Religious ecstasy is an altered state of consciousness characterized
by greatly reduced external awareness and expanded interior mental and
spiritual awareness which is frequently accompanied by visions and
emotional/intuitive (and sometimes physical) euphoria. Although the
experience is usually brief in physical time, there are records of
such experiences lasting several days or even more, and of recurring
experiences of ecstasy during one's lifetime. Subjective perception of
time, space and/or self may strongly change or disappear during
ecstasy.
The adjective "religious" means that the experience occurs in
connection with religious activities or is interpreted in context of a
religion. Religious ecstasy can be distinguished from spirit
possession and hypnosis in that ecstasy is not accompanied by a loss
of interior consciousness or will on the part of the subject
experiencing it.
Rather, the person experiencing ecstasy notices a dramatic heightening
of awareness of the spiritual, and a total concentration of the will
on it. If the ecstatic state comes about slowly, the subject may
notice changes in his or her physiological responses. But, once
brought into complete ecstasy, there is ordinarily no or very little
external awareness of the physical state of the subject or the
surroundings.
Some external awareness remains in a partial religious ecstasy.
Intense fear may accompany the initial stage of being drawn into
ecstasy. Different religious teachings distinguish and describe
several stages or forms of ecstasy.
Some religious people hold the view that true religious ecstasy occurs
only in context of their religion (e.g. as a gift from the
supernatural being whom they worship) and it cannot be induced by
natural means (human activities). Nevertheless, trance-like states
which are often interpreted as religious ecstasy can be deliberately
induced using a variety of techniques, including prayer, religious
rituals, meditation, breathing exercises, physical exercise, sex,
music, dancing, sweating, fasting, thirsting, and the consumption of
psychotropic drugs.
Sometimes an ecstatic experience takes place in occasion of contact
with something or somebody perceived as extremely beautiful or holy.
It may also happen without any known reason. The particular technique
that an individual uses to induce ecstasy is usually one that is
associated with that individual's particular religious and cultural
traditions.
As a result, an ecstatic experience is usually interpreted within the
context of a particular individual's religious and cultural
traditions. These interpretations often include statements about
contact with supernatural or spiritual beings, about receiving new
information as a revelation, also religion-related explanations of
subsequent change of values, attitudes and behavior (e.g. in case of
religious conversion).
Some charismatic Christians practice ecstatic states (called e.g.
"being slain in the Spirit") and interpret these as given by Holy
Spirit.
In the monotheistic tradition, ecstasy is usually associated with
communion and oneness with God.
2 Thes. 2:9-12
9 " The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of
Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they
should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but
had pleasure in unrighteousness."
it is only in those places where redemption by the will of man through
some ' sinners prayer ' of will worship ( I made a decision for
Christ ) does pursuit of signs and lying wonders persist.
the lie of the devil is that salvation is by the will of man though
the Bible says to the contrary... Joh. 1:12,13 Ro. 9:16 Ps. 3:8
Lk. 18:26,27 Acts 13:48 Acts 16:14
in association with ' spiritual gifts ' the sought after thing is an
' experience '... personal religious ecstasy.... as mentioned above...
not to be confused with that of Holy Scripture as in Acts 10:10;
11:5; 22:17 for these were of holy men who were not saved by some
mythical act of their own will... and neither did they contribute to
their own salvation... but were born from above entirely by the will
of God as in Acts 13:48.
neither did every conversion after Pentecost bring about speaking in
tongues as in Acts 16.
it is but the " strong delusion " sent by God during these end times
to which will worshipers run to seek an ' experience '.
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