Reverend Mark Hunnemann
We continue our analysis of the demonic energy-centric worldview that has the world in a choke-hold. Our focus is epistemology, which is that branch of philosophy that deals with the nature, limits, and validity of knowledge—it is THE presupposition of presuppositions. How we know what we know is as basic as it gets! WHAT IS GOD LIKE?’; WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH?; HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG?; WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?; WHERE IS HISTORY GOING?...Where do we turn to get accurate knowledge regarding these crucial questions?...where do we find the right answers? Where and how can we gain accurate knowledge for such questions is what epistemology is all about—so you can see it is far from being dry-as-dust academic theory. Ladies and gentlemen…this is where it’s at! (those questions are also basic to one’s worldview).
I have studied epistemology for decades, but we can accurately say that our epistemic foundation is either speculation or revelation—those are the only two options (besides nihilism). The answers to the very basic and profound questions above can be sought either in the vain speculations of man, or we can seek them from God’s inerrant revelation to us in the holy bible. Below are examples of both speculation and revelation regarding how we gain knowledge; the first quote is from a friend who is a non-Christian investigator-- it deals specifically with memory-knowledge, the second is from God’s revelation to us from the book of Numbers. Please read both and then I will comment.
SPECULATION
Vertical Memory
Beyond the three types of memory -- mechanical, logical and moral ..., there is still the kind of memory that we have designated as "vertical or revelatory memory". It is not a memory of the past in the sense of the horizontal line: today, yesterday, the day before, etc., but rather in the sense of the vertical line: here, higher, still higher, etc. It is a "memory" which does not link the present to the past on the plane of the physical, psychic and intellectual life, but which links the plane of ordinary consciousness to planes or states of consciousness higher than ordinary consciousness. It is the faculty of the "lower self" to reproduce the experience and knowledge of the "higher self" or, if you like, the faculty of the "higher self" to imprint its experience and knowledge upon the consciousness of the "lower self". It is the link between the 'higher eye" and the "lower eye", which renders us authentically religious and wise, and immune to the assaults of skepticism, materialism and determinism. It is this which also is the source of certainty of God and the spiritual world with its hierarchical entities, and the immortality of being…and of reincarnation. (emp. added…source not given)
REVELATION
Chapter 14 of Numbers
37 The LORD said to Moses, 38 "Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. 40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God."
I realize the first quote is rather heavy (may want to read it again), but the thrust of the passage is direct. It is ironic that, in this highly speculative epistemology, that the author states that it is revelatory! Methinks not... They state that certain knowledge is gained by accessing our higher consciousness and bringing it into our ordinary consciousness or memories. This has become very popular, so it is incumbent upon us to understand the quest for higher consciousness. What is not stated is that this higher knowledge is usually gained by content-less meditation (you know…ooommm), and that this brings us into contact with higher/rapid energy vibrations…thus, the energy connection (sometimes you have to read between the vibrating lines…sorry about that!).
This higher state of consciousness is said to be “revelatory”. Having formally studied theology in seminary, I know that this word (revelatory) is often used as a synonym for revelation—God speaks or reveals Himself in the bible…or the bible is revelatory. And just who might be revealing themselves in this higher state of consciousness? If we are allegedly tapping into energy, then it cannot communicate because it is not personal. The author is claiming virtual inerrant status for this faculty, so we need to know who or what is revealing this certain knowledge of God, spirit beings, immortality, and reincarnation, and so on. During our consciousness ascension—VERTICAL memory and not horizontal memory of the past-- who do we encounter since we are on an INNER trip? I’m not denying that our consciousness can be altered to a degree, but there is no evidence to suggest that these states will yield inerrant knowledge of God and the cosmos. An acid trip may yield interesting insights to some aspect of reality, but purple-haze lyrics can hardly be called revelatory. There needs to be a personal Being outside of us for that to happen.
Read Part 2
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