Perceptual Reality and Spiritual Understanding

[SteVen]

"... through a glass, darkly; but then face to face..." - 1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

This thread was inspired by a Podcast titled:
The Smoke Show - The Heavenly Banquet
(title linked - check it out)
This is not a transcript, but some ideas were lifted from there. (disclaimer - LOL)

Many years ago my wife and I had a curious experience.
We were driving home from an evening meeting on a winding parkway near our home.
Something large and dark came at us from the roadside. We both braced for impact.
But to our relief and amazement, nothing happened. The dark shadow we both
saw seemed to go underneath the car and then disappear. ???
No sound of impact and no damage to the car. Left us wondering.

Our view of the world is deeply personal, though often shared with others.
Our senses can fail us. (Podcast)

Spiritual realities are both seen and hidden. (Podcast)
The filter of our physical perception effects our spiritual understanding.
Separating illusion from reality. Was that really a miracle?
Or is there a rational explanation?

And our spiritual upbringing gives us a lens we use to view these things.
We tend to reject anything that doesn't look right through that lens.
Our objectivity is colored by our subjectivity. Fact versus opinion.

Discussion questions:
1) How has your spiritual understanding been formed by your personal perceptions? (the upbringing lens)
2) Do you accept, or reject the views of others with a different upbringing lens?
3) Are you more likely to be open, or closed to a potential miracle?
4) To what degree should we apply skepticism?

\

 

[Mr E]

"... through a glass, darkly; but then face to face..." - 1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

This thread was inspired by a Podcast titled:
The Smoke Show - The Heavenly Banquet
(title linked - check it out)
This is not a transcript, but some ideas were lifted from there. (disclaimer - LOL)

Many years ago my wife and I had a curious experience.
We were driving home from an evening meeting on a winding parkway near our home.
Something large and dark came at us from the roadside. We both braced for impact.
But to our relief and amazement, nothing happened. The dark shadow we both
saw seemed to go underneath the car and then disappear. ???
No sound of impact and no damage to the car. Left us wondering.

Our view of the world is deeply personal, though often shared with others.
Our senses can fail us. (Podcast)

Spiritual realities are both seen and hidden. (Podcast)
The filter of our physical perception effects our spiritual understanding.
Separating illusion from reality. Was that really a miracle?
Or is there a rational explanation?

And our spiritual upbringing gives us a lens we use to view these things.
We tend to reject anything that doesn't look right through that lens.
Our objectivity is colored by our subjectivity. Fact versus opinion.

Discussion questions:
1) How has your spiritual understanding been formed by your personal perceptions? (the upbringing lens)
2) Do you accept, or reject the views of others with a different upbringing lens?
3) Are you more likely to be open, or closed to a potential miracle?
4) To what degree should we apply skepticism?

\

In the past week or so-- I've had one of my brothers and his wife visiting-- and as he was scrolling he chuckled and then told me to look at his phone. He showed me this image, and instructed me to stare at the little red square in the center for a few seconds as the background of wavy lines seemingly pulsed towards me. Then after doing so-- look away and focus your attention on some object in the room.

Well-- here it is. Try this>>>>

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/WLHhDYUwk9g?si=q0wbPdwWBfsWr-Qw

 

[Mr E]

The point is--- it's a perception problem. What you turn your attention to, and focus upon affects your perspective.

Here's another example of what I'm talking about.... (I recommend silencing the music reel, and doing it again).

Silence the music-
Look at this picture of these young girls
Close your eyes for 3 seconds
Then slowly- BARELY open your eyes

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/6uK4eldEx34?si=1aFKpY1y6mJUQt4S

 

[Mr E]

In the theological sense-- we can have our perspectives similarly altered by what we are told to focus on.

Can we trust what we've been told? Can we even trust our own perceptions?

I think skepticism is much more important than belief.