Catholics: how do you explain personal experiences like signs, coincidences, visions, etc. that happen to other religions/denominations

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I suggest you focus on your relationship with Christ and not worry about what other people’s experiences may or may not be. You will get to confused, which is a tactic of the adversary

God Bless. 🙂
 
Hi. I’m not a Catholic, but you asked this in Non-Catholic Religions so I hope it is OK that I respond.
I’m completely convinced that Catholicism is the church that Jesus founded. But these types of events are keeping me from converting. I’ve read stories about atheists who have experience about God telling them to convert, but sometimes they convert to protestantism. Sometimes they get signs to specifically convert to religions like mormonism, or anti-catholic fundamentalism. Sometimes they get signs that point them to Islam, sometimes Hinduism, you get the point.
As a Baha’i, I believe that God has spoken to every nation and people in the world:

"There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. "
  • Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah
So, not only does it not bother me when people from other faiths and traditions have spiritual confirmations. It makes me feel joy that God works in the lives of all people who call out to God with faith and love and who seek to serve God by serving their fellow human beings!
 
Hi. I’m not a Catholic, but you asked this in Non-Catholic Religions so I hope it is OK that I respond.

As a Baha’i, I believe that God has spoken to every nation and people in the world:

"There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. "
  • Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah
So, not only does it not bother me when people from other faiths and traditions have spiritual confirmations. It makes me feel joy that God works in the lives of all people who call out to God with faith and love and who seek to serve God by serving their fellow human beings!
I have no problem with you replying. In fact I’ve done some research on the baha’i faith, but not very extensive. I actually found it pretty interesting.

So if I’m not mistaken, you pretty much believe that all religions lead to one God right? Does this mean that God, even to this day, reveals himself as Allah to muslims, Shiva to Hindus, Jesus to christians etc.?
 
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No, I don’t think its demons either. I know plenty zealous protestants, and I know people who are very devout in their faith. On the subject of signs, I have a problem with using them for evidence for a faith. To be sure, god can give us signs, and he has. But the thing is, our dreams can’t change reality, reality is reality. Lets say god gives you a sign to be Mormon. Okay, what do we say. That Mormonism is true? No. Mormonism is not the true church, simple, and I know you said you agree that the Catholic church had to be the first. If it was, then Mormonism, simply wasn’t. That isn’t arrogance, its a simple consequence of Catholicism being first. If Catholicism was first, then what do we make up you being called to Mormonism? Two options: A. God knew you were unable to become Catholic, but he could bring you to Mormonism. Mormonism, no matter how wrong, does have prayer, you could still then come closer to God. That’s good, God knows he can save you from there or B. It was a dream, and you shouldn’t take it so seriously. People will dream about converting to religions they already have a bias towards, someone living in Iran is unlikely to convert to the first congregationalist church in my town. Why? Because the man know’s Islam, he doesn’t know congregationalist! The point is, the religion that man converted to was a consequence of location, not of reality. The Catholic faith is true irregardless of him converting to Islam via a dream. We can’t let our emotion’s trump logic. I read an article by a Catholic convert (Consequently from Mormonism) He said, conversion must be two parts: Emotional and Intelligence. Too much Intelligence, we will never see God work in us, we shouldn’t want our faith to be strictly business-like with god. But no amount of emotion can make something false true, and the fact is, we can’t all be right, the vehement disagreements just between the Abrahamic faiths should show so. If god exists, and we are all right, or at bare minimum no one is wrong, then the New atheists are right, he is a jerk, because he tells the Muslims to veil their wives, Jews to circumcise, and doesn’t tell Christians to do either! That would create a god of chaos, not of peace and serenity, God does not, cannot lead us all in opposite directions, he must lead us to one path, one direction, lest he contradict himself, for if god is truth, then he would only lead us to him. You said you are thinking of converting? How do I say this. I am Catholic not because I like the church’s teaching. I am also not Catholic because I think a guy in a funny hat and white Cossack should have the keys to the kingdom (Forgive me your Eminence, also funny hat wearers). I am Catholic because the Church is True with a capital T. The Church doesn’t have true teachings, its simply the Truth. I would never say evolution and creationism are both right, would I? No, I can’t believe two contradictory theory’s, its one of the other. In that same sense, its the Catholic faith or Insert faith. Ultimately: Our dream’s, no matter how convincing, cannot, and thus should not, influence reality, or our perceptions of reality. The Catholic faith is the truth friend, thank god everyday he opened your eyes. I know I do, the beauty of the Catholic faith is it is a faith grounded firmly in reality, it free’s us from the bond’s of ideology’s and false-prophets, and shows us how the world really works. Give all your love, all your devotion, to the Catholic faith, and let her decide how you see the world. For the bride of Christ is just that, the bride of Christ. I wish I could give you every singe reason she is right,every objectively true reason, but i think half the fun is seeing the holy spirit doing it himself. Let him work in you, with out restrictions.

Simple answer: The question you ask is rendered pointless, Because if the Catholic faith is true, then people converting to other religions just shows either God can help people in all sorts of circumstances, which he can, as Vatican II made clear I think in it’s writings on other religions, and two, that Dreams aren’t normally controlled by reality. It cannot show that an untrue religion is true. When I have a problem such as this, I ask myself two rhetorical questions, whether its a moral dilemma or hard biblical passage: 1.Is Jesus Christ lord? Yes, yes he is. 2. Is the Catholic church, as she defines herself, the Church he founded? Yes, yes she is. Any answer I come up with to the problem thus, must consider these two facts. You know the Catholic church is true, that’s good, its often the harder one to accept. What you need to be asking yourself now: Is Jesus Christ exactly who he says he is? Not whether this or that vision is true. The question I want you to ask yourself, is: Whether Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God, or not. The bible says God is love, and he loved you before you were formed in the womb. If that god exists, we have to love him back fully, or we are wicked beings, wicked being’s indeed, God doesn’t need us, but it does seem cruel to deny him.

I’ll be praying my rosary tonight for your conversion friend, In return, Please pray I don’t accidentally fall asleep before I get a chance, I find myself sleepy today.
:gopray:
“Aquinas lay down before the blessed sacrament. Jesus appeared before him, saying “you have written well of me Thomas, what would you have as a reward”? Thomas responded: Only you lord”
 
I have no problem with you replying. In fact I’ve done some research on the baha’i faith, but not very extensive. I actually found it pretty interesting.

So if I’m not mistaken, you pretty much believe that all religions lead to one God right? Does this mean that God, even to this day, reveals himself as Allah to muslims, Shiva to Hindus, Jesus to christians etc.?
Yes, we do. 🙂
 
Would you say that Judaism is wrong to assert that they are the chosen people of God?
No, I would not. It is very clear to me that God has a very special relationship with the children of Israel. Even today they set a compelling example that doing things the right way leads to success, both in spiritual matters and also in very practical ones as well.

That said, I believe that while Moses and the prophets were sent to the children of Israel, by the time Jesus had arrived Christ’s message became universally directed towards and intended for all the peoples who heard of it.
 
No, I would not. It is very clear to me that God has a very special relationship with the children of Israel. Even today they set a compelling example that doing things the right way leads to success, both in spiritual matters and also in very practical ones as well.

That said, I believe that while Moses and the prophets were sent to the children of Israel, by the time Jesus had arrived Christ’s message became universally directed towards and intended for all the peoples who heard of it.
At the time of Moses, did God leave the Chinese people and the people of Japan in the dark? Why would God discriminate against such beautiful Asian people during the time of Moses?
 
At the time of Moses, did God leave the Chinese people and the people of Japan in the dark?
No.

Baha’is believe that the Unknowable Absolute / God has sent teachers to humanity for all places and all times. Many of their names are lost to history, but the Baha’i Faith specifically recognizes Gautama Buddha and Krishna as among these teachers.

Many Baha’is believe that Guru Nanak, White Buffalo Calf Woman, the Great Peacemaker (Deganawida), and Cē Ācatl Topiltzin QuetzalCoatl are also among these divine teachers, although they are not specifically referenced by the Baha’i scriptures.
 
No.

Baha’is believe that the Unknowable Absolute / God has sent teachers to humanity for all places and all times. Many of their names are lost to history, but the Baha’i Faith specifically recognizes Gautama Buddha and Krishna as among these teachers.

Many Baha’is believe that Guru Nanak, White Buffalo Calf Woman, the Great Peacemaker (Deganawida), and Cē Ācatl Topiltzin QuetzalCoatl are also among these divine teachers, although they are not specifically referenced by the Baha’i scriptures.
This is interesting, but I am not sure that Roman Catholics would accept the White Buffalo Calf Woman as an authentic divine teacher.
 
This is interesting, but I am not sure that Roman Catholics would accept the White Buffalo Calf Woman as an authentic divine teacher.
Baha’is acknowledge there are Manifestations of God that have gone before Adam and are unknown to us…

`Abdu’l-Bahá describes vast “Universal Cycles,” stretching over hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of years, at the end of which “great events” take place as a result of which all traces of the previous cycle are obliterated and a new cycle begins. Within each Universal Cycle, many Manifestations of God (q.v.) appear, each linked to a cycle. Thus each of the religions founded by one of these Manifestations goes through a period of growth, reaches its zenith or maturity, and then declines. When the decline is complete and the religion is no longer capable of guiding humanity spiritually, another Manifestation comes (PUP 93-96).

From Ages and Cycles

by Moojan Momen

bahai-library.com/momen_encyclopedia_ages_cycles
 
Baha’is acknowledge there are Manifestations of God that have gone before Adam and are unknown to us…

`Abdu’l-Bahá describes vast “Universal Cycles,” stretching over hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of years, at the end of which “great events” take place as a result of which all traces of the previous cycle are obliterated and a new cycle begins. Within each Universal Cycle, many Manifestations of God (q.v.) appear, each linked to a cycle. Thus each of the religions founded by one of these Manifestations goes through a period of growth, reaches its zenith or maturity, and then declines. When the decline is complete and the religion is no longer capable of guiding humanity spiritually, another Manifestation comes (PUP 93-96).

From Ages and Cycles

by Moojan Momen

bahai-library.com/momen_encyclopedia_ages_cycles
Thanks for the information on this.
 
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