Numinous religious experiences

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stephenslittlehelp

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Having been raised atheist, I became a Christian about thirty years ago at the age of 23. The reason I converted was because I had a numinous religious experience. I have had many similar experiences since then, and I feel that I constantly sense the presence of God. As a result, I believe all the standard Christian views as enunciated by the Nicene Creed.

I find many other examples of people who have had similar experiences. One of my favorite examples is that experienced by Blaise Pascal https://churchpop.com/2016/04/19/night-fire-blaise-pascals but this is only one of many.

I have become curious as to the extent to which people in other religions have similar numinous experiences. I am particularly interested in Islam. I know that Muhammad wrote of similar experiences in the Quran. But when I searched using google, I couldn't find similar experiences from other Muslims. (In fact it is this search that led me to this website.)

I am asking this question hoping for a good discussion. I am not looking to convert people, nor to be converted myself.
 
Welcome, ya made me look up numinous, I had the right idea.

For me....maybe?!?!?

I've not a feeling of knowing of or connecting with divinity per se, but a knowing that all is well, all is good, of perfection, connection... I've referred to it before here as bliss, overcome by bliss, scoffed at by some if I recall.
 
wil said:
Welcome, ya made me look up numinous, I had the right idea.

For me....maybe?!?!?

I've not a feeling of knowing of or connecting with divinity per se, but a knowing that all is well, all is good, of perfection, connection... I've referred to it before here as bliss, overcome by bliss, scoffed at by some if I recall.
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I only knew what numinous meant, because when I googled "religious experiences", I found that word.
 
Welcome to the forum. You'll find a little bit of everything here from a variety of different perspectives. Hope you enjoy your stay.
 
stephenslittlehelp said:
I have become curious as to the extent to which people in other religions have similar numinous experiences.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I had a profound experience (though it was more like the opposite of an experience, more like the absence of experience) of "no god" many decades ago, and like you, I have revisited it and it continues to affect me. It was very anti-climactic but thoroughly complete and reassuring, for lack of better words. Without wishing to offend anyone here: a bit like the first words of the Shahada: "No-one worthy of worship...". Or like the second half of Liber Legis, II:23 "... there is no god where I am". Again: this is simply what I personally recognize in these words, and I do not presume to misappropriate these verses in any disrespectful way.

No idea if this matches what you are looking for.

I grew up nominally Christian, we did not go to church. I had close contact with people of other religions, notably Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. In adolescence I was into a charismatic Christian youth movement. I became atheist in my twenties, and have been ever since - in the sense that I have no god, but I am interested religion and spirituality, and I observe certain practices like meditation and a daily recitation, even if they are not centered on any god.

Welcome, and here's to many interesting discussions!
 
stephenslittlehelp said:
Having been raised atheist, I became a Christian about thirty years ago at the age of 23. The reason I converted was because I had a numinous religious experience.
Click to expand...

Hi. I am new to this website but would be happy to discuss this with you or anyone and hear about what you go through. I go through very strange spiritual seeming experiences as well. Anyone can feel free to email me at gmail using my username here theartismagistra if they want to talk about it any time outside of the forum. This is my first post!
 
I think this was actually the first one I made on this website though? The original poster maybe isn't around but seemed to want to discuss some sort of miracles or personal experiences that seemed to indicate the presence of God directly to people. I'm interested in hearing such stories as well from anyone, and maybe this thread can be used for that while the original poster is away.
 
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