The Holy Spirit

i always viewed the concept of the holy spirit as a guide to personal salvation and nothing more, your inner conscience and sense of right/wrong. kinda like on-star for the soul. i dont believe it sould be stricken from the record, but i do think that the act of using it to impose one's will on another should be condemned as the highest form of blasphemy. in essence whoever pulls that routine is pretty much declaring themselves to be a messenger of god...a false prophet. its even believed that these evangelical preachers have the power to heal with their touch (presumably they are god's copper wire?). this is how far its spun out of control.

and nell, in america pat robertson is influential to the point of dangerous, considering his widespread influence, especially over the neoconservative party, particularly the current administration...not to turn it political, just wanted to stress that he is far more than your run-of-the-mill "put your hand on the TV screen and pray with me/be healed/send money" crackpot

Originally posted by Schecter
i always viewed the concept of the holy spirit as a guide to personal salvation and nothing more, your inner conscience and sense of right/wrong. kinda like on-star for the soul. i dont believe it sould be stricken from the record, but i do think that the act of using it to impose one's will on another should be condemned as the highest form of blasphemy. in essence whoever pulls that routine is pretty much declaring themselves to be a messenger of god...a false prophet. its even believed that these evangelical preachers have the power to heal with their touch (presumably they are god's copper wire?). this is how far its spun out of control.

and nell, in america pat robertson is influential to the point of dangerous, considering his widespread influence, especially over the neoconservative party, particularly the current administration...not to turn it political, just wanted to stress that he is far more than your run-of-the-mill "put your hand on the TV screen and pray with me/be healed/send money" crackpot

I agree, the concept of holy spirit shouldn´t be used in that way. Pat Robertson is a politician, what he is doing is not about spirituality. Who can´t see that are not very spiritual too.

But I will not extent the title of false prophet to everyone. I think a part of our spirituality is learning how to communicate with God. What doesn´t mean we have to appear on TV and entitle ourselves like a prophet. Just do the right things quietly. The meaning of spirituality is lost if there is no communication with God and oneself.

Originally posted by Atlantis001

But I will not extent the title of false prophet to everyone.

i disagree. i would apply that title to anyone who claims to channel the power of god in a way that i cannot, or claims to recieve messages from god which in his infinite wisdom chose to withhold from everyone else. if someone claims that, they may as well declare themselves a prophet imho or what else could they possibly be suggesting?

Originally posted by Schecter
i disagree. i would apply that title to anyone who claims to channel the power of god in a way that i cannot, or claims to recieve messages from god which in his infinite wisdom chose to withhold from everyone else. if someone claims that, they may as well declare themselves a prophet imho or what else could they possibly be suggesting?

Jesus claimed it, Moses claimed it. The Jewish priests were thinking exactly like this when then claimed that Jesus was a false prophet.

Originally posted by Atlantis001
Jesus claimed it, Moses claimed it. The Jewish priests were thinking exactly like this when then claimed that Jesus was a false prophet.

i understand. such is the peril and hardship of a prophet. for if not, and we accept all who claim to be prophets, where would that lead us besides stright to oblivion?

Originally posted by Schecter
i understand. such is the peril and hardship of a prophet. for if not, and we accept all who claim to be prophets, where would that lead us besides stright to oblivion?

Not accept everyone who claims to be, but we must be aware of what we don´t know and we must also be able to recognize those who are.

Originally posted by Atlantis001
Not accept everyone who claims to be, but we must be aware of what we don´t know and we must also be able to recognize those who are.

Are you saying that there are things like prophets? 😱

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Are you saying that there are things like prophets? 😱

Not prophet like you might be thinking 😄 its just a word. I think there are people who can communicate with God in someway or another, and the purpose of spirituality is about learning how to comunicate with God in someway... like Jesus did, like Siddharta did

Originally posted by Atlantis001
Not accept everyone who claims to be, but we must be aware of what we don´t know and we must also be able to recognize those who are.

i dont know, that just seems like vague rhetoric. hardly a solution to the problem of determining a genuine prophet (assuming one exists) from a false one.

Originally posted by Schecter
i dont know, that just seems like vague rhetoric. hardly a solution to the problem of determining a genuine prophet (assuming one exists) from a false one.

In my opinion there is no practical method of recognizing one. I think this is something made by perception or intuition. Even in the scriptures this ability of recognizing a prophet is considered a gift of the holy spirit, a divine gift. Thats because I think spirituality is difficult to be associated to an establishment, like the church. A religious establishment looks for practical solutions.

We can´t create a set of rules that define what is divine and what is not. That we learn from experience.

Originally posted by Atlantis001
Jesus claimed it, Moses claimed it. The Jewish priests were thinking exactly like this when then claimed that Jesus was a false prophet.

Does God really need your money? Did Jesus or Moses ask for your money?

Nope they didn't. They did say to help the needy and have a good heart.

Originally posted by Schecter
i always viewed the concept of the holy spirit as a guide to personal salvation and nothing more, your inner conscience and sense of right/wrong. kinda like on-star for the soul. i dont believe it sould be stricken from the record, but i do think that the act of using it to impose one's will on another should be condemned as the highest form of blasphemy. in essence whoever pulls that routine is pretty much declaring themselves to be a messenger of god...a false prophet. its even believed that these evangelical preachers have the power to heal with their touch (presumably they are god's copper wire?). this is how far its spun out of control.

and nell, in america pat robertson is influential to the point of dangerous, considering his widespread influence, especially over the neoconservative party, particularly the current administration...not to turn it political, just wanted to stress that he is far more than your run-of-the-mill "put your hand on the TV screen and pray with me/be healed/send money" crackpot

Now, I believe in healing through the power of the spirit, but briefly touching someone does not follow the common pattern of healing in the Bible. Normally a prayer is needed and sometimes more. The laying on of hands is sometimes used by a touch rarely does it in scripture unless it the other person reaching out, not the other way around.

I'm starting to understand that, I just find it odd that I don't ever hear about Robertson, but I do hear a lot of other evangelicals in America...