Wow... Well, I certainly can't imagine that an “airtight” scientific explanation for this phenomenon would be fully satisfying here, given the way you experience this liminal state, and given that not everyone who does also encounters awful entities. All terrifying experiences need to be made sense of; on some level - including that of realms that science can neither access nor speak to -, I'd bet that what you describe makes all kinds of sense. I haven't been visited by ghosts, but stories I've heard and my deeper instinct both say they're not just figments of imaginations.
Supposing the “visitors” you describe are real, and that they might have something to gain from frightening people into submission, putting all your stock into scientific/materialistic denial of their existence would help allow them unfettered access to you, as most materialists wouldn't go out of their way to protect you from what they believe to be hallucinations. With that in mind, I'm glad to hear that the people in your life believe you, and to know you've come to a working theory that properly affirms your experience. Best!
Thanks. Having a Biblical worldview helps me make sense of all this, although that's not necessarily a given - there are plenty of Christians who don't believe there's a paranormal aspect to sleep paralysis. Just as there are many who completely reject a biological explanation and think it's entirely demonic. After years of going back and forth, I've landed squarely in the middle.
There are a lot of Christians who have a materialist worldview, despite following an inherently supernatural faith. They give lip service to belief in angels and demons, but when confronted with this sort of thing they cling to scientific and psychological explanations.
Wow... Well, I certainly can't imagine that an “airtight” scientific explanation for this phenomenon would be fully satisfying here, given the way you experience this liminal state, and given that not everyone who does also encounters awful entities. All terrifying experiences need to be made sense of; on some level - including that of realms that science can neither access nor speak to -, I'd bet that what you describe makes all kinds of sense. I haven't been visited by ghosts, but stories I've heard and my deeper instinct both say they're not just figments of imaginations.
Supposing the “visitors” you describe are real, and that they might have something to gain from frightening people into submission, putting all your stock into scientific/materialistic denial of their existence would help allow them unfettered access to you, as most materialists wouldn't go out of their way to protect you from what they believe to be hallucinations. With that in mind, I'm glad to hear that the people in your life believe you, and to know you've come to a working theory that properly affirms your experience. Best!
Thanks. Having a Biblical worldview helps me make sense of all this, although that's not necessarily a given - there are plenty of Christians who don't believe there's a paranormal aspect to sleep paralysis. Just as there are many who completely reject a biological explanation and think it's entirely demonic. After years of going back and forth, I've landed squarely in the middle.
Interesting. On what basis would Christians reject the paranormal aspect?
There are a lot of Christians who have a materialist worldview, despite following an inherently supernatural faith. They give lip service to belief in angels and demons, but when confronted with this sort of thing they cling to scientific and psychological explanations.
Glad you enjoyed it!