In Reply to: Re: I no longer pray posted by MG on June 16, 2003 at 01:42:21:
I think that's why I no longer can say in full confidence that 'this is the voice of God speaking to me' cause I have seen people abuse that and use it to force others to accept their plans or preferences or even, in the case of Berg, their doctrines. It is too easy to attach 'God told me' to the beginning of your statement, it's as if you expect noone to argue or disclaim it because you got a directive from on High. Which is why I discarded the whole Family belief of prophecy, too easy to force the dependent subjects into submission.
By claiming that 'still voice' as your own personal inner voice, it makes it easier for you to change your mind, to go in a direction other than what that inner voice said, and you don't feel as if you're going against God, and you don't force it on other people and push your righteousness on them.
So, in answer to Joshua, I believe an inner voice is just that, your own inner voice, and it's something that everyone in every religion, whether they believe in God or Jesus or not, has. And since it is so widespread and found within the hearts of civilisation, then I figure that inner voice must be more of a personal thing rather than a direct communing with God.
But if it makes you happy or comfortable or gives you an inner peace to refer to it as the voice of God, then that's fine with me. As for me, I don't consider it the voice of God, but rather the voice of common sense and conscience.