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
