Chapter 16: Charismatic/Altered States
Charismatic usually refers to being possessed or controlled by the Holy Spirit and is associated with the Pentecostal churches and with Charismatic Roman Catholics, Charismatic Anglicans, and some charismatic members of other churches. A common demonstration of being charismatic is speaking in tongues (glossolalia), using words not part of usual languages.
It provides an example of an altered state, a state when the person in that state experiences the world in a much different way than usual. It seems to have been a critical part of the early Christian communities, or at least in the memory or experience of the community with the author who named himself as Luke. This is indicated by the stories in the Book of Acts about converts speaking in tongues and in the Pentecost story in Luke. When Paul wrote of being in the seventh heaven, it sounded like an altered state experience.
Neile Donald Walsch in his book, “Communication with God” describes writing to God and having God guide his hand in providing a reply. This would be a mild example of an altered state, one I have experienced.
When David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, his behaviour of dancing wildly, perhaps naked, suggests he was in an altered state at the time. When Moses spoke with God, those might have been altered state moments.
Several religions, primarily rural, agricultural or hunter gatherer religions, included mind altering substances such as alcohol and peyote to include altered states in their ceremonies.
Meditation helps some people achieve an altered state. Many people find listening to the right kind of music for them takes them into an altered state, usually peaceful with a strong sense of belonging or connection. For them, long musical pieces are an important part of worship.
Extreme fatigue or a lack of oxygen, such in a long run, can induce an altered state which helps some runners induce a spiritual experience. Altered states are found in many kinds of non-religious, non-spiritual experiences not included here.
Altered states associated with faith provide some people with experiences that are important to them. They tend to make faith experiences more intense than most faith experiences, and very satisfying to those who have them. Experiencing an altered state does not provide proof to anyone else of any reality outside of oneself.
Charismatic usually refers to being possessed or controlled by the Holy Spirit and is associated with the Pentecostal churches and with Charismatic Roman Catholics, Charismatic Anglicans, and some charismatic members of other churches. A common demonstration of being charismatic is speaking in tongues (glossolalia), using words not part of usual languages.
It provides an example of an altered state, a state when the person in that state experiences the world in a much different way than usual. It seems to have been a critical part of the early Christian communities, or at least in the memory or experience of the community with the author who named himself as Luke. This is indicated by the stories in the Book of Acts about converts speaking in tongues and in the Pentecost story in Luke. When Paul wrote of being in the seventh heaven, it sounded like an altered state experience.
Neile Donald Walsch in his book, “Communication with God” describes writing to God and having God guide his hand in providing a reply. This would be a mild example of an altered state, one I have experienced.
When David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, his behaviour of dancing wildly, perhaps naked, suggests he was in an altered state at the time. When Moses spoke with God, those might have been altered state moments.
Several religions, primarily rural, agricultural or hunter gatherer religions, included mind altering substances such as alcohol and peyote to include altered states in their ceremonies.
Meditation helps some people achieve an altered state. Many people find listening to the right kind of music for them takes them into an altered state, usually peaceful with a strong sense of belonging or connection. For them, long musical pieces are an important part of worship.
Extreme fatigue or a lack of oxygen, such in a long run, can induce an altered state which helps some runners induce a spiritual experience. Altered states are found in many kinds of non-religious, non-spiritual experiences not included here.
Altered states associated with faith provide some people with experiences that are important to them. They tend to make faith experiences more intense than most faith experiences, and very satisfying to those who have them. Experiencing an altered state does not provide proof to anyone else of any reality outside of oneself.
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