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From: Alan Ferris <hairy.fer...@yahoo.co.uk>
Newsgroups: alt.religion.christian.roman-catholic,alt.philosophy,alt.atheism
Subject: Re: What is a Religious Experience?
Date: Fri, 11 May 2012 17:57:23 +0100
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On Fri, 11 May 2012 07:51:37 -0700, "Fidem Turbare, the non-existent
atheist goddess" <godd...@fidemturbare.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 11 May 2012 10:41:40 +0100
>Alan Ferris <hairy.fer...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> On Thu, 10 May 2012 21:19:48 -0700, Rockinghorse Winner
>> <badass.super...@gmx.com> wrote:
>> 
>> >* It may have been the liquor talking, but 
>> >Alan Ferris <hairy.fer...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Wed, 9 May 2012 22:55:16 -0700, Rockinghorse Winner
>> >> <badass.super...@gmx.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>Does religious feeling have to include an experience of 'God?' Is
>> >>>religious feeling incompatible with atheism?  Can a religious
>> >>>experience ever contradict previously held religious beliefs
>> >>>rather than be interpreted in terms of those beliefs?  Thoughts?
>> >>>Ideas?
>> >>
>> >> I assisted with videoing a photographing at an evangelical rally
>> >> over a week where thousands of Christians turned up each day and
>> >> each evening there was a massed service.  Now my friend kept
>> >> telling me that it was amazing the feeling of Jesus's presence, he
>> >> could fee a real buzz every evening.  I to could feel a buzz, but
>> >> I recognised it for what it was.  It is the same buzz you get at a
>> >> concert or major sports final.  That smell of adrenaline causing
>> >> your own body to respond as well.  So, you would call that Jesus,
>> >> I just call it a massed public response.
>> >>
>> >> One laugh I had was the visiting pastor one evening who came from
>> >> an American healing church and tried to claim my knee.....when
>> >> there was absolutely no reaction or change I was blamed for not
>> >> having faith. The look on his face when I reminded him that it was
>> >> his faith that mattered when it comes to healing left me laughing
>> >> all the way home.
>> >>
>> >> What it really meant was that as I did not believe in his god I was
>> >> not suckered by his lines  and did not fall for being fleeced.
>> >
>> >I wonder if your friend is a religious person or not.
>> 
>> Are you claiming he is not a true Christian?
>> 
>> How would you tell?  He attends his local 'church' regularly, is one
>> of the kindest persons I know and is active in ministering to the
>> young.  So no, maybe you are right.  He accepts that I am not caring
>> about his faith so unlike you he clearly is not likely to be Christian
>> enough for you.
>> 
>> But hey, I will let him know you doubt him, I can guess his answer.
>
>Please let us know if he laughs (and tell him a non-existent atheist
>goddess is rooting for him).

The fact he already has an atheist friend has some people claiming he
is not a true Christian.  His answer is that if it was good enough for
Jesus to have a doubting Thomas he can have me as a friend :)

The fact is we were friends from attending the same school.  He left
Catholicism like me and whereas my study of religion led me to abandon
religion, he found he had faith but not the catholic version.  

We even now have long nights of debating religion and faith.  I call
it a good excuse for a drink with a friend, I am sure he is ever
hopeful of converting me.  

Unfortunately I will not see him for a week as I am leaving tomorrow
for a ride to Budapest.

--
Ferrit

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