People from all walks of life, secular and religious have made claims that some great force from above gave them some type of enlightening. People from all religions and Denominations have all claimed that they prayed for some form of Enlightenment, and recieved it. Problem is that they are all different. The Born Again Christians claim that they have been born again, and have full understanding of the scriptures. Usually they believe that Eternal Torment awaits those who have not been born again. Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and Eastern Orthodox Churches often claim spiritual enlightenment from the sacraments(Eucharist, confession, baptism, confirmation, annointing of the sick, holy orders and matrimony). Jehovahs Witnesses believe that the 144,000 to rule with Christ in Heaven one day wake up and have this enlightenment that they have been chosen to rule in Heaven. In Judaism, they believe in something called Kabalah(I think). In Islam, they have something called Sufism, which lead them to this belief that people can get out of hell. In Eastern faith, they believe they recieve enlightenment through Yoga, and various other relaxation techniques. In indigenous cultures, they believe they recieve enlightenment through their various rituals. Same with the ancient religions. Plus in secularist and new ageists, people have made claims that they had some type of enlightenment to ask a certain person on a date, apply for a job, ect.
I sometimes wonder about these other groups, despite being different in many ways, I have noticed several similarities, such as extremely accurate prophecies, Jesus-like Figures, Universal Salvation, mercy and judgment, and oneness unity with God.
But I have noticed that in the Old Testament, the Prophecies of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and the Minor prophets can be a bit confusing, and not really straightforward. Plus many Hebrews did not really understand the Law either.
Is it possible that no one really gets full revelation of an absolute truth, but only small pieces? I have noticed that the "Born Again Christians" AKA Fundamentalists Evangelicals are the only ones who believe that their spiritual experience is absolute truth, and anyone who believes differently is in serious theological error.
I remember I prayed for a quick end to GAD, and was expecting that I would recieve the ability to see this legalistic form of Catholicism in a spiritual life. Instead, I was pretty much yanked out of the whole Dogmatic system, and was eventually lead to Universalism after trying to prove annihilation was true.
:cloud9: Yes, everyone has a piece of the puzzle. As a born again Christian, the Holy Spirit is our teacher and every spiritual "enlightening" is always comfirmed by the Word (and if you understand it) the Tabernacle of Moses, the pattern of the heavenlies. Even natural creation bears witness to His glory and established principles. Blessings...
Most of what we encounter in life is emotional and physical knowledge. There is nothing wrong with this knowledge as it is all a part of the journey. As a person raised in America, I know about Jesus and the english terms that scripture has been translated too. If someone was to tell me about Jesus in German, I wouldn't have a clue about what they were talking about, it would be gobbeldy gook to me.
I believe I am spiritually free, not because of any enlightenment, but because I am free of the chains of religion that hammers out a set plan that is made for me to live up to so that I become accepted by a group of people. This is not true spirituality, it is something that anyone can find the courage to break free from, you just have to be willing to be a social outcast from religous settings. Some are not willing to do this and to do it or not to do it has nothing to do with spirituality it is emotional.
True spirituality is selfless, you cannot tell anyone those, and as you read this, you will know why.
When someone tells me that i need to believe them because the holy spirit told them something I already know it is false. What they are saying could be the truth, but it is not of the spirit if they have to tell me.