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The "toronto Blessing"


Gabriela

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Nihil Obstat

Just looking at Wiki here...

Characteristics:

The blessing has become known for ecstatic worship, including what is known as falling or resting in the Spirit, laughter, shaking, and crying."Holy laughter" was a hallmark manifestation, and there were also instances of participants roaring like lions. Another "manifestation of the spirit" encountered at these meetings was a gesture commonly called "crunching" consisting of a vomit-like heaving to "cleanse" and "release" negative experiences. Leaders and participants claim that these are physical manifestations of the Holy Spirit's presence and power. One TACF teaching, the Golden Sword prophecy, has been spreading among charismatic churches.


These all seem like symptoms of hysteria and delusion. Does not sound supernatural at all.

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These all seem like symptoms of hysteria and delusion. Does not sound supernatural at all.

 

Can you give me a source for symptoms of hysteria and delusion? (Aside from the Toronto Blessing. ;-)

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Can you give me a source for symptoms of hysteria and delusion? (Aside from the Toronto Blessing. ;-)

 

Drugs.

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CatholicsAreKewl

Why anyone would EVER take a delirium is beyond me.

Wait, wrong drugs?

Edited by CatholicsAreKewl
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CatholicsAreKewl

ROBITUSSIN%20DM%204oz.gif

WHHAAAA. Thats what they mean by "robotripping"? 

 

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WHHAAAA. Thats what they mean by "robotripping"? 

 

 

That's exactly what they mean. Its really any OTC cough syrup containing DXM.

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That sounds like a recurring thing. It doesn't make sense that attending such an event is so stressful/traumatic that it causes a conversion disorder to manifest. How do you see that being so?

Edited by curiousing
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CatholicsAreKewl

That sounds like a recurring thing. It doesn't make sense that attending such an event is so stressful/traumatic that it causes a conversion disorder to manifest. How do you see that being so?

Haha, those are just the symptoms of hysteria. I don't know if theres an actual psychological description for what people go through during a toronto blessing. I'll just go on a limb and say there might be a factor of expectancy. One could be acting a certain way based on the belief of the effects of a certain stimulus. There's also the whole peer pressure type feeling. That's why I joined in many years ago when I was with a group of people speaking in tongues (their interpretation of "tongues", which was complete gibberish). Also there's also the strange possibility that some weird effects between a large group of people is contagious. Examples listed below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_Plague_of_1518

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanganyika_laughter_epidemic

Darren Brown has a special on faith healers where he describes the technique of inducing the "slain in the spirit" effect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYjgeayfYPI (the first 10 minutes describes it somewhat). He does also explain later that the high level of adrenaline has something to do with it. 

 

In regard to holy laughter.... Laughter is actually contagious. My cousin and I would do mini social experiments at family gatherings in my village. We'd spread four "laughers" in a group of fifteen sitting together. As soon as we were prompted, we began laughing hysterically. Soon afterwards, the whole group would begin laughing uncontrollably for no reason. At some point it's actually hard to stop.

 

Not to discredit any of this. What Nihil explained earlier provides a more helpful picture. This sort of religious experience is reported in other faiths as well. 

Edited by CatholicsAreKewl
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Toronto blessing definitely reeks...why would the Holy Spirit cause people to bark like dogs? But as for laughter and tears, I believe that they are manifestations that can legitimately happen are not necessarily weird. St. Philip Neri and St. Francis of Assist come to mind. If satan warps, twists, discredits, mocks and counterfeits good things, I think that its logical to believe that there are authentic counterparts to laughter, tears, and tongues.

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Not trolling, first of all.

 

Here is Todd Bentley, an evangelist who was central to the Revival of Lakeland, FL, which spread from the happenings in Toronto.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQtraopk_Q

 

And that is all I have to say about that.

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