05 Mar 16
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeI've notice there are different types of dreams. there are the easily forgotten garden varietal, then every now and then, (sometimes several years apart) I have these "realer than real, more present than normal,more vivid etc." dreams. Which leave my life forever changed.
Wrinkles?
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06 Mar 16
Originally posted by karoly aczelCan you give an example of a life changing dream?
I've notice there are different types of dreams. there are the easily forgotten garden varietal, then every now and then, (sometimes several years apart) I have these "realer than real, more present than normal,more vivid etc." dreams. Which leave my life forever changed.
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeWikipedia isn't always right.
Definitive perhaps to your own understanding.
'Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur usually involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, as well as a subject of philosophical and religious interest, throughout recorded history.'
If you want to understand dreams you have to understand how brains work. And not psychology - that is the study of the higher order brain functions whereas dreams are a result of lower level functions. Although there is some overlap.
The brains basic functioning uses sparse data and temporal prediction machines. The brain not only is very good at ordinary static pattern recognition, but also temporal pattern recognition.
Dreams are a process whereby scenarios are played out and different avenues are explored and patterns are solidified into permanent storage for later use. It is not necessary that they make much sense at the higher level as it is lower level patterns that are being analysed and stored.
We tend to only be aware of the higher level patterns but our dream / processing includes a lot more than that. If you do a new physical activity a lot in one day that night your brain will go over and over the physical actions. The next day you will be better at it.
A good example that most people should have noticed is if you go on a boat for a long time during the day. That night you will continue to feel the swell of the waves as you brain processes the new balancing information.
06 Mar 16
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeWell it could be a dream similar to yours except maybe more vivid and more lengthy.
Can you give an example of a life changing dream?
Some dreams have changed my life in terms of being reassuring and hence have cemented changes in my waking life.
changes such as the way I view the world and my commitment to a spiritual life 🙂
06 Mar 16
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeThis is interesting. I mean, I accidentally pushed the wrong button and found this. To my way of thinking I have no idea whether your dream was as a result of the discussion in the general forum thread, or if the dream was real. Ya, a real dream, but was it divinely inspired?
Was only a few days ago i wrote, in the general forum, that i believed dreams had no meaning and were simply the brain's way of getting rid of unwanted information. (The reason dreams are random and soon forgotten).
Lo and behold, last night i had what i can only describe as a religious dream. (Quite an achievement for an atheist insomniac!) I vivid ...[text shortened]... d by discussions here in these forums. Even so, i woke this morning feeling decidedly befuddled.
I can neither affirm or deny. It might mean something. You might want to get confirmation. I mean, what if it was a sign. You could ask for another, if that doesn't make you feel too awkward.
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06 Mar 16
Originally posted by josephwI am waiting rather for a second such dream. If God exists and truly knows my heart, he'll know i'm an especially stubborn atheist.
This is interesting. I mean, I accidentally pushed the wrong button and found this. To my way of thinking I have no idea whether your dream was as a result of the discussion in the general forum thread, or if the dream was real. Ya, a real dream, but was it divinely inspired?
I can neither affirm or deny. It might mean something. You might want to get con ...[text shortened]... an, what if it was a sign. You could ask for another, if that doesn't make you feel too awkward.
07 Mar 16
Originally posted by KellyJayA revelation that can realistically embrace and involve all mankind is presumably not in the offing. The attempt by Christians to force people to subscribe to their beliefs by writing about eternal revenge and torture has not worked. "Force" doesn't work. It's been tried. There needs to be a convincing revelation ~ something that hasn't been tried yet ~ and then there would be no need for mundane talk of man made notions of "revolt", revenge", "punishment" and "submission".
Do you want Him for force you into submission?
Originally posted by KellyJayI see that you, like a number of other theists on this forum, hold two contradictory positions:
Do you want Him for force you into submission?
1. You hold that God has revealed himself to you in a convincing fashion.
2. You hold that God would not reveal himself to me in a convincing fashion because doing so would violate my free will - which God values.
Although, if I recall correctly, you have also expressed the position that God has revealed himself to all in a convincing fashion and we are without excuse.
07 Mar 16
-Removed-Aw common' geester! I don't care what you think, but I certainly wouldn't question your faith. Maybe some of your doctrinal beliefs, but I can't judge you like that. Don't be ludicrous. I never called you the son of the devil, and I never said you'd burn in hell either just because we don't agree on a few things. Give me a break. 🙂