We See What We Want to See

Our visions begin with our desires.

-- Audre Lorde (1934-1992), poet

I would be interested to know if an atheist would see an angel in this picture, or if their rejection of religion, of  spirituality, is so complete as to prevent even acknowledging what most everyone else might see, albeit just a cloud.  Maybe they would default to a fairy or some demonic, bat winged, fiction.  Of course, I suppose this default would also allow them to acknowledge the angel since, to them, it would be just another fiction for the simple minded.

We see what we want to see, whether imagined or real.  We humans tend to see with our hearts and then we shake off our initial reaction and jump into analysis.  Angels, bleeding and crying religious icons, ghosts and flying saucers, all send our imaginations into overtime, for a moment.  Those of faith will analyze for facts while keeping the mind open for what we hoped we saw.  The skeptic analyzes to prove their hypothesis.  Now we waking up to another theory which I think has its roots in Quantum Theory, though I may be wrong, which is called "phenomenalism":

Everyone is interested in what happens to things when we aren't looking at them. Scientists have carefully studied this problem and some of them came to a simple conclusion – they disappear. Well, not quite like this. Phenomenalist philosophers believe that objects only exist as a phenomenon of consciousness. So, your laptop is only here while you are aware of, and believe in its existence, but when you turn away from it, it ceases to exist until you or someone else interacts with it. There is no existence without perception. This is the root of phenomenalism.

Read more at: http://www.learning-mind.com/10-mind-blowing-theories-that-will-change-your-perception-of-the-world/

What of the woman who recently had a car accident where the car flipped into a river and, when finally found, the rescuers could hear her crying for them to save her baby?  They reached the vehicle and saved the child only to find the mother had died some time before their arrival on scene.  Several of the rescue team attest to hearing the voice clearly.  Difficult to explain, yet I'm certain some perpetual disbeliever will arrive at swamp gas or cats in heat to dismiss any supernatural explanation.  They just love to suck all the color from life.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

-- C.G. Jung (1875-1961), father of analytical psychology

I have met many people who feel that looking inward, as Jung suggests, is a waste of valuable time better spent doing something constructive like proving the non-existence of God so they can be vindicated, as if anyone of faith really cares what they think or what they find, that's why they call it faith and why they aren't trying to prove the atheist is wrong.  You cannot create faith for someone incapable, or unwilling,  to open their mind to possibilities while they remain mired in only that which is probable.  They tie themselves to the physical world without any dreams of transcending it into what lies beyond.  I would love to see the face of the skeptic who dies, goes into the light, and upon reaching the other side thinks to themselves, "Oh, crap..."

“I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?”

John Lennon (1940-1980), musician, poet

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Frank Anthony Villari (aka, Pastor Tony)

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path."