faith. Rather than profess an untruth, they went to their deaths praising God and refusing to recant their faith in the person they saw daily for years - Jesus Christ.

      Delete
  2. Matt NoahJuly 31, 2018 at 4:33 AM

    Prove what? There is only one hog washer here, Jon. Lapdogs don't count.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BeasecJuly 31, 2018 at 8:45 AM

      I'll believe the "cures at Lourdes" when amputees start getting fixed. Until then, I'll take the bible as the cherry picked fables of a bunch of bronze- and iron-age Palestinian goat herders it is.

      Delete
    2. Matt NoahJuly 31, 2018 at 9:45 AM

      Beasec - to you I commend the Miracle of Calanda. You can google it and douse yourself with religious, medical or sectarian accounts. Try https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_Calanda to get started. It is a leg amputation that was cured.

      As for Lourdes cures you can google that as well.

      Delete
    3. Matt NoahJuly 31, 2018 at 1:47 PM

      Jesus is a miracle worker but he is not a magician you go to see. He did not save Himself from an agony on the cross or death. He allows for pain in this world. He asks us to offer it up for the saving of souls. If you want a magician to enthrall you, go to Las Vegas. If you want to hear a cross-less Christianity, you can find such a denomination loosely based on Christ. I have my home in the Catholic Church and will never leave.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make som
Read more

The Religious Capitol Invaders May Yet Win

Image
So much about U.S. society and religion can be learned from the Civil War and what happened afterwards. After its defeat, the South started a myth about the unethical soldiers from the North. The South fought for principles of God and states rights. The North did not. It was the South, this propaganda told the country, that had the high moral ground.  The Capitol invaders, encouraged by Trump, swallowed the myth that Biden's election was stolen. Thus, they think they held and still hold the high moral ground. This was reinforced by the cross and prayers during the invasion. Even with Trump is gone, we will see political opportunists like Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley stroking crowds and feeding the same lies as Trump. Like "the South will rise again" these gullible followers will talk of victory over the unclean. After the Civil War the South rallied around the phrase, Lost Cause. For decades, and maybe to this day, there are ceremonies remembering fallen martyrs, Re
Read more

Father Frank Pavone, the Ultimate Crook

Image
Recently, the Vatican defrocked Frank Pavone. His diehard fans are outraged. This is because he cleverly manipulated his fans and the press all the while living well from donations and, apparently, abusing some women. By making abortion the "sin" of the century, and himself the main opposition to this one sin, he himself could get away with any sin he pleased.  As the link points out, Pavone was the perfect priest for the Trump era. Trump is so self-important laws have no role in his life. He felt accountable to no one. Women were there to be had. Pavone and Trump are interchangeable.  Pavone was very successful raising money. In his mind, abortion was so important in Catholic beliefs and he was so important in anti-abortion the money he raised opposing it was his to do with what he liked. The Catholic Church, the brand name he used to raise this money, thought the money belonged to it. When he gave the Vatican the bird, it gave him walking papers. With polls showing the majo
Read more