"religious" event, floating in air, very demonic

[courage]

i'm very aware of what speaking in tongues means, the people i'm referring to are the ones that use it plainly to place themselves on a pedastool. i gather it's all you read, otherwise you would have understood the meaning.
i have nothing against using tongues to be "nearer to god" if that's how you worship, but tongues should not be used to separate yourselves from those who cant speak in tongues. you were not present at this sermon so you cant understand how it was. i'm in no way "bagging out" christians who speak in tongues.

[Khraal]

Jennings, A bit defensive are we? No one ever said you never read the bible, Manson read the bible. Just that you don't seem to have grasped it... you talk about Courage being contradictory, because he has a beer, or because he's a soldier, or even because he might like guns and shooting and hunting. Then tell me to get off my high horse when i point out that you are adding things that aren't in the Bible. I was just saying that telling someone their dream experiences. are figments of their "Indoctrination" is just bypassing the poor guys honest question. Basically what I'm sayin' is you seem to have a big chip on your shoulder for someone that doesn't have the best working knowledge of the side subject that you pushed as the issue... besides that... I don't recall saying I wasn't indoctrinated... that's a claim you seem to assume I would make. I have spent years studying "not just reading" religious texts from many religions. Christian, Muslim, Buddism, as well as the writings of Anton LaVey. In fact I never even said I was a church going Christian. That says a lot more about you than it does about me bro.

(change of addressed person):

but back to the actual subject, Courage, did you find anything about Shadowmen that sounds close to what you are dreaming? I'm not sure what you mean by, " an evil voice in your head calling you evil minion spirit." I am talking about the accounts of people in sleep paralysis that have frighting experiences such as seeing things or feeling a "dark" presence. Like "Wolfjk" I am not sure that the dreams are religious in nature, but only you can say, because you are the one having them. I really didn't want to discuss religion with you, just your dream. I just got a little annoyed at someone saying it was your religious up-bringing that was at fault, and that being a soldier or drinking a beer was UnChristian. I did not wish to turn you off of the dream subject, so please do not be offended.

But just to clarify do you see this dream as just a nightmare, or a religious experience? Or maybe even something in between?

[Jennings]

Khraal, at aged 29 you would not have too many years of study and certainly little experience to temper it. You are vain, presumptious, contradictory, and deliberately provocative. If you desire to adopt this attitude why don't you find a forum that will accommodate you, your diktats, and your self-opinionated views? I can tolerate arrogance but find ignorance inexcusable.

[Khraal]

jennings, I graduated at 17 and started college where I spent about 5 years studying world religions and physics. When was the last time you spent 5 years on the study of religion? Then after graduation I went into computer repair, and systems design. Your the one being all high and mighty and vain. This sounds kinda like a personal thing. Let it go already. You are the one who started bashin' this guys religious beliefs not me. I just said that had you spent time reading the text you're bashin' you would know better. Not that you would agree, but that you would have a more well stated argument. I mean honestly, you took a guys dream and somehow turned it into him hurting himself by daring to believe in God, and still living his life like a normal person. Besides as most people can tell you, age in no way reflects intelligence. Now if you can get past your problems with me already, do you have any helpful suggestion to this guy, other than to change his entire belief system that is?

[Jennings]

Try to address yourself to the topic of the thread rather than being avuncular to those whom you feel need protection. What upsets you is that others hold different views to your deeply held religious beliefs and have wounded your profound feelings of inadequacy. Theological study serves only to breed ignorance and if you possessed a modicum of intelligence you would be sufficiently perceptive to discern this.

If you feel that having the last word could be cathartic to you, then be my guest and thereafter do try to be charitable.

(PS It is difficult for those like myself whose IQ is merely 148 to compete with you theologians).

[courage]

i was going to have my post removed but it seems to have stemmed a debate of somesort.
there's no need to insult one another, and jennings, mate academic IQ isn't what gives a person thier common sense. although that's an impressive IQ, if we were THAT "ignorant" we wouldn;t understand the vocabulary you are using. are you a writer?
Kraal, i'm female mate, just so ya know, i took your first post as a hostile response...
i just want to point out that those dreams were very nightmarish, i believe it was just brought on by stress and the fact that so many people were pushing religious crap into my ears, it was the only thing on my mind and it wasn't an evil spirit, i felt a bit stupid stating that. God only knows what i was thinkin that night...but if you fall asleep with something so heavy on your mind you're bound to dream of either the physical experience or the emotional experience of it. either way different people interpret things differently so in my mind it was terrifying.
therefore i guess it was just a nightmare in a conflicting time. so yes, something inbetween.

[Shirah]

Hello Courage...

I would never knock anyone for their belief system. You have strong convictions regarding your beliefs and that is okay. If your pastor introduced a different aspect of a belief and you do not agree with it, that is okay as well. The God you believe in certainly is stronger then man's opinion, other people's convictions, etc. Don't let fear (of speaking in tongues or anything else) rule you. Fear is not of God. Your faith should be sufficient enough and there is no need to tear down another person's belief (people who do believe in speaking of tongues). Their convictions are as passionate as yours. My suggestion is that you weigh what is presented to you against the basis of your faith, which is based on the bible. If you do not believe something to be of your faith, then you don't have to participate in it. Don't seek out demons when there may be none. Be careful not to judge and show mercy.

As far as you dreams are concerned, again, trust your God. Why be afraid if you have a God that is able and is willing to protect you. I use to have floating, demonic and otherworldly dreams. Taking your faith into context and the knowledge of your belief system, pray when this happens to you and believe your God is strong enough to handle it. Be well.

[Khraal]

Everyone on the internet has an IQ of at least 130.

to Courage:

Sorry, I didn't mean to call you a male, I'm from America, and while I have spent some time abroad, (Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, Holland, Canada) I have trouble kicking the habit of calling people generically guys (guys, dudes, bros, hims... I guess I spent to much time around tom-boys when I was growing up; it made me a sexist pig.). I have noticed that not all places (even in my own Country) do that. Sorry, I meant no offense. So to the dream, it sound's like it went away. If it did then great, no one likes sleepless night. If not, then it might help sit back and think about what exactly it was about the service that bothered you so much. I.E. the mood or atmosphere or whatever. You mentioned the Toronto Blessing, and from what I understand it can be rather... chaotic. (I was still a teen in the '90s when the Toronto Blessing was at it's high point, so I never saw one.) Once you know what it was, it maybe a clue to getting rid of the dreams. Of course it could just be a passing stress related dream. In any case being a Christian I'm sure you tried prayer. If the dreams are still a problem maybe try a simple meditation to clear the mind before you nod off at night. At any rate, I hope your dreams are better tonight.

[courage]

thankyou wolfjk, jennings, shirah and kraal for your feedback, i appreciate your perspectives as it's definately given me things to think about. religion can be a very confusing principle to those of us who aren't so certain about where our beliefs truley lie. it's a matter of learning and understanding.