Is Feeling The Spirit Really Just Confirmation Bias?

[Tacenda]

The new bishop in the story which I told had a similar experience. A few months after his call, we were in a bishopric meeting and he was giving the devotional. He told us that several months beforehand he had gotten the distinct impression (he didn't give details) that he was going to be called to be the new bishop. He decided that he would get a bit passive/aggressive about it, and since the stake president lived in our ward, he started vacationing on as many Sundays as he could, attending church in the town where his family had a vacation home. His plan was to be as unobtrusive as possible, as if he were less active, so that the SP would have less reason to submit his name to SLC.

It didn't work.

I think that it is possible that unless the Spirit directs you to do so, after you are called you shouldn't talk about the "premonition" of your call so freely. I say this because it "feels" wrong to do so -- depending upon the venue and the circumstances. There are a couple of experiences I have had that I am very circumspect about describing. Something like the conversation between TheSkepticChristian and me is bound to develop. I initially hesitated to bring up the story as I told it, as the experience was particularly precious to me, and I was leaving myself open to possible scorn. Though he did in fact treat my testimony with a certain amount of respect, for which I was grateful, it's offputting to have someone examine something that was as real as real could be, to me, as if it were some dodgy piece of meat. "Well, according to my calculations, there's a 60% chance that this experience of yours is due entirely to coincidence, how much sleep you had the previous night, and your tendency to jump to conclusions."

I see what you mean, might explain why church leaders keep it more to themselves. I'm sorry you've had someone question your experience like that, as if you're on trial.

[TheSkepticChristian]

But I guess I do get a bit exasperated that you can't just accept my word at face value. I was told that the new bishop was in that room, and he was.

 

Looking at it Mathematically and assuming there are not other factors, you had about 1 out of 40 chance of being correct. 40 is the number of adult LDS in your ward that have a calling.  I say 40 because you didn't answer my question.

Of course I slept enough.

 

I was talking about the week, and were you fasting that day?

 

 I definitely had enough sleep. I'm impressed to mention the fact that Joseph Smith said that he had had a vision, and no matter how much other people tried to deny that he did, or called him crazy, or a liar, the fact remained that he had had a vision and that was that.

 

Joseph Smith also said, " I don’t blame any one for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself."

 

According to Richard Bushman, it was not uncommon for people to experience visions.

http://en.fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith's_First_Vision/Other_people_had_visions_of_God

 

. It was very straightforward. Similar other experiences (and there haven't been any false positives, just so you know), have convinced me that I know that God lives beyond any reasonable doubt, and that He is actively involved in my life and everyone else's. Well, it happened to me, and not you, so I don't know why I should expect you to just believe me. I need to be more charitable.

 

Yes, I do hope spiritual experiences are real because that is what I believed in my entire life, or almost my entire life.

Edited September 15, 2015 by TheSkepticChristian

[Stargazer]

Looking at it Mathematically and assuming there are not other factors, you had about 1 out of 40 chance of being correct. 40 is the number of adult LDS in your ward that have a calling.  I say 40 because you didn't answer my question.

 

I was talking about the week, and were you fasting that day?

 

 

Joseph Smith also said, " I don’t blame any one for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself."

 

According to Richard Bushman, it was not uncommon for people to experience visions.

http://en.fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith's_First_Vision/Other_people_had_visions_of_God

 

 

Yes, I do hope spiritual experiences are real because that is what I believed in my entire life, or almost my entire life.

Joseph didn't blame people for not believing his report of his experience. But lots of people did.

I normally get enough sleep. Because I am caretaking my wife, who is terminal, my sleep schedule is shot at the moment, but not then.

I was not fasting that day.

I've never had a vision (but if I had I probably wouldn't be telling you about it).

Do you think if you ever have a revelation that you're going to believe it, or are you going to second-guess it?

[TheSkepticChristian]

I normally get enough sleep. Because I am caretaking my wife, who is terminal, my sleep schedule is shot at the moment, but not then

 

I am sorry to read that, may she go in peace.

 

 

Do you think if you ever have a revelation that you're going to believe it, or are you going to second-guess it?

 

But I think it would speed things up if you stopped overanalyzing things.

 

I don't feel that I am over-analyzing, I just want to be sure.

I am looking for something clear, something that has no other reasonable explanation.

Perhaps a strong unique feeling that is beyond anything natural.

 

Time will tell

[Robert F. Smith]

......................................................

I don't feel that I am over-analyzing, I just want to be sure.

I am looking for something clear, something that has no other reasonable explanation.

Perhaps a strong unique feeling that is beyond anything natural.

 

Time will tell

You might be a good candidate to read Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics (1975), and thus contemplate the two separate paths to understanding reality.  http://www.plouffe.fr/simon/math/The%20Tao%20of%20Physics.pdf .

 

Of course, that would not negate in any way what Mark Bukowski has been telling us all along about the social construction of reality.

[Stargazer]

I am sorry to read that, may she go in peace.

 

 

 

 

I don't feel that I am over-analyzing, I just want to be sure.

I am looking for something clear, something that has no other reasonable explanation.

Perhaps a strong unique feeling that is beyond anything natural.

 

Time will tell

Well, the thing is, for me these experiences were mostly unexpected, and definitely well beyond anything natural -- but at the same time they were perfect examples of the "still, small voice." I guess the Spirit didn't need to shout.

As you say, time will tell, and I wish you well in your anticipation.