Where do inner voices originate?

[Robert_Sock]

Imagine showing a television to a lost tribe of people who have had no contact with the outside world. Now try explaining to them that the picture and sound of the television comes from broadcasting companies. The tribal people would probably look at you like you were nuts, insisting that the sound and picture were originating from within the television set itself.

Now, rethink where the prompting of inner voices come from; might it be that these promptings too are originating from afar, and not merely a product of our brain?

It’s interesting to note that human beings make great television antennas. I do not think this is coincidental.

 

[Razanir]

Imagine showing a television to a lost tribe of people who have had no contact with the outside world. Now try explaining to them that the picture and sound of the television comes from broadcasting companies. The tribal people would probably look at you like you were nuts, insisting that the sound and picture were originating from within the television set itself.

Now, rethink where the prompting of inner voices come from; might it be that these promptings too are originating from afar, and not merely a product of our brain?

It’s interesting to note that human beings make great television antennas. I do not think this is coincidental.

Counterargument: Assuming you’re referring to the fact we think by speaking to ourselves, we have control over our own thoughts… If you think we’re merely antennae, it also negates free will

 

[Robert_Sock]

Counterargument: Assuming you’re referring to the fact we think by speaking to ourselves, we have control over our own thoughts… If you think we’re merely antennae, it also negates free will

No, the inner voices are acted upon; we have a free will to act on these inner voices or reject them. Isn’t it counterintuitive to think that “I” am listening to “myself?” Doesn’t it imply two separate persons?

How does God communicate to us if not through our inner voices (our conscience)? Is the voice of God somehow imperceivable? How would an imperceivable ‘voice’ affect us?

 

[Razanir]

No, the inner voices are acted upon; we have a free will to act on these inner voices or reject them. Isn’t it counterintuitive to think that “I” am listening to “myself?” Doesn’t it imply two separate persons?

How does God communicate to us if not through our inner voices (our conscience)? Is the voice of God somehow imperceivable? How would an imperceivable ‘voice’ affect us?

I’m not sure I agree. For instance, when I read your response, I initially reacted by thinking through in my head the start of what I would say. And even when I’m currently typing it, I’m still thinking along in my head. So I find it very hard to believe in this case that those thoughts are directly from God, because that would then imply that this post is not only divinely inspired, but dictated directly from God.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I’m not sure I agree. For instance, when I read your response, I initially reacted by thinking through in my head the start of what I would say. And even when I’m currently typing it, I’m still thinking along in my head. So I find it very hard to believe in this case that those thoughts are directly from God, because that would then imply that this post is not only divinely inspired, but dictated directly from God.

I’m not talking about thoughts per se, but inner voices, such as the conscience. Again, how does God speak to us, and how does Satan tempt us?

 

[Robert_Sock]

I just had a dream where my thoughts are definitely controlled, and that my spirituality is definitely being raised by my acting on moral thought and rejecting immoral thoughts. I believe this to be a profound revelation. We must listen to our consciences. Sins are often subtle.

 

[RoseMary131]

I’m not talking about thoughts per se, but inner voices, such as the conscience. Again, how does God speak to us, and how does Satan tempt us?

Is our conscience - our moral thoughts?

Are our thoughts (including moral thoughts - conscience) formed by our experiences, what we have lived, read, heard, etc.?

God does reach us through our thoughts. However, we also have our own thoughts which includes our conscience which is not simply straight from God but from our own experiences of living and learning.

So, how does God speak to us?

Sometimes we may not recognize His voice from our own thoughts. It may take more practice to discern what is from God and what is from our own thoughts - which very likely are intertwined with what we know about God from our own religious beliefs and studies.

How does Satan speak to us or tempt us? Many times people give Satan credit for more things than he actually does. We can drop away from God slowly on our own, with Satan not doing anything.

If we feel Satan is tempting us away from God, we can redirect our thinking towards what is good and holy. We can offer a prayer and make the Sign of the Cross.

It could also be a thought based on our own laziness and sinfulness. Redirecting our thinking towards God helps us.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Is our conscience - our moral thoughts?

Are our thoughts (including moral thoughts - conscience) formed by our experiences, what we have lived, read, heard, etc.?

God does reach us through our thoughts. However, we also have our own thoughts which includes our conscience which is not simply straight from God but from our own experiences of living and learning.

So, how does God speak to us?

Sometimes we may not recognize His voice from our own thoughts. It may take more practice to discern what is from God and what is from our own thoughts - which very likely are intertwined with what we know about God from our own religious beliefs and studies.

How does Satan speak to us or tempt us? Many times people give Satan credit for more things than he actually does. We can drop away from God slowly on our own, with Satan not doing anything.

If we feel Satan is tempting us away from God, we can redirect our thinking towards what is good and holy. We can offer a prayer and make the Sign of the Cross.

It could also be a thought based on our own laziness and sinfulness. Redirecting our thinking towards God helps us.

So, you seem to be saying that God and Satan do indeed speak to us through our inner voices. Where we may differ is in the degree. Yes, I believe that our own thoughts may result from our experiences, etc., but I also believe that we often take the voices of God and Satan, and make them seem to be our own.

 

[RoseMary131]

So, you seem to be saying that God and Satan do indeed speak to us through our inner voices. Where we may differ is in the degree. Yes, I believe that our own thoughts may result from our experiences, etc., but I also believe that we often take the voices of God and Satan, and make them seem to be our own.

Yes… our thoughts are based on our life experiences including studies.

Yes… we can intertwine our own thoughts with those from God or Satan.

We are both physical and spiritual beings. Others in our daily life influence our thinking. Someone else’s thoughts can becomes our own thoughts as we agree with them.

Others from the spiritual world - God, angels, our guardian angel, the Saints… influence our thinking. What we experience from the spiritual world, we can bring to be part of our own thinking. This would go the same with the negative or evil spirits from the spiritual world.

I don’t know that we can attribute any of our thoughts to be totally isolated from others - other people or God or angels, saints or evil spirits. Yet, our thoughts are not simply a mirror of God, Satan, or others. We experience life (including internal spiritual life) and form our thoughts.

At the same time, we can have a direct thought given from God or Satan. Discernment is how we figure what is from us and what is from God or Satan.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Yes… our thoughts are based on our life experiences including studies.

Yes… we can intertwine our own thoughts with those from God or Satan.

We are both physical and spiritual beings. Others in our daily life influence our thinking. Someone else’s thoughts can becomes our own thoughts as we agree with them.

Others from the spiritual world - God, angels, our guardian angel, the Saints… influence our thinking. What we experience from the spiritual world, we can bring to be part of our own thinking. This would go the same with the negative or evil spirits from the spiritual world.

I don’t know that we can attribute any of our thoughts to be totally isolated from others - other people or God or angels, saints or evil spirits. Yet, our thoughts are not simply a mirror of God, Satan, or others. We experience life (including internal spiritual life) and form our thoughts.

At the same time, we can have a direct thought given from God or Satan. Discernment is how we figure what is from us and what is from God or Satan.

Again, we seem to be in agreement, but differ only in the degree that our inner voices originate from afar.

 

[RoseMary131]

Again, we seem to be in agreement, but differ only in the degree that our inner voices originate from afar.

What is the degree you attribute of our inner voices originating from afar?

What degree is our inner voice being God speaking or some other spiritual voice in relation to the degree the inner voice is ourselves?

 

[Robert_Sock]

What is the degree you attribute of our inner voices originating from afar?

What degree is our inner voice being God speaking or some other spiritual voice in relation to the degree the inner voice is ourselves?

I guess I would say that inner voices always comes from afar. Can we form thoughts on our own, perhaps, but that was not what I wanted to convey in my original post. I meant it as food for thought, and I think it may be a big assumption on our part to to think otherwise.

 

[RoseMary131]

I guess I would say that inner voices always comes from afar. Can we form thoughts on our own, perhaps,…

How do you tell what is an inner voice from afar and when is Robert forming his own thought?

What defines an inner voice?

 

[Robert_Sock]

How do you tell what is an inner voice from afar and when is Robert forming his own thought?

What defines an inner voice?

Again, my original post was meant as food for (deep) thought. I already knew that there would be many people whot would hold fast to their belief that thoughts originate from within, but I simply wanted to challenge this very common belief by proposing that our thought may come from afar. Like with our belief in God, my position can neither be proved or disproved, except by way of our inner voices and discernment. All I was doing was conveying what one of my inner voices said to me, but maybe I did not use proper discernment.

Again, we seem to agree that at least some of our inner voices originate from afar.

Sorry, but I cannot define exactly what an inner voice is, but I’m now leaning toward defining them as thoughts that speak to us.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Whoever it is that controls my conscience, controls me.

 

[RoseMary131]

Again, my original post was meant as food for (deep) thought. I already knew that there would be many people whot would hold fast to their belief that thoughts originate from within, but I simply wanted to challenge this very common belief by proposing that our thought may come from afar. Like with our belief in God, my position can neither be proved or disproved, except by way of our inner voices and discernment. All I was doing was conveying what one of my inner voices said to me, but maybe I did not use proper discernment.

Again, we seem to agree that at least some of our inner voices originate from afar.

Sorry, but I cannot define exactly what an inner voice is, but I’m now leaning toward defining them as thoughts that speak to us.

Sorry for my misunderstanding of your post.

I assumed the majority (if not all) of people who believe in God and especially Catholics would believe that some of their thoughts come from God.

That’s why we sit quietly in prayer and listen. That’s why we pay attention to the little things that we notice in our thoughts throughout the day.

We often use terms like “God calling”, “God laid it on my heart”, “Be still and know that I am God”, “Listen in prayer”, “Meditate”. Those all reflect people recognizing that some thoughts come from God.

When peace is disruptive with thoughts, we often think that the thought or idea may have come from a disruptive evil spirit - as opposed to God calling us.

I never would expect a Catholic or non-Catholic Christian to think all of their thoughts are only from their selves.

I guess I missed the whole idea of your post. Sorry for my misunderstanding.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Sorry for my misunderstanding of your post.

I assumed the majority (if not all) of people who believe in God and especially Catholics would believe that some of their thoughts come from God.

That’s why we sit quietly in prayer and listen. That’s why we pay attention to the little things that we notice in our thoughts throughout the day.

We often use terms like “God calling”, “God laid it on my heart”, “Be still and know that I am God”, “Listen in prayer”, “Meditate”. Those all reflect people recognizing that some thoughts come from God.

When peace is disruptive with thoughts, we often think that the thought or idea may have come from a disruptive evil spirit - as opposed to God calling us.

I never would expect a Catholic or non-Catholic Christian to think all of their thoughts are only from their selves.

I guess I missed the whole idea of your post. Sorry for my misunderstanding.

No need for an apology, as long as things are clarified.

 

[WmJackP]

Now, rethink where the prompting of inner voices come from; might it be that these promptings too are originating from afar, and not merely a product of our brain?

Lets hope that such voices are not a function of an active imagination, or, heaven forbid, the failure to take a psychotropic drug. The state hospitals are full of people who hear voices from afar—many without the assistance of antennae even

 

[Robert_Sock]

Lets hope that such voices are not a function of an active imagination, or, heaven forbid, the failure to take a psychotropic drug. The state hospitals are full of people who hear voices from afar—many without the assistance of antennae even

Schizophrenics are labeled schizophrenic because they hear auditory voices, not because they have inner voices. I fear that people not taking seriously that God speaks to us from afar through our conscience, and that Satan temps us through other inner voices, are greatly missing out on true spirituality.

 

[DaveE]

Schizophrenics are labeled schizophrenic because they hear auditory voices, not because they have inner voices. I fear that people not taking seriously that God speaks to us from afar through our conscience, and that Satan temps us through other inner voices, are greatly missing out on true spirituality.

Very well said Robert. Find the pure mind and you will find both good and evil, truth and lies. The lion is in the cage, as long as you believe that. Satan’s means are limited but relentless. Ignore his attempts and you will lose sight of him. That’s when he does his best work.