Check out this video and comment on what you think about it. Are these manifestations of Sacred Power? Why or why not?
Which academic discipline (Phenomenology, sociology, anthropology, history or psychology) would you use to to an analysis of this group or these practices?
Watch closely the man in the suit 22 seconds into the video. Does he go up or down at first?
Have you ever experienced anything like this?
Compare what you see in this video with some of the miracles of Jesus. What is similar? What is different?
Luke 5:12-15 (pay special attention to 14 "tell no one")
Luke 8:49-56 (also notice verse 56 - "he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened")
Matthew 9:27-31 (again, read verse 30 - "Jesus warned them sternly 'See that no one knows about this'")
Are there any ethical guidelines to how sacred power should be used? What are the dangers of sacred power?
The things that i notice that are rather similar to the miracles of Jesus form this video is the way that both the miracles of Jesus and Benny Hinn has the the unconditional attention of all the people attending. One thing that is glaringly different is the way Benny Hinn uses showmanship during his demonstrations. I believe there should be ethical guidelines to how sacred power should be used. If not, then anyone can claim they have sacred power and then give people false hope. This also lies in the dangers of sacred power; if someone is given false hope, they can react all types of ways.
ReplyDeleteIn this video we see the manifestation of the holy spirit. These signs are in the Bible.Jesus did many miracles in were people had divine encounters with God. I think once someone experience this, their perspective would be different. In my opinion, we are leaving in times were knowing about God is no longer enough, but we must experience who he is.
ReplyDeleteWatching this video from a completely nonreligious perspective, I believe one's initial reaction is that it is a seriously "unbelievable" exaggeration of the kind of connection a human can feel with God. However, there are many aspects of this experience that have to be taken into consideration in order to perceive Benny Hill's demonstration and purpose. Like we discussed in class, showmanship is by far one of the most important things that deeply contribute to the spiritual openness or psychological willingness to feel the holy light within you. I think that is sometimes difficult to understand how genuine a pastor, a religious ceremony, or even a numinous story that you have heard from someone is unless you have experience it yourself.
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DeleteThis video shows just how powerful and great the Holy Spirit is. One might think it looks a little ridiculous or unbelievable, but through Christ nothing is impossible. You must experience this first hand to understand that its real.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure how I feel about this video... It all seems to be a bit staged.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure how I feel about this video... It all seems to be a bit staged.
ReplyDeleteI saw this video so many times. At first this video was really strong for me but the other times I watched it, it seemed a little acted.
ReplyDeleteI would use psychology and sociology to analyze this occurrence. Either these people have chemical imbalances that cause them to act as such, they are affected by the beliefs of other fanatics, or this is just a staged situation to sell miracles and religion.
ReplyDeleteI believe that to experience enlightenment one doesn't need to exaggerate the process nor the outcome. I believe that enlightenment happens silently within the self.
DeleteI feel as though there is a bit of peer pressure involved, but I don't want to completely disregard how these people may feel in a place full of others with the same faith. Overall, I do sense a slight exaggeration involved in their actions.
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