# Is this a religious contradiction? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 18, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-religious-contradiction/529450 "2010-02-18T06:36:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-religious-contradiction/529450/121 "2010-02-24T12:34:18Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > There is nothing wrong from claiming spiritual guidance by the Holy Spirit, actually we are suppose to. When we are confronted with such a claim the scriptures give a test for us, called testing the spirits and a gift for some called distinguishing between the spirits. This test is how one tells what spirit is guiding them, and with the Holy Spirit has been for me a conclusive test. It is just as the scriptures state. Can you tell me where it explains that we are supposed to claim guidance by the Holy Spirit. I know the Bible says to try the spirits but it doesn’t claim we will always be correct in our discernment. I maintain that it’s unnecessary and unwise to makes claims of divine guidance from the HS. I’ve been around those who so want to believe they are so spiritual and in tune that they regularly claim the HS guided them to go here or there or speak to someone about their life. It reminds me of the Pentecostals dancing in the aisles or speaking gibberish and calling it tongues just to fit in, and then calling it being moved by the spirit. It’s more an expression of their emotional needs than anything divine. > [@](#): > > Yes it is very personal, but it becomes more and more clear as we learn His ways, we hear Him better, and we know what is us, what is Him, what is outside influence. I think the room for doubt plus humility suggests another course. Not only that, if this inner voice is a part of us then there’s no need to make references to it as if it came from an outside source or that our own desires and emotions are somehow backed by divine authority. [QUOTE] > [@](#): > > I’m not talking about religious folk, but spiritual. > Religious refers to set of rules and rituals handed down by tradition, such as confirmation, and I would add saluting the flag, these have nothing to do with God. > > Spiritual refers to supernatural guidance a relationship between the person and a being, which may or may not be God, but it is a personal relationship, there are no rules or rituals. Regardless my point remains. People who believe they are privy to some divine spirit which has confirmed this or that to them can’t agree with each other. Clearly someone is fooling themselves > [@](#): > > When God works on your heart and teaches you, you start to just know, when God shows supernatural things, you really start to know. Do you think Moses just was taking his best guess when he parted the sea? Do you think Peter doubted when the angel broke him out of prison? There’s no good reason to believe those things are literally true. > [@](#): > > I hate to upset your bubble, but there are people who know Lord Jesus, they have no doubt of how real He really is. > > And Jesus and that certainty is available for everyone who seeks Him. When those who make this claim actually live the teachings of Jesus and can agree on what divine guidance is telling them your words may have some credibility. For now they ring pretty empty. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-religious-contradiction/529450/122 "2010-02-24T13:15:30Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > IMHO the universe is the ‘female’, the female spirit of the universe, that God created for His sons, to populate with life. > > And BTW your response matches pretty close to what the Pharisees said to Jesus, and how Jesus plainly stated to them that they are not God’s children, but children of the devil, and that they were unable to understand things of God because of their father the devil, who is a ‘hateful cruel being’ blinding them to the Love of God, replacing God with himself as their god and father. > > It is the devil who is that hateful cruel being and acting as god in people’s lives, that’s why many see God as hateful and cruel They way I see you discribe your God He is cruel, not very smart unloving,self seeking, and likes to play with peoples minds. The pharisees were also God’s children if the Bible is true. God created the Devil if the Bible is true then God must love evil too. He knew ahead of time that Satan would turn out bad or He would not have created him. I do not believe you have an in with any God. Nor does you beliefs make any sense to me. I realize your beliefs are just that, and that is your right, but your beliefs do nothing for me. I do not know where you got your religious traing,but it sounds like it is just in your own mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-religious-contradiction/529450.md?page=6)