I'm getting confused

[_GoodK]

Believe me Bond, when you receive a witness of the Spirit, you know it. Its nothing I could trick myself into. I can only come close to explaining it by telling you it was like being filled up with light and being wrapped up in a blanket at the same time. Theres nothing else like it.

Actually there are plenty of things just like "it". Having felt this feeling you describe, I can tell you it is very similar to the feeling I get after some good meditation and Yoga. MDMA has prodced almost the identical feeling. Playing basketball and baseball in the state finals in high school felt like this. Being in love felt like this.

There is comfort in assuring yourself that death is merely an illusion and the creator of the universe personally takes interest in your concerns. What a surprise.

[_Dr. Shades]

MDMA has prodced almost the identical feeling. Playing basketball and baseball in the state finals in high school felt like this. Being in love felt like this.

What does "MDMA" stand for?

[_GoodK]

MDMA has prodced almost the identical feeling. Playing basketball and baseball in the state finals in high school felt like this. Being in love felt like this.

What does "MDMA" stand for?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA

[_Tarski]

How long should she remain on her knees when she gets no answer (the only way you get an answer is if you bend down knowing you'll get one...in which case son-of-a-gun you'll get one [because you make yourself have one])?

Believe me Bond, when you receive a witness of the Spirit, you know it.

You should have said "when you receive a witness of the Spirit, you think know it".

Its nothing I could trick myself into.

Given the nature of tricking oneself, how in the world could you know that?

I can only come close to explaining it by telling you it was like being filled up with light and being wrapped up in a blanket at the same time.

OK, that make it less believable. You make it sound like any other new age/ acid trip.

Theres nothing else like it.

You mean, nothing you had experienced before. Once again, you grant yourself unrealistic powers to avoid self deception.

How can an inner experience come with a built in truth guarantee?

"My brain isn't malfunctioning becuase my brain is telling me so".
There is no free epistemic lunch Gaz, you could always be fooled, especially in cases where you think you have had a "revelation". (in fact you are fooled--and how!).

[_Canucklehead]

^^why Tarski is one of my all-time favourite posters^^

[_Yong Xi]

Why stop at "knowing" the church is true via prayer. Why isn't it possible to gain other knowledge this way? Why even bother with education? Can't we just pray ourselves to knowledge?

What can be "known" via prayer?

[_Chap]

What can be "known" via prayer?

Just pray to Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost will vouchsafe the answer to your question.

No, wait ... it may be possible that the question of what may be known through prayer is one of the things that cannot be known through prayer ... in which case, you will just have to rely on the good ol' arm of flesh. Ask your bishop about this.

[_TygerFang]

whether or not a religion is true shouldn't be decided just from sudden impressions or feelings. The human mind is too complex and uncontrolible for that to ever be the sole thing to rely on. If a religion is true than none of it's teachings can be false, and it's principles shouldn't have to be rationalized.

[_Edgeofurbania]

Good job searching! First off, as each person has an opinion, or a various response based on training, go back to the source of truth and see for yourself. The book of John is a great place to start. Does anything jump out at you while you read? follow on in James and Hebrews. Scriptural truth is being spoken. what does all of this say to you?
Then stop to think about the many flavors of religion. And where is this truth "vanilla" (the foundation) best represented?

[_ludwigm]

...

Would You make us happy with an enlarged edition?