I expect a lot of people who have very strong belief in the supernatural may well have had supernatural experiences or, very odd things happen they couldn't explain.
Sure, I've had a supernatural experience though. I had a very banal dream one night that then played out in real life a few weeks/ months later. Was it deja vu or, a trick of my mind? Maybe- I'm open to that. There again, it was entirely different to deja vu. It wasn't some snippet of time that felt familiar. It was a whole sequence of events, visuals, sound, the lot. So, I just don't know. My Dad's also done ouija board with a friend with some kind of scary results. He's not one to lie. It's not something I'd mess with.
I'm not very supernaturally gullible but, I've certainly had zero Christian experiences that made me feel any of it was more than stories and ritual. That's just my experience. Not knocking those who have had experiences.
Plus, religion so clearly has manmade agendas running through it. If religion is truly the word of God then, humans surely shouldn't be able to f*ck about with it and, get away with it! Yet, religious policy bends (somewhat) to please the audience.
Ok, some people will just take on face value that psychics are real. Many people want proof though! They may be prepared to believe but- they want assurances (understandably.) Some religions see it as some huge affront and insult to ask to see proof. Why?
Plus, what's the big problem with God themself providing proof? Why is blind faith so prized? We'd feel stupid to have blind faith in other things.
I think there are levels of belief too. Maybe someone likes the idea of fairies say and buys into the magical, wonder side of things. Doesn't mean they expect to see them at the zoo!
Even weirder though- religion works just the same way. My parents are Christians. Go to Church, all that. My Dad believes in evolution though. He doesn't buy the Adam and Eve story as being fact. So, even religious people cherry pick what they want to believe. It's like a suspended form of belief for many- for both people who believe in the supernatural and religion.
The weirder thing (for me) is how religious (Christian) people reconcile the way this world was created- the barbarism, pain and suffering written into it's very blueprint. Plus, their own texts themselves. The absolute brutality, rigidness, narcissism, psychopathy of their leader with some gentle, loving, caring father. Seriously- HOW? Oh- but, it's not your position to question. It's always blocking in religion.
Religion is surely so much easier to doubt because we have some much physical evidence. This was the world your God created. These were the texts they left. Does either truthfully look reasonable to you? How?
The supernatural is actually more complicated to refute in a way because- how much of it is actually documented or visible?
Plus, if we discover something weird and wonderful but science finally catches up to explain it, it isn't supernatural anymore. And besides, God is supernatural themself. What have they got but some books to prove they exist? Superman should exist on those terms.
All that said. It's clear I have big issues with Christianity and God. That said, if it 'speaks' to a person (without justifying something heinous- like war,) then- lap it up! If it gives you strength and a feeling of warmth/ protection- without causing harm to others, I have no issue. People should be able to believe what they want.
I actually find it kind of sweet when people's religions clearly give them so much that they want to share them... So long as they take 'no thanks' for an answer!
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