Revelation
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:'''Theorem:''' It is utterly impossible to validate the authenticity of ''any'' divine revelation. | :'''Theorem:''' It is utterly impossible to validate the authenticity of ''any'' divine revelation. | ||
| − | In essence, by the inability of correctly identifying the revealing agent to be God, One cannot claim to have any a genuine divine revelation. This does not stop people from having divine revelations, however. More detailed proof of this theorem can be found [[/ | + | In essence, by the inability of correctly identifying the revealing agent to be God, One cannot claim to have any a genuine divine revelation. This does not stop people from having divine revelations, however. More detailed proof of this theorem can be found [[/Authenticity|here]]. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 23:33, 25 July 2009
For the Biblical Book of Revelation, see Guide to Revelation.
Revelation, in the simplest form, is "God told/shown me this".
As a term of art in theological studies, a revelation, is what is believed by the followers of certain religions to be a divine message. A revelation can take the form of words spoken by a god, voices which only the prophet can hear, a dream, or divine inspiration. People who claimed to have experienced revelations are either called prophets or psychopaths, depending on what they have been told to do and the perspective of those they tell about the revelations. Abraham might qualify as both, since he was told to kill his son, and was about to do so when the voice told him it was "just kidding".
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are examples of religions based on revelation.
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As a code word
Revelation can also be used as a code word, denoting "Stuff made up which is backed by the authority of God."
Using it as an excuse is a very easy way to gain moral high ground, power, money, etc.
The argument for this usage is that from the point of view of everyone other than the prophet, it is impossible to distinguish between "God told this to the prophet" and "The prophet made this up and he/she is claiming God as the authority behind it."
Authenticity
Even from the prophet's point of view we have the problem given by the following theorem:
- Theorem: It is utterly impossible to validate the authenticity of any divine revelation.
In essence, by the inability of correctly identifying the revealing agent to be God, One cannot claim to have any a genuine divine revelation. This does not stop people from having divine revelations, however. More detailed proof of this theorem can be found here.
See also
Footnotes
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