SMR:

Hi. You stated:

"There are many people who claim to have had a "supernatural" experience. Who do we believe?

There are many things in life that people can attribute to a "supernatural" experience. That doesn't make a case for Christianity."


I hear ya!! However, that's what these xians are hoping for. They are hoping that all the "miracles", "supernatural experiences" and "encounters with god" will force people to simply take these as "proofs" that xianity is the real deal; eschewing any sort of rational and systematic review of both the claims and the eventual outgrowth from those alleged "experiences". In short, they want to wow the audience so no one would ever question them and then damn them to hell for questioning.

To be preachy (but I guess I'm going to be): I find it VERY dubious for these types of xians (as NOT all xians are consumed by supposed miracles and the alleged supernatural) to insist their claims of "encounters with god" are true but if a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or even a Jehovah Witness or Mormon claims the same thing ala their religion, somehow, that's not true or worse it's seen as being "of the devil".

By contrast, as you know, the Torah warned us of these type of people and what to do even if if their miracles and wonders are done. I find it amazingly ironic that the only reason they are allowed to "happen" (if they did at all) is not because of "the devil" or the "powers of darkness" or "deception" and/or "blindness" or to show us "G-d's way" but rather they are allowed to "happen" to test OUR devotion to G-d and we demonstrate it by first ignoring the claims. What's more, if a duped Jew were to be the one doing this "look what has happened to me" cajoling and wants others to worship that god or even worship G-d in the same manner, according to Deuteronomy, that "prophet" was to be tried and if convicted, killed!! That should really show us what G-d's thoughts are on the subject! The Torah has a zero tolerance to idolatry not because it is elitist or closed minded, but because it is not holy and goes against the very precepts that G-d gave via TRUE prophecy (through Moses) to the entire nation of Israel for all time.

Our love for and devotion to G-d isn't based on miracles, wonders, signs, portents and magical floaty crown-y things (ala "Fairy Odd Parents"). We don't need wonders and such to underscore our love for the Creator and His love for ALL of His creation. Thousands of Jews chose death rather than succumbing to a religion of miracles evident in both xianity and islam. What's more amazing and poignant is that these Jewish martyrs didn't rely on a miracle to save them but willingly gave their lives to sanctify His Name. Now THAT"S devotion!! Now that's real trust and emmunah! If you know beyond a shadow of a doubt something is a lie that you'd sooner die for what you know is true rather than bend the knee for a "possibility", that speaks volumes more than what some drug addict turned jeesus pusher could ever do or attempt.

And isn't THAT kind of witness and courage and the CONTINUITY of the Jewish people the greatest proof and "miracle" of them all? Isn't it a miracle and a wonder that after 3500, we STILL have the Torah (and the Jewish People!) and it STILL resonates with the Voice of G-d challenging us, admonishing us and in this case, WARNING us not to be swayed by any so-called miracles or others' experiencing "god's presence".