Are Angels Real Or Imaginary?

[idiosyncrasy]

Many people have wondered for centuries as to whether Angels are real or imaginary. To those people who feel they have actually seen an angel, there is no debate.

[jomifl]

Fortunately like angels they are imaginary Tilly ;o)

[Tilly2]

Oh, jolly good.

[Colmc54]

The Vatican says they are real but they don't have wings!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2527511/Angels-exist-dont-wings-like-shards-light-says-Catholic-Church-official.html

Must be true then if the Catholic Church says so, just like up to quite recently they maintained that the sun and everything else revolves around planet earth!
http://www.cs.rutgers.edu/pub/soc.religion.christian/faq/galileo

[birdie1971]

Idiosyncrasy - “... To those people who feel they have actually seen an angel, there is no debate...”

I don't doubt it since there is often no debating with idiots.

What? - 'Idiots', I hear you cry!

Yes, idiots. I can't really bring myself to call people who claim to have seen angels by any other name. Of course, I could be more polite but quite frankly, I see no reason to be. They are idiots. Why? Well, let's just speculate for a minute shall we?

Let's assume a religious person has a 'near-death-experience' [NDE]. They 'see' something or maybe 'feel' something that leads them to think that they've met a humanoid entity that exists outside of our physical reality. How many religious people do you think would rationally analyse their experience before automatically allowing their religious beliefs to kick in and proclaim angels to be things that actually and for all practical purposes, exist? I would suggest that the likelihood of such a thing would be 100% or so close as to make no practical difference.

However, let's also assume that an atheist as the same NDE and experiences the same 'vision'. How many of them do you think would reach the same conclusion as the religious person? I would suggest very, very few or so close as to make no practical difference.

Same visions, different conclusions. So what's more likely to be really happening? Is it likely that creatures we call angels which (most) religious people believe exist in a very real sense actually exist and do so in an after-death realm that we magically get transported to after we drop dead on earth? Or is it more likely that the 'experience' is caused by one or more the following factors which we know to happen close to or at the point of death:
1. hallucinations caused by oxygen starvation of the brain;
2. hallucinations caused by methylenedioxyamphetamine (or its natural equivalent);
3. Hallucinations caused by dimethyltryptamine (or its natural equivalent).

All of the above physical chemicals (or lack of them in the case of oxygen) can and do result in altered mental states resulting in hallucinations. Hallucinations are false realities.

So what's more likely? Angels actually exist or that some people put their own religious spin on their NDE's or other experiences?

I think you can probably guess where I'd place my bet. And this post doesn't even touch on the fact that different people from different cultures and religions have their own unique interpretations of 'angels'. Nor does it touch on the fact that some people lie through their teeth in order to influence others, to sell books, and/or to just be listened to.

The bottom line is that the whole argument as to whether angels actually exist is akin to the argument about whether or not leprechauns actually exit. Neither do and those who believe otherwise are morons. The fact that grown men of supposed intellect are debating the nuances of an angel's 'physical' appearance just goes to prove that there is nothing more stupid than religion and those who practice it.

[birdie1971]

Methyl - “... Angels are real...”

By what evidence are you submitting that claim? Because some people believe it to be so or that some people claim to have seen them? Many people claim (without any evidence whatsoever) to have seen the Lock Ness Monster and aliens. Are they real too?

[Zeuhl]

They are definitely real

My favourite is 45 degrees

[tamborine]

Unless you've experienced NDE you cant understand or believe the phenomenon. It might equate to deja vu, a common experience, and possibly just as momentary.

NDE I experienced had no angels nor any heavenly vista but just past relations beckoning my welcome; of course I refused their welcome or I wouldnt be here - or maybe I'm not ;)

[Zeuhl]

The human mind can create many wonderful things.

[stewey]

Halo, you people. I see that you are still harping about this issue. People in Los Angeles support and believe in them.

[naomi24]

I was telling a Christian friend about a novel I’d read called ‘Angelology’ by Danielle Trussoni based on the legend of the Nephilim, who according to the bible were the progeny of the ‘sons of God’ (commonly assumed to be rebellious angels) and the ‘daughters of men’. Her response? “Oh, it’s a work of non-fiction then?” :o/

If you google images of angels, you will find that each culture endows its own version with its perception of its own culture. ‘One size’ doesn’t appear to fit all. I wonder why?

[Khandro]

birdie; Your belief in the lack of evidence, isn't in itself evidence of absence. How can you say something doesn't exist, simply because you have no personal experience of it? - your long post is just fabrication.
As Hamlet said; "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

[seadogg]

Of course they are real. Have you never seen the film "Battle of Britain" and similar.
A guy is stooging along in his Spitfire when suddenly he hears "Angels One Five"

[goodlife]

Angels are not mere bystanders.

In times past, they served as executioners, carrying out the judgments of God. the Bible reports that in one night a single angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.—2 Kings 19:35.

And Jehovah has millions upon millions of angels. (Daniel 7:9, 10) All faithfully carry out his will. (Psalm 103:20) What a lot you lose out on.

[Baldric]

it must be a hardlife goodlife with all that cutting and pasting and no original input whatsoever

[naomi24]

//the Bible reports that in one night a single angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers//

And that's something to be commended? What is wrong with you people?

[goodlife]

Children try to imitate their parents or, very often, other children with whom they play. If they try to imitate good qualities, it is to their advantage.

If they imitate that which is bad, it is to their own hurt, but I suppose you can’t see that either.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, so the moral of your sermon is don't admire or attempt to emulate angels. They're hit men for God.... in short, murderers.

[Khandro]

naomi; Don't forget in 'Doctor Faustus', the play by Christopher Marlowe, there are both good and bad angels :-)