We’re nearly all of us materialists here; how many of us would still be if we had a powerful religious experience?
I once experienced “Hag syndrome”, I must have been around eleven. I woke up during the night, unable to move and convinced I had a witch sitting on me.
The next day when I could think about it in bright daylight I thought it was kinda cool that my brain could make me believe something so clearly supernatural, but it seemed just as obvious it had only been the same kind of thing as a nightmare, only more powerful. I didn’t mention it to my parents or anything, just filed it as “one of those things”. (It was downright scary at the time though; I don’t recommend the experience, which as you can see still, um, haunts me.)
I had very strong religious experiences in my past, and became an atheist/materialist later, if that counts. So I’m guessing a later one could be similarly worked around.
I had very strong religious experiences in my past, and became an atheist/materialist later, if that counts. So I’m guessing a later one could be similarly worked around.
Thanks for coming forward. May I press you for details? What was it like? What were the circumstances? Do you think it showed you anything psychologically, if not factually, worthwhile? What is your general take on the thing now?
I’ve had about one episode of sleep paralysis per year starting around the same age. I haven’t had any visual hallucinations, though there have been occasions where I’ve heard ambient sounds that very likely weren’t real. It was terrifying the first time I experienced it, but they no loger bother me at all.
I once experienced “Hag syndrome”, I must have been around eleven. I woke up during the night, unable to move and convinced I had a witch sitting on me.
The next day when I could think about it in bright daylight I thought it was kinda cool that my brain could make me believe something so clearly supernatural, but it seemed just as obvious it had only been the same kind of thing as a nightmare, only more powerful. I didn’t mention it to my parents or anything, just filed it as “one of those things”. (It was downright scary at the time though; I don’t recommend the experience, which as you can see still, um, haunts me.)
I had very strong religious experiences in my past, and became an atheist/materialist later, if that counts. So I’m guessing a later one could be similarly worked around.
Thanks for coming forward. May I press you for details? What was it like? What were the circumstances? Do you think it showed you anything psychologically, if not factually, worthwhile? What is your general take on the thing now?
I’ve also had sleep paralysis (multiple times). No hallucinations, though. I just couldn’t move.
I’ve had about one episode of sleep paralysis per year starting around the same age. I haven’t had any visual hallucinations, though there have been occasions where I’ve heard ambient sounds that very likely weren’t real. It was terrifying the first time I experienced it, but they no loger bother me at all.