Discussions
Do You Believe in Angels?
Posted by filosofia • 10/24/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: angels, archangels, christianity, myth, philosophy, religion, ritual
Many people profess to believe in angels. Although there have been many advances in science and technology in modern times, and opposition from many branches of the Church, the belief in angels is one which seems to be taking a long time to disappear. The most famous angel is Gabriel who is actually an Archangel.
Traditionally, the angels were divided into nine orders, or choirs, the names of which - in descending rank - are as follows:
1. Cherubim
2. Seraphim
3. Thrones
4. Dominions
5. Authorities
6. Powers
7. Principalities
8. Archangels
9. Angels
Of these, only the lowest two ranks have ever concerned themselves in any way with mankind.
So are angels just a quaint, outdated, medieval fantasy? Or is there a bit more of reality to them?
What do you think?
User Comments
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I love these questions :o) I think angels are at the moment an overmarketed new age get rich in a hurry fad....however for those who do believe no proof is neccessary for those who don't believe no proof is possible...personally I believe Angels are there to show you the work that needs to be done not to do the work for you....the Angels who walk beside me aren't the commercial kind -
yes I too believe that angels have been commercialized and don't I hate that philly cream cheese commercial with the 'angel'...how annoying! An angel will, I believe whisper guidance in your ear when you are lost.-
lol, dido that
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Metaphorically, yes.
Literally, no. -
Hmm ... well, I know people named Angel and Angela, and I believe they're not figments of my imagination. So, yes
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Yes, it's interesting that the word angel is used as a girl's name. And in the Spanish speaking world, it can also be a boy's name.
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That's what I'm referring to. I'm in the "Spanish-speaking world" that you speak of.
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Angels believe in me -
There was an ancient question that at one time caused a lot of debate: How many angels can stand on the head of a pin? It caused so much controversy at the time that it came to be thought of as the archetype of the utterly pointless question.
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Of course - In Anaheim...
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Angles? Left or right? Wait, OHHHhhh, Angels. ..oh yeah, I've already posted. ...must be because I'm a Floridiot.
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at least your not from Melboring...
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Of course I believe in angels. I am one... at least I've been told that so many times that I'm starting to believe it. Now seriously, believe in angels no. Believe in people who do good deeds who are compared to angels sure.
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I wish angels were real, it would be so touching to know that there is someone who will look out for you when you have nobody else to turn to. Unfortunately, I don't believe in the slightest that they're real, it doesn't seem remotely logical.-
Whats not logical about it? Why not having creatures that our eyes and ears can not detect?
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There is also Saint Michael, The Archangel.
I must disagree about Angel Gabriel being the most famous. The most famous angel is Lucifer, even though he is a fallen angel, God loved him the best. That is the reason it hurt so much to kick him out of Heaven. Betrayal has it's cost. -
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Archangel Raphael is mentioned in the Book of Tobias, Archangel Michael famous battle with Lucifer, the fallen angel is in the Book of Daniel and the Revelations and Archangel Gabriel is in the Gospel of St. Luke. Yes I agree with Robin. Also like that song by Abba .....
" I believe in angels,something good in everyone I see......" -
I'm married to an angel. So I believe. -
I've known a few in my time. They're good friends to have. -
Yes i do believe. how about you do belive is the end of world?. -
No. Ever seen an angel? elves? Bigfoot?
Anyone have a photograph of one?
Why do folks feel the need to believe in a creature of some sort?
What's wrong with believing in yourself and your fellow people in your life?-
Nothing at all wrong with belief in one's self or others. But one should also dare to believe the impossible. For some that's a creature in the great beyond which just might yet turn out to be less imaginary than you or me.
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Mark, ever seen air? Yet you don't doubt that air exists??
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@ agapelife
We breathe air. That in itself is proof.
I stated my opinion and that's as far as I'm going. I'm not going to debate the ridiculous any further.
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Fairy tale. -
yes I believe in angels always
Hannahmiriam
directoryforblogs.blogspot.com/
empoweringthoughts.blogspot.com/
sorelaxing.blogspot.com/-
@hannahmiriam
New avatar. Wondering where you went. Nice to see you back.
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Nope. -
I don't believe in any supernatural creature -
Traditionally, angels are the messengers of God. They travel at the speed of thought, which is faster than the speed of light.
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Not so.
Thoughts exist in electrical impulses, and your nerves exert a slight resistance on the electrons of your thoughts. As a result, it tends to be slower than light speed. -
To voodooKobra: Yes that may be true, but I wasn't talking about the speed of MY thoughts.
Besides, I wasn't trying to prove any facts, I was merely saying what tradition tells us about angels, because I thought people might find it interesting. -
Your thoughts and actions are delayed by a few milliseconds.
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Birds only have wings. -
No, I don't believe in angels, leprechauns, the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, or the tooth fairy either.
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What about gremlins? Gizmo for example, Do you deny his cuteness?
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Don't feed him after midnight!
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yea, and don't get him wet.
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And avoid bright light! Bright light!
(unless you've ignored the feeding thing)
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yes I do believe in Agels also Guardian Angels!-
what about hells angels?
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Forget the Hells Angels -they aren't about Peace n Love!
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How about...
????????? -
I love it when the 'I Know' statements come out that anyone can know what is true for me is fascinating that someone can be so in tune with me my world and the way I perceive it that they can say nope sorry 'I know' what you believe in is not true amazes me everytime....that someone can be so all knowing so God like to suggest they 'know' ultimate truth makes me smile....we all have different beliefs and can have different opinions and have every right to voice them but as I say claiming to be all knowing and have ultimate truth that things do not exist another story entirely
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that was a long sentence.
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@ morgantj
Chances are that these believers in angels would have NEVER believed in them if not for religious scripture. -
I agree Mark.
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To Robinj: Yes I agree. One of the great attractions of discussions like these is to see the bold claims to omniscience of those who consider themselves sceptics (in US spelling skeptics). Many of them see themselves as Socratics (ie questioning everything and demanding proof first - which is a reductionist view of Socratic method, a gross over-simplification), and some may have even read some of Plato's Socratic dialogues.
They fail to see that the role of the philosopher (and, by extension, the intelligent citizen) is to keep an open mind as far as possible. Thus, an assertion might be "proved" but still be false, if the proof has some hidden logical error, or is based on faulty premises. Conversely, there may well be truths that are not susceptible of proof in the way it is usually understood. There may also be truths which are provable, but the proof has simply not yet been discovered.
Therefore it is unwise to reject anything out of hand, merely on the grounds that there is no proof for it.
Those that I have dubbed the "Socratic Sceptics" here may well be sincere, if misguided. There are also those who just want to come into a thread to say something silly, perhaps in the hope of upsetting the flow of discussion. These latter are a nuisance, but they and their like can be found in every forum. -
ad hominems will get you nowhere.
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@ MarkPogue
"I stated my opinion and that's as far as I'm going. I'm not going to debate the ridiculous any further."
Did not expect to see you in this discussion again?
When I don't agree with a discussion, I do not bother writing a comment and just pass quietly by! Everyone here is entitled to his or her beliefs and No One has the right to call it ridiculous or poke fun at them. Where is Tolerance, Kindness and Politeness in BC?-
Angels are a multicultural phenomenon and IMO the belief in such is unfounded.
I'm not debating anyone. I'm supporting another member's comments.
That's my prerogative. -
@agapelife
You just said, "When I don't agree with a discussion, I do not bother writing a comment and just pass quietly by!"
Yet, because you don't agree with Marks comments, you felt the need to comment @Mark regarding your disagreement. That goes against what you just said. That is not just quietly passing by.
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@agapelife
Did not expect to see you in this discussion again?
When I don't agree with a discussion, I do not bother writing a comment and just pass quietly by! Everyone here is entitled to his or her beliefs and No One has the right to call it ridiculous or poke fun at them. Where is Tolerance, Kindness and Politeness in BC?
Really? IMO everyone here is entitled to share his or her beliefs and everyone has the right to call any belief system ridiculous, to mock it and to criticize it. Criticism and mockery of any belief system cannot be personal attack because belief systems aren't persons. Moreover, it's my understanding that no one owns a thread here on the Forum and none of us are in a position to invite any other member to leave a thread or to challenge them with regard to posting into it. Those who post must expect that diverse and even critical opinions may be posted therefore, it's probably wise if the member who posts a thread is prepared to be tolerant, kind and polite to towards members who post dissenting opinions.-
To timethief: I just want to say (as the thread starter) that MarkPogue is very welcome to join this thread whenever he wants to! But I think agapelife, in saying "Did not expect to see you in this discussion again?", was not attempting to ban MarkPogue, but was instead reminding him that he had earlier stated a wish to leave a debate which he found ridiculous, and so agapelife was possibly intending to express surprise at his returning so soon?
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"belief systems aren't persons"
Incorrect!
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No and Yes
All things exist but all things are projections of the mind-
so projections of the mind exist? If you can imagine it, then it exist?
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Yes, the whole world is a projection.
When it comes down to it it's just a lot of little molecules floating in (supposed) space glued together by thought.
But if someone doesn't believe it, it doesn't exist for them. -
Oh, I seen that movie too, "what the bleep do we know," its pseudoscience.
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To acousticguitarist: "All things exist but all things are projections of the mind"
This is a plausible philosophical standpoint, as long as one is very careful to define exactly the meanings of terms such as "projection" and "mind" and even "exist". Many disagreements can arise because the two sides are making unspoken assumptions about the meaning conveyed by a key word in the discussion. Thus they can be arguing about two different things, and yet they BELIEVE they are arguing about the SAME thing.
That type of discussion can become rather heated unfortunately, because each cannot understand why the other side cannot accept something which seems to them to be perfectly simple and obvious. -
hey morg, no it's not that stuff
it's hard to articulate what i mean,
i guess what i'm trying to say is more Indian in essence (and as you realise i know your opinions on all the religious stuff from previous discussions and I do respect and understand and in many ways agree with you on certain points), the idea that there is something dreaming the lot and the world is just a projection in the mind of that something is sort of what I'm trying to say. The odd thing is I agree with the atheist that there is NO God, because from that point of view there isn't. Whereas I agree tat every possibility of multiple truths, such as God is this or that.
But as discussed before from my personal experience there is something finer than the senses that exists beyond the body, but at the same time it is just a projection and those projections seem real and could possibly go on forever. -
filo
Morgan and I have been involved in many discussions and we have never become heated over issues, his input has always been sensible and respectful. I could give you a list of who will argue with who if you like. -
To acousticguitarist (from sofia): I wasn't referring to morgantj, or your interaction with him, in particular, I was merely making an observation about life in general.
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ok, i just assumed because it was nested there that you were talking about things becoming heated.
I agree, all disagreements are always about different issues -
To acousticguitarist: No it was nested there because I was replying to your original comment about all things that exist being projections of the mind.
What I meant was that a person who is sympathetic to you would be able to see that your assertion may well be linked to some fairly sophisticated doctrines, and therefore to be taken seriously. As long as it's understood that you were using the terms in a SPECIAL sense, not in an EVERYDAY sense, there would be no problem.
But if someone read it and interpreted your words in a more everyday sense, they might assume that you are putting forward a rather frivolous viewpoint. -
@acoustic,
The universe is certainly awe-inspiring to us. It generates this feeling in us. We look up at the stars with our current knowledge of it's grandness and being conscious beings we feel a connectedness, a oneness. Some people call this god, some call this a collective consciousness, you call it a projection of some sort, I call it simply that awe-inspiring feeling we get. I don't think the feeling alone is worthy enough of or proof of anything other then just being a feeling we get when acknowledging our existence in the universe. Yes, there may be a lot out there we don't know, but I don't think we can claim to know what those things are until we have established evidence. Without evidence, it's speculation. It's very possible that we may never know as life may not survive long enough on this planet to reach the answers. For people who claim to "know" it is reasonable for us to ask them to provide us with evidence.
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I appreciate your support TT and morgantj. I just prefer not to go back and forth on beliefs.
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You can go forth, and back, as much as you need to to come closer to the truth. If ones beliefs are so fragile they can't be questioned, examined, or researched, then they are beliefs worth questioning.
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To morgantj: Yes, definitely.
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it's quite funny, there is a church in my town with a board out the front.
I laugh every time i read it because my opinion is always opposite to what they say, ... but today it said ...there is no absolute truth...
and i thought, wow, this is the first time i've ever agreed with the writer -
Acoustic: Wait. You mean a church that isn't occupied by [moral?] absolutists... exists?!
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@morgantj
I think some people miss this point. Provided we allow ourselves freedom to think, observe and examine, then we can move back and forth, criticize, praise, dissect and explore boundaries of any belief system. Doing so is desirable and healthy.
However, if we have embraced blind faith and ascribed to a belief system revolving around deities whose existence can neither be proven not dis proven then that kind of examination and exploration is not likely to take place, and if one is bold enough to share observations and criticisms with those who have embraced blind faith what's shared is not likely to be welcomed.
Why? IMO the answer is obvious. If a believer is immature, insecure or at all doubtful about the choice they made via blind faith then they wrongly take criticism of the choice as a personal attack. Belief systems are not "persons" and they most certainly are open to criticism and ought to be, because all are based on "choice" and appropriate individual choices cannot be made if there is no exploration of all possibilities and interpretations and varieties encouraged or allowed.
In European in the past when it came to religion monarchs were presumed to rule via the divine right of kings, despite the fact that the existence of god could not be proven or dis proven. Monarchs a alone made the religious choices for all of citizens, who were in danger of being shunned, injured or even slain if they had the courage to examine the belief system let alone, voicing dissent with the choice made for them. Within that context we find the hypocrisy of monarchs enforcing Christianity on their citizens while the elite of "religious leaders" that was artificially created by the crown claimed that all citizens had the god given right of "free will".
During the times my parents were reaching their adulthood and lingering throughout the times of raising their own children in North America, Christianity was a sacred cow. Lip service was given to the right of others to hold different faiths but they were denigrated for their choice by the predominantly paternalistic white majority of European immigrants.
We children were not allowed to explore, test and criticize Christianity as that belief system was considered to be the "holy and sacred" one - the only true faith. The only answers we could get to the questions we posed to adults were spiels that had been memorized by rote based on organizational dogma and doctrine that we were not allowed to question, let alone, challenge.
I maintain my position IMO everyone here is entitled to share his or her beliefs, and everyone has the right to call any belief system ridiculous, to mock it and to criticize it. Criticism and mockery of any belief system cannot be personal attack because belief systems aren't persons. IMO only the most insecure and immature of believers would ever be given to an interpretation of criticism of their belief system is a criticism of their inner "self". -
Thats right TT. The person isn't being put under scrutiny, the belief is. Evidence hasn't been presented that support the claims that god exist, he has these particular properties, he wants us to do these things, etc... It is reasonable to question belief in these claims given that lack of evidence. Why aren't these people at least agnostic? If they claim to "know," then they must present proof. If they simply "believe," then why can't we ask why as it seems unreasonable to believe in something that has not supporting evidence. It's known that their doctrine depends of "faith," - to believe without evidence, I just hate to seem my fellow mankind possibly get duped and not be allowed to question their own beliefs.
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@morgantj
I think I used far too many words. I notice that cooper has taken the same POV in another thread.
cooper said: "I think on a board full of adults (mostly adults I think), it should be acceptable to attack the argument and the ideas, even with sharp words, after all what is the use of language if it can't be used to express a sharper tone if the commenter intends for that.
Sometimes when one attacks the ideas of one person it appears to that person that someone is attacking them. It is not usually the case, but to make a valid argument I suppose technically one should stick to attacking the premise of the argument or the argument itself instead of the ideology of the argument, thus preventing all these hurt feelings."
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/why-do-people-get-so-mean-on-bc-discussio...
What I'd like to add to that is that as individuals we are all responsible to keep ourselves "safe". Mature adults, who truly have deep seated faith in their belief system, do not have to make the choice to feel personally threatened and protest that they are being victimized, if and when their belief system, and not their "self" is criticized.
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I don't know. I'll let you know if I found the proof. But one thing for sure, we have our own angels. Gabriel & Zedekiel. Zed was born just a week ago. -
These kind of discussions can get somewhat heated because there is no clear answer except for one's believes. But there are things that have no substance and can't be shown yet they exist. e.g., a memory. I can't see any of your memories. Yet that is no reason for me to doubt their existence.
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nope -
BTW the answer to the question of how many angels can stand on the head of a pin (or the point of a pin, in some discussions), is, any number.
Since angels can travel at the speed of thought, it only necessary for an angel to THINK of the head of a pin in order to almost instantaneously arrive there. And since any number of angels can think of the head of a pin simultaneously, it follows that any number of them can stand on the head (or point) of a pin. x -
Yes I do, angels are real, and just because some people don't understand them doesn't mean they don't exist. We all at one time didn't understand the earth isn't flat. Just because as far as you can see is flat doesn't make everything flat. hint hint
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There is evidence that the planet is round. There isn't evidence of angels. When evidence was presented that reflected that the world was round people changed their minds. Until then they thought the world was flat. So until evidence is presented that reflects angels exist, it is reasonable to be at minimum, agnostic.
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It's interesting you say that because, the people who thought the earth was flat longer than others, were not around anyone who knew any better. (or didn't believe it when someone told them- what they thought wasn't true) I have a question for you, have you been in space or flown around the world(in one sitting of course), because I haven't. A person only knows what he or she experiences, or believes is true- which is usually based on some strand of experience. So it, either may take some time for our limited minds to catch up with the idea of unlimited possibilities, or we wont-inevitably ending up thinking like you. But think of the how much further ahead we would be if we didn't put such ridiculous limits on what we think is possible/true.
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@filoSophia
"But I think agapelife, in saying "Did not expect to see you in this discussion again?", was not attempting to ban MarkPogue, but was instead reminding him that he had earlier stated a wish to leave a debate which he found ridiculous, and so agapelife was possibly intending to express surprise at his returning so soon?"
Just returned to the discusssion and Yes that is exactly what I was saying.
@ TT - I would not have contributed to it, if I thought it ridiculous! I was talking about discussions that are controversial or just plain negative, then I do not leave comments.
"everyone has the right to call any belief system ridiculous, to mock it and to criticize it. " by TT.
Too many wars and unrest have been started with the above attitude, LOL. This is my last contribution to this thread, as it is not my policy to ridicule or criticize any belief system even yours TT as each has its values.-
@agapelife
I continue maintain my position IMO everyone here is entitled to share his or her beliefs, and everyone has the right to call any belief system ridiculous, to mock it and to criticize it. Criticism and mockery of any belief system cannot be personal attack because belief systems aren't persons. IMO only the most insecure and immature of believers would ever be given to an interpretation of criticism of their belief system is a criticism of their inner "self".
Provided we allow ourselves freedom to think, observe and examine, then we can move back and forth, criticize, praise, dissect and explore boundaries of any belief system, and doing so is far more desirable and healthy than suppressing dissenting opinions is. Because when people of good will examine the differences commonalities are uncovered and universals are rediscovered.
There are teachings and tenets for practices that can be recognized as universal, regardless of which spiritual path one may follow:
dana = authentic generosity (charitable giving of the self and sharing of possessions, donation)
metta = selfless love and good will toward all beings (loving kindness)
karuna = compassion (respect, acceptance, forgiveness)
mudita = altruistic joy filled with peace and contentment (appreciative joy at the success and good fortune of others)
sila = self discipline -abstaining from physical and vocal actions that cause harm to oneself and others
uppekka = equanimity (an inclusive state of open mind free of attachment, aversion, bigotry, craving, ignorance and intolerance)
I recognize that some believe that the act of suppressing questions and refusing to explore differences and offer criticisms of belief systems is "respectful". I strongly disagree with that premise.
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I Have A Dream
(ABBA)
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
Ill cross the stream - I have a dream
I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
Ill cross the stream - I have a dream
Ill cross the stream - I have a dream
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
Ill cross the stream - I have a dream
Ill cross the stream - I have a dream -
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I believe in Dante. -
www.answers.com/angel
Angel :
5.
a. A kind and lovable person.
b. One who manifests goodness, purity, and selflessness
I believe. -
I believe in Angels, I just don't believe in them in the way most Americans do.
I also do not believe that human beings become angels after death as many people seem to think is the case (at least those who hold to some kind of belief in God or a god). -
CONTRARY to what many believe, angels are not the departed souls of humans who have died. So I do agree with rfburnhertz on that. The Bible plainly states that the dead "are conscious of nothing at all." The Bible indicates that they were individually created by God before the founding of the earth. Sadly to say, some angels joined Satan in his rebellion becoming then demons.
The foremost angel, both in power and authority, is the archangel, Jesus Christ, also called Michael. Under his authority are seraphs, cherubs, and angels.
a. Seraphs are in attendance at God's throne.
b. Cherubs are bearers or escorts of God's throne, they uphold his majesty.
c. Angels (meaning "messengers") are agents and deputies of God. They carry out the divine will, whether it involves deliverance of God's people or the annihilation of the wicked.
Now in days you can't see them but you feel there presence by their guidance. You could compare it to the air, you could feel it but can't see it.-
And if it weren't written in the bible, would you know of them?
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The definition of "angels" and orders thereof in the Christian Bible is at best sketchy, open to interpretation, and has been borrowed from earlier times and older faiths. Entire schisms resulting in Christian cults such as The Latter day Saints have been derived from these early sources. Obviously, the LDS cannot rely on the The New Testament teachings in their entirety because in it there's an entire letter from Paul to one of the early churches (Colossians) found in New Testament writings that warns believers of Jesus against angel worshiping and indicates that in end times believers will judge angels, not the other way around. It seems that Paul believed the Colossian Christians were affected by an ascetic form of Gnosticism that included "ordinances" (KJV) or "regulations" (NKJV) that are not found in God's Word but were the commandments and doctrines of men (Colossians 2:20-23), as well as demons, the "basic principles of the world" (Colossians 2:8).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel -
Excellent comment, timethief. Yes, the Bible is a very sketchy source for information about angels. Most of what is known about them comes from tradition and non-Biblical writings.
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Actually filosofia, "what is known" about angels for most Christians comes from what they read out of the bible. Which makes up for about 85% of people in the states. (that is about the percentage that have affiliated themselves with Christianity in the states) Now, how the authors of the bible came up with that information is another story.
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yes, i believe...
" Angel Gabriel, announced to Mary...."-
To micro27: Yes, that's why I reckon Gabriel is the most famous angel of all. Even though hardly anyone knows what he actually does most of the time, surely everyone knows about his visit to Mary, because it comes into the Xmas story.
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Everyone may choose to read that but I assure you that many do not believe it. I for one can recite scripture by rote. So what? Do I believe in the words recorded by ancient people in ancient times and repeated today? Heck no.
I do believe in the nature of "god" that I personally experience.
I do NOT believe in a supernatural creator being as portrayed in the Judeo/Christian traditions as "god". IMO the myth that a non-existent big guy in the sky created all there is including mankind declared them very good, and later condemned all mankind to the hell fires of damnation (original sin), just so he could appear on earth as his own son born of a (cough) virgin (possibly impregnated by another non-existent supernatural being called an angel) to fulfill the role of savior, and rescue a select few from the same hell fires of damnation at end times, if and only if they believe in him, is beyond ridiculous. IMO it's delusional.
I do NOT believe that God (in the form of a singular or a three in one supernatural being ) has ever existed, and I do NOT believe that God (in the form of a singular or a three in one supernatural being ) exists at this time either.
When I sit to meditate and my individuality, personality, and ego are entirely extinguished I experience -- pure consciousness -- all the things associated with my "self" like greed, anger, hate, etc. dissolve and I become am keenly aware that there really is no self; there is no distinct individual being that is separate from the universal stream of pure consciousness.
Neither male nor female, neither good nor bad, neither light nor darkness but containing all there is: the universal stream of pure life giving consciousness flowing through all is what I call "god". Hence, the god of my experience is found in everyone and in everything; god just keeps on is-ing.
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and where does this "universal stream" come from???
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If you read the Bible you'll find Angels everywhere as Messangers from God.
Personally I met a few, but that's another story-
To piodalcin: Yes that's right, they are all over the place in the Bible. The point I was making is that the Bible very rarely gives us much information about what they are like, and what their powers are.
I wish you would share your account of meetings with angels. I can't promise that everyone who reads will be lending a sympathetic ear, as this thread is in General Discussions, but hopefully most of the die-hard sceptics might be asleep.
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Well, I do believe in angels, and more so because years ago my Guardian Angel saved my life in a crash. -
Mark is just as entitled to an opinion and a belief as anyone else here and is free to state the reasons for his beliefs as is anyone else here....what I believe we as adults need to do however is respect the beliefs of others and saying all people who believe in angels are stupid for example is making it personally just as stating all people who don't believe are ignorant is also making it personal....keep it to the topic and away from personal judgments about the character of people who differ in their views to you
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Thank you. I simply chose not to debate or defend my opinion any further. I'm not going to contribute to the hijacking of a thread I didn't start.
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According to tradition, the heads of the Cherubim, the highest order of angels, are described as having four forms - one like a bull, one like a lion, one like an eagle, and one like a man. These are, of course, the four "fixed signs" of the Zodiac - Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius - and they later became the symbols of the four Evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Paraphrased from "Myth and Ritual in Christianity" by Alan Watts -
I wonder what it would be like to BE an Angel; if it were your job to help people who couldn't hear or understand you and they debated your existence. It sounds like a public service job to me...
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I do believe in angels, as I have had 2 experencing now..and there is no other answer that I can come up with..-
Have you considered seeking out the advice of medical and/ or mental health practitioners? That's the usual course of action for those who claim to hear disembodied voices or to see non-existent beings.
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You actually might want to talk to someone about that--I agree with timethief here and I do not mean to sound flip at all. I am a psychologist and I can tell you that it is not normal to hear or see things that other people do not.
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I believe there are people who are far more evolved than others--they are people who are so selfless, committed to good causes, and pure of heart that I would consider them to be 'angels.' I have met some of those types of people and they have helped me enormously during my 15 year journey of recovery from heroin.
Those are the only types of angels I believe in.-
Almost all people who have success in recovery believe in a higher power, a God of their understanding.
I believe in angels also -
@mtyler77
I have also met extraordinarily gifted and compassionate human beings. Some might refer to the as being "angels" but when doing so they are not suggesting that they are supernatural beings. Neither does being in touch with one's "higher self" (consciousness) mean that one is experiencing a supernatural being. What's being experienced is a way of being, a state that's free from all ego-driven needs and imperatives.
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Almost everyone in AA who has success in recovery believes in what almost all refer to as God. Ask anyone who's had success.
God grant me the serenity........ -
i believe in angels
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Does anyone know the origin of the belief that everyone has their own Guardian Angel?
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This belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity; pagans, like Menander and Plutarch (cf. Eusebius, "Praep. Evang.", xii), and Neo-Platonists, like Plotinus, held it. It was also the belief of the Babylonians and Assyrians, as their monuments testify, for a figure of a guardian angel now in the British Museum once decorated an Assyrian palace, and might well serve for a modern representation; while Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, says: "He (Marduk) sent a tutelary deity (cherub) of grace to go at my side; in everything that I did, he made my work to succeed."
Zoroastrianism recognizes various classes of spiritual beings besides the Supreme Being (Ahura Mazda): The Amesha Spentas, Yazatas, and Fravashis. In practice (cf. Sad Dar, chapter 26), Zoroastrians pick a patron angel for their protection, and throughout their lives are careful to observe prayers dedicated to that angel.
Also known as Arda Fravash ("Holy Guardian Angels"). Each person is accompanied by a guardian angel (Y26.4, 55.1), which acts as a guide throughout life. They originally patrolled the boundaries of the ramparts of heaven (Bd6.3, Zs5.2), but volunteer to descend to earth to stand by individuals to the end of their days. Ahura Mazda advises Zarathushtra to invoke them for help whenever he finds himself in danger (Yt13.19-20). If not for their guardianship, animals and people could not have continued to exist, because the wicked Druj would have destroyed them all (Yt13.12-13).
The Fravashi also serves as an ideal which the soul has to strive for and emulate, and ultimately becomes one with after death (Y16.7, 26.7, 26.11, 71.23, Yt22.39) (See Dhalla, History of Zoroastrianism, pg 232-243, 375-378)
That every individual soul has a guardian angel has never been defined by the Christian Church, and is, consequently, NOT an article of faith; but it is the "mind of the Church", as St. Jerome expressed it: "how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it." (Comm. in Matt., xviii, lib. II) see Matthew 18:10
(FWIW I do NOT believe in the existence of angels.)-
To timethief: That is a truly amazing post! I didn't know any of that before.
Thank you very much for sharing it. x -
@filosofia
I could go on and on and on and on but I won't ... lol
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We know that angels exist because we are still here after reaching rock bottom, they come in all kinds of positive gifts from others.
Peace
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@HSBC123
We know that angels exist because we are still here after reaching rock bottom, they come in all kinds of positive gifts from others.
We do not "know" that either gods or angels exist. Many think they have imaginary friends but none of the reports of these alleged encounters bear up under scientific scrutiny. Hence we have no knowledge of them.
Are you alleging that you have met and communicated with an angel or angels?
Are you claiming that you have received a gift or gifts from angels?
Or are you claiming that when humans act compassionately towards other humans who have reached rock bottom that they are angels?
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Your faith is the greatest Divine-
@dosox
Your faith is the greatest Divine
We are friends so I want to explain to you that although what you posted makes sense to yourself it does not translate well into English.
Do you mean to say that whatever we humans choose to have faith in becomes our divinity?
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I know there is at least one angel. My son Liam! -
@kerenfathi
Ha! Ha! Ha! He's disqualified because he's human and angels are supposedly supernatural beings. Also when he grows up and begins to challenge you I'm betting that you will be hard pressed not to characterize him as a devil. -
TT I am sure you are right!! but at the moment he is the best thing that ever happened to me. His smile can take any kind of pain away! thats an angel to me
I dont believe in any other form of angel. I believe in bad and good energy.
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Don't believe in angels! Believe in God!
Because angels can be good and bad. Rather you should asked if we believe they exist... -
yes i believe in angels .. as well as devils -
I believe there are good angels and bad angels (demons). -
I have to say that based on subjective experiences I have had that I do (even though it is not rational to others) I have even had experiences w/ spiritual guides. -
they believed in me. soo i guess I believed in angels. -
angels
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Somehow it seems a lot easier at this time of the year to believe that angels exist.
Has anyone else noticed this? -
I saw a crib over the holidays, and the angels that they put round it all looked like Barbie dolls! Do you think this is an appropriate model for visualizing an angel?
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Yes I do believe in angel, and I believe that their is a God who create the world. -
I believe angels exist - as God declares in His word. I do not "believe" or put my faith in angels - for they are "ministering spirits" to the children of promise!
We also entertain angels unawares too...
You missed these two on your list! -
You think I might have entertained an angel one time without knowing it?
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