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?
that is kind of crazy. I would want to experience it to see how I would feel. I'd want to feel the sensation, and see if it's real or not.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction when the guy goes up and falls is that it scared me. I wouldn't want to be the guy.
ReplyDeleteMelanie Lalinde from your intro to religion class on Monday and Wednesdays at 1:00 pm.
I believe sometimes we misinterpret things and believe the man is the one with the power. However, growing up in this church i understand that the power is God's being manifested through man.
ReplyDeletegood point Emely
DeleteI have never experienced this before but I'd like to one day see it happen in person. I've never seen anything like it.
ReplyDeleteI experienced this in a southern Baptist university where they made us go to church and one of the chapel sessions was a revival, I think its an over exaggeration for him to fall or for anyone to fall. - Bryan Alvarez 1pm class
ReplyDeleteI don't believe i would feel comfortable in such an environment. To me, I feel as though these things only happen because they are told that these things should happen so automatically they do it.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for me to believe this video because I have never experienced such an experience but also to believe that there is a holy spirit that overtakes a body. I don't know, I would have to experience to see if I change my mind.. Nicole Rivera (1pm class)
ReplyDeleteThis video shows some seriously powerful scenes. Personally, I do not believe that "the power of God" actually makes these people fall. I, however, do believe that people throw themselves down on purpose because they do feel some sort of "Sacred Power" that compels them to commit some sort of physical action to show viewers that they just "felt the power." The way that I would analyze these practices would be by using psychology because I believe that outer-worldly religious experiences deal with the human psyche. A good example of this is the man that was shown in the 22 second of this video, because he was already expecting the preacher to "throw" the holy spirit at him so he knew that once he threw it, the reaction would be to fall back. He also just fell back he did not float or go up or down. Because I have never experienced anything like this, I believe this practice is false.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, demonstrations of sacred power only work on believers. People who don't welcome spiritual thought (atheist) usually don't have any personal experience with this. And those who welcome belief in a sacred power have experiences that affect them in a manner that is normal for that belief.
ReplyDeleteI cant help but be skeptical, I would have to experience it myself to even begin to take it seriously.
ReplyDeleteYes, I understand
DeleteSacred power in this video of Benny Hinn in my opinion is true because I have seen it myself as a Pentecostal. However, I do not agree with Benny Hinn's attitude when using the Holy Spirit to manifest its power because he seems prideful instead of humble.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I feel like half of them probably be just acting but some people are really feeling that power from god that's being released.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit skeptical. I find it hard to believe that a pretty average guy, like Benny Hin, has the power to deliver the "power of the spirit." I'd have to experience it in order to believe it.
ReplyDeleteLiandra Gaston
DeleteLiandra Gaston
Delete(Danet Lugo)
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion i feel like people are just following what the people around are doing.I have never experienced an event like this that is why im skeptical about it,and also because in my psychology class we were introduced to a case study in which people would follow the crowd even if they didn't agree with what the others were doing.I would have to experience it to really know if such things really happen.
I may be able to throw a little more light on it in later chapters when we talk about shamanism and devotional faith
DeleteI think this is possible.
ReplyDeleteI cannot help but think that either the ceremony was staged or the participants are just doing what they want to believe its possible. Maybe their minds are tricking them. Psychology plays a big role in religion. I would like to experience this myself and maybe I will change my thoughts. I am skeptical by nature, I need to see with my own eyes in order to believe.
ReplyDeleteLaura Porben
DeleteThis is hard to believe for me
ReplyDeleteCarolina Fajardo
I know .... for many of us
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ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't believe in this as a Christian but I do believe in the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteDavid Tamayo
I hear you David ...
DeleteI see 20 people commented already, and no one dare to analyze the scriptures. So here I go.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons why Jesus was telling the people not to tell anyone is because the miracles sign and wonders he performed by the anointing of the Spirit of God.
As His fame was spreading, it was every time harder for Him to move because of the overwhelming multitude to hear the word of God. Evidenced by his often withdrew to have more privacy and pray. Although He had the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit without measure to preach, teach, heal and cast out demons, He was somehow limited in His physical body to do things and visit places at the same time. On the other hand, the report of his fame awaken the attention of the many levels of the political power of back then, the Sanhedrin; Pharisee, Sadducees, Roman tetrarch and governors even emperor Cesar Augustus. Running the risk of accelerating and anticipating the appointed time for his crucifixion on Passover which was at the end of his 3.5 years of ministry.
Even thought Jesus said "tell no one," we can see a couple of verses ahead that he commanded them to show themselves publicly to the priest as a testimony. Meaning, Jesus believed in the fresh anointing that the power of the testimony conveys. Just like Paul the Apostle did in his letters when he repeatedly shared his testimony everywhere he went.
And that reminds me the verse in the book of Revelation that quote "And they overcame him(SATAN) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their TESTIMONY."
Now we can carefully see that one or two chapters after Luke 8 and Matthew 9 Jesus call to Himself 12 disciples to ministry the overwhelming multitude, sending them all over Judea making the preaching of the Kingdom more efficient and later on appointing 72 more people for that task, offloading the work for Him.
Pedro Velez.
M-W 1pm class
Pedro Velez (M-W 1pm class)
DeleteBenny Hinn comes from the Christian branch that believes in the old primitive Church and the Gifts of the Spirits; Word of wisdom, knowledge, discerning spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, faith, healings and miracles. Those were given on Pentecost day just like Jesus repeated in the gospels "It is convenient for you that I go (crucifixion death), so you may receive the promise of the Father" (Power of Holy Spirit).
Many people can fall into descriptive and explanatory reductionism when believers do not have a knowledge of the origins of the primitive church.
As I mentioned on Wednesday class, this spiritual experiences could be better discerned and perceived if a believer gets into a fasting mode where they enter into a higher dimension of the spiritual realm and are more receptive to the spiritual things. Otherwise, it would be just meaningless or ridiculous.
I also was personally for many months going to church and speaking against it thinking that all of it was fake or acted until I privately talk to the people who testified having documented proofs (doctor prescription and debts) at the end of the service or healing crusade. I could discern that the encounter with the numinous (Holy Spirit) along with worship and praise to God, miraculously their problem were solved, and bodies were healed by just creating the atmosphere of worship, which consequently brought the manifestation of the glory of God without a celebrity or anyone laying hands or praying for them.
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ReplyDeleteI didn't believe in it until it happened to me
ReplyDeleteCan this be possible?
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that no human has this type of power.
ReplyDeleteProper skepticism is in place. It could be due to a subconscious belief in a higher power.
ReplyDeletePersonally I've never experienced anything like this but also I don't think that anyone has that type of capability.
ReplyDeleteI think that these people share a huge faith that allows supernatural things like this to occur. I personally believe it is real but there are other cases in which people fake it.
ReplyDeleteI've seen something like this happen in my old church.
ReplyDeleteso I don't really know how I feel about this because I do believe people have the ability to let a divine figure enter there bodies and use it for the good. I Have witnessed it first hand but to see something to this scale is hard to believe. But again I can not see god nor hear him but I still believe.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that it's really hard for a human to have this type of "power", but hey, see it to believe it.
ReplyDeleteI've never personally seen anything like this happen before. I do believe the power of God and anything is possible. But as stated in class, the hype of this stuff just seems fake. God usually does his stuff in a very discrete way.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and I have seen things like this occur in more rural areas of Asia. Other than that I have never seen something like this on such a massive scale. It's quiet fascinating honestly.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if its wrong to think this is funny. at the same time I believe this could happen but I have never seen it done at this magnitude.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if its wrong to think this is funny. at the same time I believe this could happen but I have never seen it done at this magnitude.
ReplyDeleteI honestly believe this was not staged nor it only works in believers. I'm a person that has personally experienced it, yes I'm a believer, but I also have non-believer friends that have experienced it once. If you believe in miracles/supernatural ocurrences what's to stop you from believing in this?
ReplyDeletei don't see how this could be real... it seems staged to me but then again i have never seen it in person or experienced it
ReplyDeleteI am having such mixed feelings on this. It seems so real. But it also could be that it's just getting in to people's head. This is very interesting, and seeing that one guy just spring up on stage is fascinating.
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ReplyDeleteThis one of those thing that I have been in places that has happened but have never experience it and is still really hard to believe that some random person can have this kind of power over you
ReplyDeletethis is really hard to believe for me , but still looks like real. i know there have some of people have that kind of power, but he looks like overacting
ReplyDeleteDoesn't seem too real to me. Just an overreaction.
ReplyDeleteOnce again the power of someone to take advantage of those who don't know any better; however it is possible to believe in something so truly that it becomes reality to someone.
ReplyDeletePower can not be created or destroyed unless god gives you the power
ReplyDelete