the story of Our Lady "the Virgin Mary" in the muslims holly book (quran)

[thir]

And it's all based on "revelations" from an angel? If someone today tried to make that claim they would be immediately placed into an institution! (Or maybe not! The claims made by Scientologists are even more fantastical, even more insane, and they've managed to stay out of the asylums.)

You have an interesting point here. In a religious society that believes in angels, you'll still get put away for thinking you saw some. Why is that?

However, all the evangelists who claim they speak for God, and therefore must have talked to him, are believed.

Ordinary people who think the same thing are put away. Why?

[Thorne]

However, all the evangelists who claim they speak for God, and therefore must have talked to him, are believed.

Ordinary people who think the same thing are put away. Why?

My guess would be that the evangelists don't like it! After all, if just ANYONE can speak for God, where's the incentive to give all your money to the REALLY slick operators?

[denuseri]

You have an interesting point here. In a religious society that believes in angels, you'll still get put away for thinking you saw some. Why is that?

Blinks, I just watched Roma Downey touch someone the other day and Im not in the looney bin.

Seriously? An admission of faith or a claim of seeing an angel in and of itself has to my knowledge never resulted in any one being put away in the modern era where one has to be diagnosed with an actual mental ilness first.

However, all the evangelists who claim they speak for God, and therefore must have talked to him, are believed.

Imho the televangelists are in it for the money, Ive never trusted their lot.

Ordinary people who think the same thing are put away. Why?

I know lots and lots of people who express a belief in angels, ghosts and what have you, and not a one of them is in any danger of being dragged off to the mental ward.