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| '''Born again''' is a common term in contemporary religious dialogue, referring to a ''transcending personal experience'' - or the experience of ''being spiritually reborn'' as a "new" human being. In ], being "born-again" is perhaps analogous to a perceptual state of ''hyper-]''; where the brain experiences a extreme and jarring change of perceptions, causing a re-awakened and renewed sense and understanding of oneself and the outside world | '''Born again''' is a common term in contemporary religious dialogue, referring to a ''transcending personal experience'' - or the experience of ''being spiritually reborn'' as a "new" human being. In ] terms, being "born-again" is perhaps analogous to a perceptual state of ''hyper-]''; where the brain experiences a extreme and jarring change of perceptions, causing a re-awakened and renewed sense and understanding of oneself and the outside world | ||
| ==Christian concepts== | ==Christian concepts== | ||
Revision as of 04:30, 28 July 2003
Born again is a common term in contemporary religious dialogue, referring to a transcending personal experience - or the experience of being spiritually reborn as a "new" human being. In psychological terms, being "born-again" is perhaps analogous to a perceptual state of hyper-salience; where the brain experiences a extreme and jarring change of perceptions, causing a re-awakened and renewed sense and understanding of oneself and the outside world
Christian concepts
To be born again in Christianity is synonymous with spiritual rebirth and, in many denominational traditions, salvation. A large number of American Christians call themselves born-again Christians, including US President George W. Bush, and former presidential candidate Al Gore. They claim that being born again is essential for salvation. The term is used somewhat differently in different Christian traditions.
Born Again Christians claim that there is no other way of becoming a Christian but by being born "from above". The Christian use of the term is said to be derived from the third chapter of the Gospel of John, where Nicodemus asks Jesus what he must do 'to be saved"
- 3:2 Nicodemus: "Rabbi, we have known that from God thou hast come; a teacher, for no one these signs is able to do that thou dost, if God may not be with him."
- 3:3 Jesus: "Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God."
- 3:4 Nicodemus: "How is a man able to be born, being old? Is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?"
- 3:5 Jesus: "Verily, verily, I say to thee, if anyone may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God. That which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit."
- "Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee; it behoveth you to be born from above. The Spirit, where he willeth, doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth. Thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit."
- 3:9 Nicodemus: "How are these things able to happen?"
- 3:10 Jesus: "Thou art the teacher of Israel - and these things thou dost not know! Verily, verily, I say to thee: What we have known we speak, and what we have seen we testify, and our testimony ye do not receive. If the earthly things I said to you, and ye do not believe, how, if I shall say to you the heavenly things, will ye believe?"
- -From John 3, (Young's Literal Translation)
These relate to baptism, and of the difference between the realms of the Holy, Immortal Spirit and crude, mortal flesh. Baptism is the ritual revealing of the cleansing power of the word of God.
In Christainity, regeneration is not a natural forward step in man's development; it is a supernatural act of God; it is a spiritual crisis. It is not evolution, but involution -- the communication of a new life. It is a revolution--a change of direction resulting from that life. Herein lies the danger in psychology, and in the statistics regarding the number of conversions during the period of adolescence. The danger lies in the tendency to make regeneration a natural phenomenon, an advanced step in the development of a human life, instead of regarding it as a crisis. Such a psychological view of regeneration denies man's sin, his need of Christ, the necessity of an atonement, and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
See also: