Our Subconscious and God

James closely associates the sublimal and the supreme. He contends that the spontaneous source of religion conversion is the subconscious.

James does not say that the source of conversions is purely natural, that the subconscious is God. He admits that the "reference of a phenomenon to a sublimal self does not exclude the notion of the Deity altogether," for "it is logically conceivable that if there be higher agencies that can directly touch us, the psychological condition of their doing so might be our possession of a subconscious region which alone should yield access to them."

But it is precisely this close association of the Transcendent with Man's subconscious that raises anew the question of the reality basis for religious transcendence...

One cannot help but wonder whether or not the subconscious is all that is meant by the Transcendent.

- William James, discussed by Norman Geisler in Philosophy of Religion p60-61

That is exactly what I am afraid might be the case. What if what seems so plausible to believers, that God is speaking to us, turns out to be our subconscious voice after all? It has always been said, "The willing believes." Incidentally, it is usually the willing - also known as the gullible - who is susceptible to conmen.

To have knowledge of the One

One wishing to contemplate what transcends the Intellectual attains contemplation of it by putting away all that is of the intellect. For "knowledge of the One comes to us neither by science bor by pure thought... but by a presence which is superior to science..." To know the Supreme, one must merge with the Supreme and become one with it, centre coinciding with with centre. Just as one must become godlike and beautiful if he cares to see God and Beauty, so one must become one with the One if he is to know the One.

- Plotinus, discussed by Norman Geisler in Philosophy of Religion

Talking about "the One", and "being one" with the One, makes it sound very mystical.

But it just refers to alignment. This is probably quite similar to Christian teaching that we must be like Jesus. Also, to know God one must be without sin, that is why we must confess our sins before God will listen to prayer.

Did You Ever Talk to God Above?

A nice song I heard during the worship service led by Children's Ministry band during Family Worship.