Revelation of St Bryce, the Long Winded writes:
13) And as I began thus in the act of supplication and out-and-out
brownnosing, behold, my computer screen was filled with a radiant
purpleness, whose purpleness did exceed all understanding.
This experience can be had in a darkened room, staring at a solid-color screen for a minute and then blanking the screen. Your nerves, having compensated, then see the inverse color for a short while, and because it is generated internally it does indeed exceed all understanding, or at least is way cool.
You can also create an out-of body experience without recourse to drugs
We're Sorry - Scientific AmericanReal Out-of-Body Experiences - Scientific American
I’ve never met anyone who had an out-of-body experience, except a long way back I went to a church where an invited speaker told us that while in hospital he flew off to heaven, etc., and the congregation politely said no way. Most Christians that I’ve met are also highly skeptical of any claim that ‘God spoke to me’ — talk to God, fine, but when God speaks back, maintain eye contact and back away.
Rarely, some churches have generated mass phenomena, probably hysteria (google Toronto Blessing for an example — the YouTube videos are particularly scary) from which the average Christian would step smartly away.
But having said all that, suppose it was possible to create a vision of God in the lab, and I had that experience, and so now am even more skeptical of such claims. Then along the road to Damascus, out of the blue that exceeds all understanding I have another vision of God. I’m not absolutely certain I would just think it was my brain kicking-up, or if I would believe that even though the lab simulation was all very interesting, this time it’s the real thing and will change my life forever. That it would be as real as my socks to me.
onifre writes:
I believe this is the fundamental basis for belief.
From what I said above you may be right about visionaries, but it would seem that believers do not need such experiences as an ongoing process.
Oh don't listen to me, I'm just a girl