Dreams

[SeraphimSarov]

I had this dream last night about academic persecution of Christians. It was really weird, but I woke up from it and had this feeling that stuff like it would be happening in the future.

Does Orthodoxy put much stock into dreams? I really pay no attention to my dreams at all, but I just get this feeling...

[Lotheriel]

I've had some really weird dreams in my time!!! :D

I don't know about the orthodox point but I don't put too much faith in dreams.

[SeraphimSarov]

Neither do I. And it just occurred to me that the fact that I said that I had a "feeling" might be a red flag right there...

[Lotheriel]

Well my friend is quite religious and she always says stuff like 'I dreamed this would happen' when things go wrong. I don't know if what she says is true, but in my personal experience, I don't think dreams are really reliable *especially when you dream about stuff like spoons like me :D*

Have you spoke to your priest? Maybe he could help.

[SeraphimSarov]

I'm expecting a call from him today, so I guess I'll bring it up then. I guess I was just spooked by it when I woke up, since it was so real.

[Lotheriel]

Yeh talk to your priest and it doesn't hurt to pray on it either :D

[vanshan]

There's already academic persecution of Christians. My faculty advisor in graduate school in my rhetorical theory class stated that no educated person could seriously believe the gospel. Also in high school, I remember at least two teachers openly mocking the Christian faith.

As far as dreams, I've had two really strange dreams that seemed very different than all my other ones, but I've heard it's dangerous to put much stock in them. If the devil sees our fascination he will plant deceptive dreams in our path to injure us. Dreams come from the same place our thought do, which produces both bad and good thoughts, so we should hold dreams to scruitinty, knowing they can be as wrong as our own awake thoughts.

Basil

[SeekingTheLight]

I think that talking to your priest about it is probably a good idea. I've never had a dream that I felt was "true" or anything - most of the time it's really stupid stuff - but if I ever had a "feeling" about one, I'd talk to a priest. I mean, Joseph had prophetic dreams sent by God, so why not one of us? It could happen, couldn't it?

[TrueHope]

I had this dream last night about academic persecution of Christians. It was really weird, but I woke up from it and had this feeling that stuff like it would be happening in the future.

Does Orthodoxy put much stock into dreams? I really pay no attention to my dreams at all, but I just get this feeling...
Well, in my experience, in the States there seems to not be such stock in dreams, but here in Greece, it is a whole other story. But, upon intense dreams, or ones which appear to have messages, it is wise to talk with your SF to get his opinion. For as Vanshan says, the devil likes to utilize what he can to steer us off course. He could take one prophetic dream and turn it into a new business for someone...know what I mean? That is why we must test everything. The subconscious mind is an amazing thing....we get fed so much information that we don't even pay attention to ...so there are many factors.

[SeraphimSarov]

There's already academic persecution of Christians. My faculty advisor in graduate school in my rhetorical theory class stated that no educated person could seriously believe the gospel. Also in high school, I remember at least two teachers openly mocking the Christian faith.

I've seen it as well in my time. There was serious discussion in this modern American lit. class I took about how Jesus' death on the Cross was a selfish one. My assertion that it is utterly presumptuous to ever assume you know what's in someone else's heart fell on utterly death ears. So did my assertion that I don't pay $23,000 per year to hear my faith knocked in classes that aren't in any way related to religion.

I've already pretty much decided not to worry about this dream I had... it's not happening in the way I saw in my dream, but you're right; it's indeed happening already. I guess I'll still talk to my priest and see what he says about it, but I'm sure he'll tell me not to dwell on it.

[authiodionitist]

Yes yes I resound the advise here: it could be a divine vision or a satanic delusion - if it sticks with you, bring it to confession. In the Greek parishes, the translation of this prayer says "dreams" instead of "evil imaginations." In any case, it is good for this type of question to keep our thoughts focused on the Lord.

Prayer with the heads bowed at Vespers and Vigil:
The priest prays quietly:
Unto Thee, the fearful Judge who lovest man, have Thy servants bowed their heads and subjected their necks, awaiting not help from man, but expecting Thy mercy and looking for Thy salvation. Keep them at all times, both during this present evening and during the approaching night, from every enemy, from every adverse operation of the Devil, and from vain thoughts and from evil imaginations.
For blessed and glorified be the majesty of Thy kingdom: of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen!

[SeraphimSarov]

In the Greek parishes, the translation of this prayer says "dreams" instead of "evil imaginations." In any case, it is good for this type of question to keep our thoughts focused on the Lord.

Now this I never knew. That's really awesome; I never quite understood what "evil imaginations" was referring to. Now it seems so obvious. :P