could any of you briefly describe these experiences and what might have caused them?
Hasn’t happened to me in years. Typically involved desperation about how some aspect of my life (only peripherally related to the beliefs in question, natch) was going very badly. Temptation to pray was involved. These urges really went away when I discovered that they were mainly caused by garden variety frustration + low blood sugar.
I think that in my folly-filled youth, my brain discovered that “conversion” experiences (religious/political) are fun and very energizing. When I am really dejected, a small part of me says “Let’s convert to something! Clearly your current beliefs are not inspiring you enough!”
Hasn’t happened to me in years. Typically involved desperation about how some aspect of my life (only peripherally related to the beliefs in question, natch) was going very badly. Temptation to pray was involved. These urges really went away when I discovered that they were mainly caused by garden variety frustration + low blood sugar.
I think that in my folly-filled youth, my brain discovered that “conversion” experiences (religious/political) are fun and very energizing. When I am really dejected, a small part of me says “Let’s convert to something! Clearly your current beliefs are not inspiring you enough!”