When Other Religions Have Spiritual Experiences

When Other Religions Have Spiritual Experiences

Have you ever heard of people in other religions experiencing deep, profound spiritual moments and wondered how that fits into your faith? If you’re a going through a faith crisis, that question might strike a deeper chord. After all, you've been taught that your spiritual experiences confirm the truth of your faith—so how do we explain similar experiences happening to people in completely different religions?

Why is this important?

For those in the midst of a faith crisis, such as grappling with the LDS Church's truth claims, this topic can feel like a pivotal crossroads. It forces a reckoning with your own spiritual experiences and how they fit into a broader, more complex world of belief. This issue challenges a fundamental question: if people outside your religion have profound spiritual confirmations of their own faiths, how do we justify dismissing theirs while holding on to ours?

What Are Spiritual Experiences in Different Religions?

Spiritual experiences can be defined as moments when people feel a strong sense of connection with the divine or receive what they interpret as personal revelation. These experiences often bring clarity, comfort, or a sense of purpose. In many religious traditions, they’re seen as direct interactions with God or some higher power, guiding people to the truth of their faith.

Real-world examples:

• A Christian might feel the presence of the Holy Spirit during prayer and interpret that as confirmation of their faith.
• A Buddhist may experience enlightenment during meditation, feeling connected to a deeper universal truth.
• Muslims might have a profound sense of peace and clarity while reciting Quranic verses, leading them to affirm the truth of Islam.

Across all these traditions, the feeling is similar—a deep conviction, sometimes accompanied by strong emotions, that reassures believers they’re on the right spiritual path.

But here’s the question: if people in all these faiths experience similar spiritual moments, can one religion claim exclusivity over their spiritual experiences? This question lies at the heart of a critical argument within faith crises.

A Mormon Perspective: The Holy Ghost and Spiritual Confirmation

In Mormonism, spiritual experiences are often associated with the influence of the Holy Ghost, which is seen as the primary way God communicates with His children. From receiving a witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon to feeling guidance in day-to-day decisions, these moments are considered personal testimony builders.

But here's the issue: Mormonism also teaches that other people—outside the LDS Church—can have spiritual experiences. This acknowledgment is present in LDS theology, but the faith has historically struggled to explain the conflicting spiritual confirmations people receive in other religions. If someone in a different religion feels just as strongly that their faith is true, how do Mormons or other religions that claim to be the one and only true church, reconcile that?

A Misleading Debate

When discussing spiritual experiences in other religions, some apologists (defenders of the faith) create what’s known as a straw man argument. This occurs when someone misrepresents an opponent’s argument to make it easier to refute.

Critics of the LDS Church argue that Mormonism doesn’t know how to handle spiritual experiences outside its own framework. But apologists often respond by saying, "Of course, Mormonism teaches that people in other religions can have spiritual experiences!" This counter-argument sidesteps the real issue, though—it doesn't address the fact that these spiritual experiences often contradict what Mormonism teaches.

The Real Argument:

The actual point being raised is that if people outside of Mormonism have spiritual experiences that lead them to different truths (like the validity of Islam or Hinduism), how can Mormons claim that their own spiritual experiences are uniquely valid? This is where things get complicated.

Why Dismissing Other Religions' Spiritual Experiences Is Problematic

When Mormons dismiss the spiritual experiences of people in other faiths, it can create a cognitive dissonance—especially for those already questioning their beliefs. On one hand, you’re told that spiritual experiences are a reliable guide to truth. On the other hand, you’re asked to believe that only the LDS interpretation of spiritual experiences is correct, while those in other religions are mistaken.

For those in a faith crisis, this can feel deeply unsettling. If someone in a faith like Islam or Christianity feels the same spiritual conviction about their beliefs, how can you be sure that your own experience isn't similarly biased?

Key problem areas include:

• Confirmation Bias: We all tend to seek out evidence that supports what we already believe. This means that the feelings of peace or certainty you get in Mormonism might not be as unique as you think—they could be a reflection of confirmation bias rather than an objective "truth."
• The Global Perspective: When you take a global view of religious experience, it’s clear that nearly every religion has followers who feel deeply connected to their faith through spiritual moments. This suggests that spiritual experiences might be more about personal interpretation than divine confirmation of one particular truth.

Deeper Engagement

While Mormonism does recognize that others can have spiritual experiences, it often stops short of asking the tough questions about why these experiences happen across so many religions. This lack of engagement with the full scope of the issue can leave Mormons in a faith crisis feeling adrift.

Here’s what could be done better:

• Acknowledge the Full Scope of Spiritual Experiences: Instead of just saying, "Yes, other people have spiritual experiences," engage with the more challenging question: What does it mean when those experiences lead to completely different religious conclusions?
• Personal Reflection: Individuals can reflect on their spiritual experiences more critically. What are these experiences telling them about themselves and their beliefs? Are there other explanations for these feelings beyond divine confirmation?
• Foster Open Dialogue: Rather than shutting down discussion about other faiths, foster a more open dialogue where people can explore the commonalities and differences between religious experiences. This could lead to a more nuanced understanding of what spiritual experiences really mean.

The question of spiritual experiences across religions is a significant one for Mormons in a faith crisis. It challenges the idea that spiritual feelings alone are sufficient to confirm the truth of one faith over another. For those struggling with doubt, this can be a pivotal moment—one that forces deeper reflection on what it means to trust your spiritual experiences.

Questioning and reflection are not signs of weakness—they are opportunities for growth. Consider journaling about your own spiritual experiences, exploring how they’ve shaped your beliefs, and what questions they raise for you now.