Visual vs Auditory

[James_Lai]

Hello.
What do you think, how much you were influenced or are being influenced by the following in learning and believing your Christian faith:

1) Visual information images such as pictures, paintings, sculptures, icons, beautiful church buildings, movies, graphics comics books, picture books

2) Reading/hearing Scripture, preachers teaching about faith, music, your parents praying grace for food

3) Breathing in aromas of church candles or freshly cut Christmas tree, or smells of easter chocolate or the wood of the church pews

4) Taste of communion/Eucharist bread and wine (grape juice), Christmas turkey, food in a church celebration

5) Touching the pages of the Bible, embracing a fellow believer, or the pastor’s handshake or priest’s laying hands on your head?

In other words, which sensory pathway do you think has been the #1 for you in learning and growing and believing in faith?

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Sensory experiences are very powerful to bring forth memories. This true in visual, aromas, and tastes.
When I was a kid, I had a very bad attack of the flu. I was sick in the bed for a long time. While in the sickbed my parents bought me a copy of "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way." The author of course was Stan Lee, and the artist was John Buscema. Soon I recovered from the illness and life resumed as usual. Sometime later I came across the book and as I flipped through it, I actually became nauseous! It then occurred to me that I had once had that book while sick. The mere viewing of the art brought it back to me.

Another instance was, again, when I was a kid. Mom made us some macaroni and cheese for dinner. Later in the evening I became very ill and threw up the dinner. Thereafter, for a number of years, every time I even smelled mac and cheese, I would become nauseous. At the time I had no idea what was going on. Then I remembered the event of sickness. Could not stomach it for some time. Love it now!

A third instance, again with odor, was cheddar cheese Cheetos. Again, I had become ill shortly after eating the Cheetos. I could not eat that flavor for a long time. It would make me feel ill. Even now as I share this, the very sight of the bag makes me feel a tiny bit woozy.

Also, when I was a kid (again), our house was surrounded by Lilac trees. In the Spring they would bloom with that wonderful Lilac fragrance. We moved away from there when I was still in my teens. Some years later I joined the USAF and was stationed in ND. While walking in the park this powerful aroma came over me. Suddenly it was as if I was at home standing in the yard. I mean the atmosphere and "presence" seemed to be right there. I was standing under a massive Lilac tree! Hard to describe how odd that felt.

So, yes, I am personally aware how some sound, smell, and sight memories can put you back into a place and time in your life.
It has always fascinated me.
I know this is not following the 'Christian life' angle, sorry.
Thanks for the topic!

 

[PloverWing]

If you're talking about the transfer of information -- how did I learn the theological concepts of the Christian faith -- then it's mostly verbal: reading theology books, taking Bible and theology classes in high school and college, numerous conversations with parents and teachers and friends along the way.

But if you're talking about the experience of religious faith -- where do I sense God, how do I worship God, how best do I pray -- then there's a strong sensory component there. You've listed a lot of the examples. My list would include the smell of incense, the taste of wine, the whole visual experience of a Gothic-style church with its wood and arches and stained glass. The taste of grape juice calls up my Baptist upbringing, and the scent of hyacinths calls up memories of Easter Vigils from the past.

I'd add two categories to your list. For auditory experiences, I'd list music, rather than experiences of people talking. And I'll add a sixth sense, kinesthetic. The feeling in my body of kneeling or bowing in the presence of the Sacred is part of my act of worship.

I don't think I could single out just one sensory pathway. The ideal experience of worship for me involves all of them: music, incense, visual imagery, bowing to the cross in procession, the taste of Bread and Wine.

Touch is interesting. I haven't often had the experience of touch in worship, but those few times when a priest has laid their hand on me in a healing touch or made the sign of the cross on my forehead, it's been an amazing experience.

 

[jesuslover811]

Interesting question. For me what has had the most effect on me is music. Stuff like chants and choirs make me feel clean. I feel like my spirit is being hugged and I am being cleansed. The only thing that makes me feel is way is repentance but that's a different feeling. Not stronger or better just different.

This just unlocked a memory! I had one very very strong experience. One night awhile ago I was struggling with faith. I felt like my faith was based on feelings so when I did not constantly feel god I would freak out. One night I was freaking out and had my hands in a prayer position. Words cannot describe the warmth I felt in my hands it was like the warmest thing ive ever felt but it never burnt. I felt this while begging for god and Jesus to be closer to me.

 

[Sunshinee777]

In other words, which sensory pathway do you think has been the #1 for you in learning and growing and believing in faith?

None, it is completely spiritual thing and God’s leading hand.

 

[James_Lai]

Sensory experiences are very powerful to bring forth memories. This true in visual, aromas, and tastes.
When I was a kid, I had a very bad attack of the flu. I was sick in the bed for a long time. While in the sickbed my parents bought me a copy of "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way." The author of course was Stan Lee, and the artist was John Buscema. Soon I recovered from the illness and life resumed as usual. Sometime later I came across the book and as I flipped through it, I actually became nauseous! It then occurred to me that I had once had that book while sick. The mere viewing of the art brought it back to me.
View attachment 309881
Another instance was, again, when I was a kid. Mom made us some macaroni and cheese for dinner. Later in the evening I became very ill and threw up the dinner. Thereafter, for a number of years, every time I even smelled mac and cheese, I would become nauseous. At the time I had no idea what was going on. Then I remembered the event of sickness. Could not stomach it for some time. Love it now!
View attachment 309883
A third instance, again with odor, was cheddar cheese Cheetos. Again, I had become ill shortly after eating the Cheetos. I could not eat that flavor for a long time. It would make me feel ill. Even now as I share this, the very sight of the bag makes me feel a tiny bit woozy.
View attachment 309884

Also, when I was a kid (again), our house was surrounded by Lilac trees. In the Spring they would bloom with that wonderful Lilac fragrance. We moved away from there when I was still in my teens. Some years later I joined the USAF and was stationed in ND. While walking in the park this powerful aroma came over me. Suddenly it was as if I was at home standing in the yard. I mean the atmosphere and "presence" seemed to be right there. I was standing under a massive Lilac tree! Hard to describe how odd that felt.
View attachment 309885
So, yes, I am personally aware how some sound, smell, and sight memories can put you back into a place and time in your life.
It has always fascinated me.
I know this is not following the 'Christian life' angle, sorry.
Thanks for the topic!

Wow, thank you for sharing these experiences and pictures!! Very interesting. Same for me, some smells and tastes and sights are powerful to bring back memories.

I moved from Asia to Canada some years ago. Then I recently visited my native land and had many memories flash back to me strongly triggered by Visiting places where I played with friends, smelling the air at the marketplace or even as soon as you step out the airplane, hearing sounds, eating the food, and mom’s hugs… Some things forgotten come back sharply in memory. Nostalgic

 

[James_Lai]

Interesting question. For me what has had the most effect on me is music. Stuff like chants and choirs make me feel clean. I feel like my spirit is being hugged and I am being cleansed. The only thing that makes me feel is way is repentance but that's a different feeling. Not stronger or better just different.

This just unlocked a memory! I had one very very strong experience. One night awhile ago I was struggling with faith. I felt like my faith was based on feelings so when I did not constantly feel god I would freak out. One night I was freaking out and had my hands in a prayer position. Words cannot describe the warmth I felt in my hands it was like the warmest thing ive ever felt but it never burnt. I felt this while begging for god and Jesus to be closer to me.

Music is so important to me too. I perceive not only with my mind and soul, but also with my whole body. I love sitting at church or at a concert closer to the musical instrument or directly in front of a speaker to get in physical resonance with music. I pay attention to how my body reacts to the music. Because it responds in its unique way. So I notice how makes me feel. The mind may find some music pleasurable, or uplifting or saddening etc, but the body may at the same time reject it or dislike to be against the grain so to speak.

Of course, if it’s not way too loud as it can potentially damage your ears.

I pay attention which part of the body is resonant with the vibrations of music and singing, is it more in the abdomen, or chest, or head. In India they say those are locations of 3 of the chakras responsible for different kinds of Prana energy flowing through you. I know it’s not a Christian or Western idea, but I like to think about it, if it’s true or not. So music can help you clear some blockages and restore the proper movement and refuelling with Prana.

Similar ideas to audiotherapy vids on Youtube of long musical tones played of a certain frequency. I think to listen in headphones won’t really work, have to be good speakers mid-size in power and form-factor. Also good room acoustics is a bonus. Again, there’s the resonance aspect for a very few of the freqs, but not all of them, so I don’t know if the therapeutic claims are valid.

My favourite church music by far is organ in Catholic churches with choir singing. Those infrasound frequencies, oh man…

edit: about warmth in palms of your hands put together, it also reminds me of yogic practice. In India, there’s a tradition every morning to rub your hands together and feel the warmth. They claim it makes you wake up faster and better. Or generally putting your palms together creates a closed loop for the inner energy to flow in a more balanced and calm way between the left and riht sides, so this gesture even as a Namaste greeting is considered to bring peace and unity…

 

[James_Lai]

None, it is completely spiritual thing and God’s leading hand.

Could you describe what is a spiritual experience to you? I’m extremely interested in this subject. How do you sense, feel, know, understand when it happens and what are the effects?

 

[eleos1954]

Hello.
What do you think, how much you were influenced or are being influenced by the following in learning and believing your Christian faith:

1) Visual information images such as pictures, paintings, sculptures, icons, beautiful church buildings, movies, graphics comics books, picture books

2) Reading/hearing Scripture, preachers teaching about faith, music, your parents praying grace for food

3) Breathing in aromas of church candles or freshly cut Christmas tree, or smells of easter chocolate or the wood of the church pews

4) Taste of confirmation/Lord’s Supper bread and wine (grape juice), Christmas turkey, food in a church celebration

5) Touching the pages of the Bible, embracing a fellow believer, or the pastor’s handshake or priest’s laying hands on your head?

In other words, which sensory pathway do you think has been the #1 for you in learning and growing and believing in faith?

none of the above

 

[James_Lai]

none of the above

Sure, these are just a few examples. We’re all unique.. What’s the main input for you?

 

[James_Lai]

If you're talking about the transfer of information -- how did I learn the theological concepts of the Christian faith -- then it's mostly verbal: reading theology books, taking Bible and theology classes in high school and college, numerous conversations with parents and teachers and friends along the way.

But if you're talking about the experience of religious faith -- where do I sense God, how do I worship God, how best do I pray -- then there's a strong sensory component there. You've listed a lot of the examples. My list would include the smell of incense, the taste of wine, the whole visual experience of a Gothic-style church with its wood and arches and stained glass. The taste of grape juice calls up my Baptist upbringing, and the scent of hyacinths calls up memories of Easter Vigils from the past.

I'd add two categories to your list. For auditory experiences, I'd list music, rather than experiences of people talking. And I'll add a sixth sense, kinesthetic. The feeling in my body of kneeling or bowing in the presence of the Sacred is part of my act of worship.

I don't think I could single out just one sensory pathway. The ideal experience of worship for me involves all of them: music, incense, visual imagery, bowing to the cross in procession, the taste of Bread and Wine.

Touch is interesting. I haven't often had the experience of touch in worship, but those few times when a priest has laid their hand on me in a healing touch or made the sign of the cross on my forehead, it's been an amazing experience.

Thank you for this complete and detailed answer!!! Kinesthetic - I didn’t think about it this way, thank you

 

[Sketcher]

Either 1 or 2.