In **Deuteronomy 19:15**, Scripture says: >*“A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”* (NIV) This principle is echoed in the New Testament as well (e.g., **2 Corinthians 13:1**, **Matthew 18:16**), and it forms a biblical basis for establishing truth through multiple witnesses. Recently, a group of around fifty schoolgirls claimed to have witnessed what they described as a literal white horse moving in the sky. The account spread quickly, with many asserting that it was a divine or supernatural sign. While some observers dismiss such claims as imagination or psychological suggestion, others argue that the number of consistent witnesses makes the event harder to ignore. This raises the theological question: >**According to Christian teaching, should the testimony of multiple human witnesses—especially when it involves a supposed divine encounter—be taken as credible?** Or are there other tests (e.g., alignment with Scripture, discernment by spiritual authorities, the fruit of the encounter) that must also be considered?

Many Christians of different denominations have reported encounters with demon-possessed individuals. Catholic exorcists are an obvious example. In the mission field, reports of demonic possessions in the [10/40 Window](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/82874/how-often-do-missionaries-report-encounters-with-demonic-activity-while-deployed) are not unheard of. An interesting first-hand account by a SDA missionary can be found [here](https://youtu.be/Lh3l9FaRbpM) . Even Baptist pastor John Piper has had his [fair share](https://youtu.be/0SK07TY1uh0) of experiences with the exorcism of demon-possessed people. Have Jehovah's Witnesses ever reported similar encounters with demon-possessed individuals in the mission field or in other contexts?

Paul wrote that 500 people saw Jesus at once (1 Cor 15:6). If his recounting is true, it's obvious they saw *something*, but it's not clear to me why that thing couldn't have been a vague figure misinterpreted as Jesus. Here are some similar events: - 108 people saw the Virgin Mary appear at a waterfall and then to the adults of the group at Mass. Link Among the observers were doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, engineers, and lawyers. - A second example comes from Cairo, Egypt in 1986, at a Coptic church. Mary had appeared a number of times between 1983 and 1986. Once she appeared on the roof, four Coptic bishops arrived to authenticate the vision. They did indeed see her. At other times she was seen by (non-Christian, obviously) Muslims. Link - During the supposed Miracle of Fatima, many people claimed to see the sun exhibit strange behavior, whirling toward the earth. Link - Betty Parris (age 9) and her cousin Abigail Williams (age 11), the daughter and the niece, respectively, of Reverend Samuel Parris, began to have fits described as "beyond the power of epileptic fits or natural disease to effect" by John Hale, the minister of the nearby town of Beverly. Link - Sixty-two pupils at the Ariel School aged between six and twelve said that they saw one or more silver craft descend from the sky and land on a field near their school. Some of the children claimed that one or more creatures dressed all in black then approached and telepathically communicated to them a message with an environmental theme, frightening them and causing them to cry. Several of them have maintained their account into adulthood. Link

I feel like many people have their own definition for what it means to be a Christian. To each person who sees this, do you believe you are a Christian? Why? What does it mean for you personally to be a Christian? Thank you!

In a [previous question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/101109/61679) addressing skeptical analogies aiming to cast doubt on the evidential worth of testimonies for extraordinary claims, I cited [this source](https://youtu.be/MEEEJ0SrC60?t=525) which I'd like to revisit here with a different focus: > *Stephen Meyer*: And then that there were reports that he had been, that he had appeared to many after being resurrected. So there's a whole ... > > *Joe Rogan*: Right, but there's reports of Bigfoot. > > *Paulogia*: Right again Joe, but at least for Bigfoot we have first-hand reports. For Jesus's resurrection all we have are **reports of reports**. At best. More likely, **reports of reports of reports of reports**. Bigfoot is in higher evidential standing. Suppose I pick up a modern Bible, say, a contemporary King James Version, and peruse the four gospels. How can I ascertain that I'm indeed delving into a reliable eyewitness account sourced directly from about 2000 years ago? How do I know I'm not just perusing a 'report of a report of a report of a report' that might have undergone significant manipulation and alteration over time due to tradition, vested interests pushing certain agendas, and so forth? What lines of evidence and arguments should persuade any rational, neutral, and open-minded individual into believing that the gospels we possess today genuinely preserve trustworthy eyewitness testimonies, and aren't merely dismissible as 'reports of reports of reports of reports' as Paulogia seems to suggest in the quote?

Bigfoot was brought up by Joe Rogan during his interview with Stephen Meyer, as discussed in Paulogia's review of the interview in [this video](https://youtu.be/MEEEJ0SrC60?t=525) : > **Stephen Meyer**: And then that there were reports that he had been, that he had appeared to many after being resurrected. So there's a whole ... > > **Joe Rogan**: Right, but there's reports of Bigfoot. > > **Paulogia**: Right again Joe, but at least for Bigfoot we have first-hand reports. For Jesus's resurrection all we have are reports of reports. At best. More likely, reports of reports of reports of reports. Bigfoot is in higher evidential standing. Another [atheist source](https://www.atheistrepublic.com/gallery/bigfoot-has-more-eyewitness-claims-jesus-christ-s-resurrection) similarly asserts: > Bigfoot Has More Eyewitness Claims Than Jesus Christ’s Resurrection Indeed, according to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoot#Sightings) (which in turn cites other sources): > **Sightings** > > According to Live Science, there have been over 10,000 reported Bigfoot sightings in the continental United States. About one-third of all claims of Bigfoot sightings are located in the Pacific Northwest, with the remaining reports spread throughout the rest of North America. Most reports are considered mistakes or hoaxes, even by those researchers who claim Bigfoot exists. > > Sightings predominantly occur in the northwestern region of Washington state, Oregon, Northern California, and British Columbia. According to data collected from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization's (BFRO) Bigfoot sightings database in 2019, Washington has over 2,000 reported sightings, California over 1,600, Pennsylvania over 1,300, New York and Oregon over 1,000, and Texas has just over 800. The debate over the legitimacy of Bigfoot sightings reached a peak in the 1970s, and Bigfoot has been regarded as the first widely popularized example of pseudoscience in American culture. To provide additional material for consideration, here is a two-part interview with a Bigfoot eyewitness that a Reddit user recommended [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/bigfoot/comments/16mdj38/sharing_my_favorite_witness_video_interview/) : [part one](https://youtu.be/TsDM4b5SqaQ) and [part two](https://youtu.be/aROJHXkSm64) . (It's interesting to note there's a whole Reddit community dedicated to Bigfoot.) So, the atheistic argument from analogy goes something like this: Given the multitude of eyewitness reports supporting Bigfoot's existence, with many still alive and accessible for interview today, it's still deemed rational by most people to dismiss Bigfoot's existence, because most people consider the evidence weak and uncompelling given such an extraordinary claim (i.e., the well-known *"extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"*). Thus, if we use the same epistemology consistently, says the atheist, shouldn't we also dismiss claims about Jesus' resurrection? After all, this is similarly an extraordinary claim, and the evidence available is arguably even weaker, as the number of purported witnesses is far fewer, and none are alive today for interrogation (and as Paulogia remarks in the video linked at the beggining, it's quite likely that what we have is not even reports of reports, but reports of reports of reports of reports). How do Christians break the symmetry? How is this atheistic argument from analogy invalid? --- **Note**. There is a similar purported analogy between Jesus' resurrection and the golden plates. The following is a very thought-provoking discussion: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84581/61679

It's my understanding that most Christians have never had an overtly spectacular, extraordinary, supernatural experience themselves, yet they find no problem in holding very specific supernatural beliefs (e.g. the resurrection of Jesus) based on the eyewitness accounts of others (e.g. the apostles, as recorded in the gospels). However, doctrines such Continuationism can find support on the basis of eyewitness accounts as well, [yet Cessationists would object to those as unreliable](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/83141/50422) . Latter-day Saints also appeal to the first-hand accounts of 3 & 8 witnesses as supportive evidence for the supernatural origin of the book of Mormon (see [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/83978/50422) for an eloquent presentation of this argument), [yet non-LDS Christians would object to those as unreliable](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84581/50422) as well. When it comes to assessing the reliability of eyewitness accounts as supportive evidence for specific supernatural beliefs, is there anything close to a consensus on how to make these kinds of judgments? Has any denomination or Christian scholar published a set of principles on how to judge the credibility of eyewitness accounts and applied them to concrete cases, such as the apostles (in the case of the resurrection of Jesus) or the eyewitnesses to the golden plates (in the case of Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon)?

The **Testimony of the Apostles** concerning the ministry, miraculous deeds, and alleged Resurrection, was fantastic, way out of the ordinary, revolutionary, and mind-boggling! The message they proclaimed was not ordinary 5 o'clock news material! It would pique everyone's interest that heard it. And not only did they proclaim it, but they challenged everyone to **dedicate their lives to it**! They expected people to believe it and even "lay their lives down" for it. And today in modernity, preachers of this same message---based on the Apostles' witness---seek disciples who will be wholly dedicated to it. These preachers (pastors, evangelists) are convinced that the **original testimony** of the Apostles was true...is true. But on what do they base this unswerving confidence? What convinces modern ministers and scholarly theologians that the Witness of the Apostles is Credible, Reliable, and Substantial for dedicating their lives to it?

Simple question: non-LDS Christians believe the testimonies of the apostles, yet they reject the testimonies of the (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Witnesses) & (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Witnesses) witnesses to the golden plates. Why? *In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established* (2 Cor 13:1) -- why is this reason not enough? _____ EDIT: Why should they? From a Latter-day Saint perspective, because this is one of the positive arguments for the divine inspiration of the Book of Mormon -- which should be of the utmost importance if it happens to be the case. See [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/83978/50422) and [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/83904/50422) for example presentations of this argument. _____ Related: [Is there anything close to a consensus on how to assess the credibility of eyewitness accounts as supportive evidence for supernatural beliefs?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84551/50422) _____ For a defense of the credibility of the Book of Mormon witnesses (the opposite view), see https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/89274/50422

Most atheists & agnostics are known for practicing [scientific skepticism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_skepticism) . They reject any miracle/supernatural claims unless solid scientific evidence is provided. A consequence of this epistemological standard is that most atheists end up discounting all testimonies of the supernatural, which unfortunately also includes all known arguments for the resurrection of Jesus (the cornerstone miracle of Christianity) that are grounded in historical/testimonial evidence. But what about Christians? How much epistemological value do Christians ascribe to testimonial accounts? How much respect do they have for scientific skepticism? Are Christians more willing to accept extraordinary claims based on testimonial accounts, even if no scientific evidence is provided? **Note**: if different Christian denominations or groups have different epistemological standards, I would appreciate an overview of these (main differences and similarities). ____ **Related questions (food for thought)** - [Epistemic value of multiple eyewitness accounts: single event vs. multiple events given a fixed number of eyewitnesses?](https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/q/93007/48437) (<<<< HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/89886/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84581/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/90292/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/83141/50422

Have any Jehovah's Witnesses experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit, possibly in a dramatic, life-changing way, and published a testimony in which they recount their experiences? ____ Similar questions: - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84069/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/87116/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/86227/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/86291/50422

Many people believe in the existence of demonic entities who sexually assault people at night. They are popularly known by the names of [incubus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incubus) and [succubus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succubus) . I don't want to share explicit material on here, but with some quick searches it's not hard to come by stories and first-hand testimonies of people who claim to have had encounters at night with these entities (just search on platforms such as YouTube, Reddit and many forums devoted to the paranormal/supernatural). Is there any biblical basis to the belief in incubus and succubus? Do the Scriptures give any credence to the possibility of demons having any sort of sexual interaction with human beings? _________________ To show that this is a belief held by many Christians, I invite the reader to check the following posts and books published by Christian deliverance ministries: (https://www.deliverancexorcisms.com/blog-and-ministry-news/the-incubus-and-succubus-demon) , (https://www.amazon.com/Deliverance-Incubus-Succubus-Demons-Night-ebook/dp/B00QKQVHSC) , (https://www.amazon.com/TOTAL-DELIVERANCE-SPIRIT-HUSBAND-WIFE-ebook/dp/B07L5RZCTK) , (https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/deliverance-from-bondage-of-the-spirit-husbands-and-wives-incubus-and-succubus) , (https://www.jesus-is-lord.com/incubus.htm) . If whole ministries are developed around the idea of setting people free from demonic oppressions, including sex demons, then it should stand to reason that many professing Christians who are either directly or indirectly linked to these ministries hold these beliefs.

*Note: I'm afraid that this question might make some cessationist readers uncomfortable, but given that Latter-day Saints are continuationists, I'll just go ahead with it.* It's my understanding that Latter-day Saints consider themselves in some sense "special" with respect to the rest of Christendom. For example, [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/84055/50422) affirms (emphasis mine): > [...] **only those who are baptized and confirmed as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost**. Once they have received the Gift, they must live worthy of it in order to maintain the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. > > **Those who are not baptized** can still experience some of the Power of the Holy Ghost, receive certain Revelations, and feel the influence of the Light of Christ, **but they do not have the promise of constant companionship from the Holy Ghost**. > > [...] > > Additionally, **receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost naturally grants greater access to the Gifts of the Spirit, such as the Spirit of Revelation and many other gifts**. The quote above is essentially stating a factual prediction about non-LDS Christians: non-LDS Christians **cannot** have a constant companionship from the Holy Ghost and, therefore, **shouldn't be able** to access greater manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit. I've watched and read lots of testimonies, as well as stories of moves of the Spirit in different revivals throughout history, and cannot help but believe that this prediction is utterly false. There are tons of non-LDS Christians who can testify about how the leading of the Holy Spirit is pretty much a daily experience for them, how they operate in the gifts of the Spirit -- including "words of knowledge", which would be the equivalent to the LDS concept of "Spirit of Revelation" --, there are plenty of testimonies from people who were formerly involved in witchcraft, the occult, etc., who had first-hand experience of the dark side and later went through dramatic supernatural conversions to non-LDS branches of Christianity and are now having even more profound experiences with the Spirit of God. For the sake of sharing a few notable examples, here are some links: (https://www.amazon.com/Why-Still-Surprised-Power-Spirit/dp/031010811X) , (https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Me-Satan-Carlos-Annacondia/dp/1599792346) , (https://www.amazon.com/Shantung-Revival-Greatest-Baptist-History/dp/0974075612) , (https://www.amazon.com/HOLY-SPIRIT-I-Hunger-You/dp/B001L66WYK) , (https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Signs-Wonders-Classic/dp/0892741848) , (https://www.amazon.com/Power-Evangelism-John-Wimber/dp/0060695323/) , (https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Fire-Response-MacArthurs-Strange/dp/1629984558) . **Question**: How do Latter-day Saints explain testimonies of profound experiences with the Holy Spirit in other denominations? _______ Related questions: - [According to LDS, do all non-LDS Christians lack the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and if so, how does this lack manifest itself in the lives of non-LDS?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/84049/according-to-lds-do-all-non-lds-christians-lack-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost-and) - [According to Latter-day Saints, are all Christians who are full of the Holy Spirit unequivocally led by the Spirit to accept the truth of Mormonism?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/83913/according-to-latter-day-saints-are-all-christians-who-are-full-of-the-holy-spir) - [Do LDS believers not accept any others who self-identify as 'Christian'?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/84052/do-lds-believers-not-accept-any-others-who-self-identify-as-christian)

Arguments for the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus strongly rely on testimonial evidence. Defenders of Jesus' resurrection as a historical fact typically argue that the writings of the New Testament are reliable first- or second-hand [eyewitness testimonies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyewitness_testimony) in support of the resurrection, despite arguments to the contrary pointing out the implausibility of miracles (according to scientific common sense), the degree of uncertainty introduced by the antiquity of the writings (they were written about 2000 years ago) and the impossibility to interview the primary sources (all self-proclaimed eyewitnesses have long since died). Simply put, the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus consists of (1) the alleged first/second-hand eyewitness accounts compiled in the NT and (2) the willingness of early Christians to withstand persecution and martyrdom for what they believed to be true. Many find these two pieces of evidence put together compelling enough to warrant their belief in the resurrection. Others, more skeptical, would remain unwilling to accept the claim unless higher standards of evidence were to be presented. To the best of my knowledge, cessationists have no issue whatsoever in accepting Jesus' miraculous resurrection on the basis of this "testimonial argument" referenced above. That said, when it comes to the testimonial evidence of the spiritual gifts **after the apostolic age**, especially in modern times, an implicit double standard seems to be at play on the cessationist side. Contemporary firsthand accounts about how the spiritual gifts are still active abound. Unlike previous generations, in this internet era we have a privilege as never before to access an endless supply of firsthand eyewitness accounts witnessing to all kinds of miracles and supernatural experiences, including spiritual gifts such as tongues, words of knowledge, healings, etc. See the appendix below for a more exhaustive list of examples. Surprisingly, despite the abundancy, recency and accessibility of contemporary firsthand eyewitness testimonies, cessationists usually disregard this evidence altogether, judging it to be unreliable, while paradoxically believing the eyewitness accounts for the resurrection of Jesus. Isn't this a case of double standard? What kind of logically consistent epistemology can simultaneously regard (1) limited 2000-year-old testimonial evidence as reliable and (2) abundant, recent and accessible testimonial evidence as unreliable? ___________________ ### Appendix **Examples of evidence for the continuation of the spiritual gifts after the apostolic age:** - [Is there any historical evidence that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit were still in operation after the apostolic age?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84305/50422) - [Charismatic Gifts in the Early Church: An Exploration into the Gifts of the Spirit During the First Three Centuries of the Christian Church](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0913573094) - [Are there any documented cases of Xenoglossy (i.e. “Acts 2:1-13 type” tongues, understood by a foreigner) in recent history (19th century on)?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/80486/50422) - [Are there any accounts of “words of knowledge” taking place outside of Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/80327/50422) - [Are there or have there been Christian healing ministries that have documented healing cases with supporting medical records?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/82583/50422) - [Miracles Never Ceased: The History of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to Today](https://www.kylewinkler.org/articles/miracles-never-ceased/) - [Why I Am Still Surprised by the Power of the Spirit: Discovering How God Speaks and Heals Today](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/031010811X) - [The Case for Miracles: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Supernatural](https://www.amazon.com/Case-Miracles-Journalist-Investigates-Supernatural/dp/0310259185) - [Miracles : 2 Volumes: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts](https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-volumes-Credibility-Testament-Accounts-ebook/dp/B007KOI2PY/) - [Miracles: Eyewitness to Some of the Greatest Miracles of Our Time](https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-R-W-Shambach/dp/0768428300/) - [The Miracles: A Medical Doctor Says Yes to Miracles!](https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Medical-Doctor-Says-Yes/dp/B007RXEG58) - [The Shantung Revival (The Greatest Revival in Baptist Church History)](https://www.amazon.com/Shantung-Revival-Greatest-Baptist-History/dp/0974075612) - [Authentic Fire: A Response to John MacArthur's Strange Fire](https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Fire-Response-MacArthurs-Strange/dp/1629984558) - [How often do Christian missionaries report occurrences of miracles while on the mission field?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/79994/50422) - [Listen to Me, Satan!](https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Me-Satan-Carlos-Annacondia/dp/1599792346) - Etc.

An example of a report of charismatic gifts *before* 400 AD is the testimony of St. Macarius of Egypt ([source](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/89715/50422)) . An example of a report of charismatic gifts *after* 1700 AD is the testimony of John Wesley ([source 1](https://firebrandmag.com/articles/wesley-the-almost-charismatic) , [source 2](https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Spirit-Power-Pure-Classic/dp/088270947X) , [source 3](https://newfangled.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/john-wesley-and-the-power-of-the-spirit/)) . What about the period in between (400 AD - 1700 AD)? Are there any notable reports of charismatic gifts in operation from this period of church history? ____ **Related questions** - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/86796/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/63274/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/59538/50422

[*The Supernatural Occurrences of John Wesley*](http://danielrjennings.org/tsoojw2.pdf) , written by Daniel R. Jennings, claims to be a compilation of John Wesley's supernatural experiences. The book claims to be compiling these stories from Wesley's journal. Is John Wesley's journal available? How authentic is this book by Daniel Jennings?

In John 20:24-29 and Mark 16:14, Jesus seems to rebuke unbelief and the request for direct evidence when indirect testimonial evidence has already been provided: > 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, **and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen**. (Mark 16:14 ESV) > 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, **“We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”** > > 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 **Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.**” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, **“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”** (John 20:24-29 ESV) However, [Moroni 10:3-7](https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng) seems to encourage the search for direct evidence: > 3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should > read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been > unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until > the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your > hearts. > > 4 And when ye shall receive these things, **I would exhort you that ye** > **would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these** > **things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with** > **real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it** > **unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost**. > > 5 **And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all** > **things**. > > 6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing > that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is. > > 7 **And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost**; > wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he > worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the > same today and tomorrow, and forever. **Question** How do Latter-day Saints reconcile Moroni 10:3-7 with John 20:24-29 and Mark 16:14? Is it okay to seek personal confirmation (Moroni 10:3-7), or should one just be content with what others have already witnessed and testified to (John 20:24-29, Mark 16:14)? **Note**: It would be interesting to see a discussion on the epistemological value of testimonial evidence from the Latter-day Saint perspective. Should the testimony of the 3 & 8 witnesses be enough (testimonial) evidence to warrant belief in Mormonism (which would be consistent with the epistemological value that Jesus seems to place on the testimony of his witnesses in John 20:24-29 & Mark 16:14), and if so, wouldn't that be at odds with Moroni 10:3-7's exhortation to seek additional evidence? Is Moroni 10:3-7 offering an exceptional route to believe for those who are more skeptical and struggle to believe based on **testimonial evidence only**? ____ **Related questions** - [Is believing based on evidence good or bad?](https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/q/59123/38524) - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/83925/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/89274/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84581/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/83901/50422

Testimonies of [astral projections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection) , [out-of-body experiences (OBE)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-of-body_experience) and [near-death experiences (NDE)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-death_experience) abound, both within and outside Christianity. Many interpret these experiences as evidence that consciousness persists after a person's spirit departs from the body. Of course, this cannot be the case if [Christian mortalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mortalism) (a.k.a. 'soul sleep') is true. **Question**: How do 'soul sleep' adherents make sense of the abundant reports of astral projections, out-of-body experiences (OBE) and near-death experiences (NDE) both within and outside Christianity? ________________ Some examples: - A very insightful article on these experiences: [Science, Medicine, and Near Death Experiences © May 2015 Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D. Magis Center of Reason and Faith](https://magiscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Science_Medicine_and_NDEs.pdf) - [Doctors' give scientific evidence for the afterlife from near death experiences (NDEs)](https://youtu.be/qDhH8jpU7Ks) - [Neuroscientist Sees 'Proof of Heaven' in Week-Long Coma](https://abcnews.go.com/Health/neuroscientist-sees-proof-heaven-week-long-coma/story?id=17555207) - [Eben Alexander, Neurologist and Author Talks About His Dying & the Afterlife](https://youtu.be/AUF2yqUMBic) - [Near Death Experience - Wayne Fowler Dies and Meets Jesus Face to Face](https://youtu.be/wXAOoeKDTIo) ___________ Related questions: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/83470/50422 https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/81227/50422

**Note**: this question is scoped to *Cessationists* (see [Cessationism vs. Continuationism - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessationism_versus_continuationism)) . Suppose that a fellow Christian tells a Cessationist that God spoke to them, or that they were attacked by demons, or that they witnessed a miracle, or that they had a dream or vision from God, etc. What would the average Cessationist do? - Would they believe them? - Would they be skeptical? - Would they think they are crazy, deluded or lying? - Would they request hard scientific evidence? - Would they dismiss their testimony entirely? What if many Christians from different parts of the world are reporting similar experiences? Would they (Cessationists) think they are all deluded, deceived or lying? **In short, how do Cessationists respond when a fellow Christian shares a world-view-challenging testimony?** ___ **Appendix 1 - Books with testimonies** I'm listing several books below with lots of testimonies from fellow Christians to illustrate what I'm talking about: - Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, by Craig Keener (https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Credibility-New-Testament-Accounts/dp/0801039525) - Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World, by Craig Keener (https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Today-Supernatural-Modern-World-ebook/dp/B08MXZVXLW) - The Case for Miracles: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Supernatural, by Lee Strobel (https://www.amazon.com/Case-Miracles-Journalist-Investigates-Supernatural/dp/0310259185) - Why I Am Still Surprised by the Power of the Spirit: Discovering How God Speaks and Heals Today, by Jack Deere (https://www.amazon.com/Why-Still-Surprised-Power-Spirit/dp/031010811X) - The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible, by Mark Batterson (https://www.amazon.com/Grave-Robber-Jesus-Impossible-Possible/dp/0801015987) - Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal, by Richard Gallagher (https://www.amazon.com/Demonic-Foes-Twenty-Five-Psychiatrist-Investigating/dp/0062876481/) - They Shall Expel Demons: What You Need to Know about Demons - Your Invisible Enemies, by Derek Prince (https://www.amazon.com/They-Shall-Expel-Demons-Invisible/dp/0800792602/) **Appendix 2 - Types of Cessationism** Answers to this question would probably benefit from splitting the analysis into the four major types of Cessationism: > - **Full cessationists** believe that all miracles have ceased, along with any miraculous gifts. > - **Classical cessationists** assert that the miraculous gifts such as prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues ceased with the apostles. > However, they do believe that God occasionally works in supernatural > ways today. > - **Consistent cessationists** believe that not only were the miraculous gifts only for the establishment of the first-century > church, but the need for apostles and prophets also ceased. > - **Concentric cessationists** believe that the miraculous gifts have indeed ceased in the mainstream church and evangelized areas, but may > appear in unreached areas as an aid to spreading the Gospel. Daniel B. > Wallace describes himself as a concentric cessationist and describes > the other cessationist viewpoints as "linear". > > ([source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessationism_versus_continuationism#Types_of_cessationism))

I'm specifically talking about: - [3 witnesses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Witnesses) : Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. - [8 witnesses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Witnesses) : Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith Sr., Samuel H. Smith, Jacob Whitmer, John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Christian Whitmer, and Peter Whitmer Jr. Eleven witnesses in total. Just like the twelve Apostles (minus Judas Iscariot, to make the numbers match). Why should we believe them? To what extent are they credible? What are the strongest arguments for their credibility? ________________________________________________________________ To encourage critical thinking and a healthy dose of [clash of arguments](https://debate-nb.ca/for-judges/during-the-debate/what-is-a-clash/) , I'd be very interested in answers that devote some space to engage common objections from critics. For example, in a related question addressed to non-LDS https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84581/50422 , some of the main reasons for skepticism put forward were (in my own wording): - The belief that Joseph Smith introduced a new version of Jesus which is irreconcilable with the orthodox understanding of Jesus from traditional Christianity. The Jesus of Joseph Smith is seen as foreign to the Bible. - The presumed evidence of plagiarism from the King James Bible found in the English translation of the Book of Mormon, which wouldn't make much sense if the Book of Mormon predates the KJB. - Skepticism surrounding the mysterious "Reformed Egyptian". - The belief that suspicious edits were made to the Book of Mormon after the fact. - The fact that several witnesses apostatized. - The belief that the witnesses changed the versions of their testimonies. - Controversial theological claims considered outrageous by some traditional Christians, e.g.: > I will preach on the plurality of gods. I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see” (King Follett Discourse). ([source](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/84583/50422])) - The [Spalding–Rigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalding%E2%80%93Rigdon_theory_of_Book_of_Mormon_authorship) - Alleged suspicious grammar errors: > A miraculous translation should not produce bad grammar; neither should it produce grammar with a whiplash effect by changing through three hundred years of grammar in the same sentence. ([source](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/84601/50422)) - And any other common objection (feel free to add). I look forward to seeing some interesting rebuttals. __________ Related: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/83901/50422