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From: wrightd@rpm2.aes.mb.doe.ca (David Wright)
Subject: Re: The end of god
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Date: Tue, 18 Oct 1994 18:12:08 GMT
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In article <3763hb$k7k@dingo.cc.uq.oz.au>, ml330025@dingo.cc.uq.oz.au (Cameron Brown) says:
>
>shoade@sun1.iusb.indiana.edu (Sean Hoade) writes:
>
>>In article <36p1mi$enn@dingo.cc.uq.oz.au> ml330025@dingo.cc.uq.oz.au (Cameron Brown) writes:
>
>>>Mytsticism may well be the foundation of all religions, look at the 
>>>founders of a few (relatively recent) religions and both Jesus Christ and 
>>>Budda had experiences that could be described as mystical experiences.
>>>Cameron Brown              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>>reluctant mystic.
>
>>They could also be described as hallucinations, misunderstandings of physical 
>>phenomena, or just plain made-up stories, couldn't they?
>
>>Sean Hoade
>>enthusiastic atheist.
>well, I dont believe they are just made up, but halucinations, nervous 
>breakdown's and psychotic episodes all do fit in (why do you think i'me 
>reluctant) either way, everyone should have one then organised religion 
>would dissapear, if you feel that you can believe in yourself you have no 
>need to believe in anything else.
>
>Cameron Brown
>(ex atheist (i beleve you are god (yes you))

While you're discussing the relationship between mystical experiences
and psychotic episodes, I just thought I would point out that a person
suffering, for example, from schitzophrenia may actually be perceiving
two separate realities at the same time, and simply be unable to 
reconcile them.  Thus, psychosis may be a mystical experience in 
itself.  Ditto for halucinations, breakdowns, etc.  Just a theory.

Dave
arcane mystic and overt psychopath
(Yes, I'm nuts, and very pleased with the situation)
