“Nations die of softening of the brain, which, for a long time, passes for softening of the heart.” (Coventry Patmore)
Charismatics self validate. What they fail to take into account is that every religious system can validate; offer ethical norms, (integrity, caring, compassion, generosity, moderation, commitment, peace, enthusiasm and so on) and the promise of justice, spiritual growth and eventual bliss to their followers. Yet no matter how sincere or convinced these followers are; every religious system cannot be right at the same time.
Testimonies are subjective experiences and for every testimony there is a contradictory testimony somewhere with equally compelling arguments. So it makes absolutely no difference how convinced people are about their religion. That is why testimonies can never be accepted as proof. Indeed, that is not the Catholic way. What does this mean then in terms of the vast array of contradictory religious systems? In the end it means that the majority of people who are certain about their religion are -- wrong.
Charismatic self-validation is based on religious experience.
The charismatic says
1. “The experience I had is from God, because I feel that it was.” This is fallacious reasoning. Feelings are not necessarily related to reality. No matter how strong, feelings don't change facts. Feelings are poor substitutes for information and rigorous inquiry.
2. “The experience I had is from God, because it changed me for the better.” This sort of explanation is generally followed by a charismatic infomercial, which can range from fantastic to imbecilic with a blend of pretentious humility and smug arrogance. As Fr Hampsch said “the good thing about charismania is that you don't have to be humble.” har har
Catholic truth cannot be validated with personal experiences. (Matt. 7:21-23); and Judas Iscariot was the classic example. (John 17:12) Experience must always submit itself to the Magisterium and to the Scriptures for authenticity.
The willingness to serve, generous giving, concern and love for others do not authenticate the Charismatic Renewal. We find the same traits among followers of false religions as well. Shintoism, Taoism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Falun Gong, New Age, DLM, Hare Krishna, Islam, Christian Science, Jehovah Witnesses, Scientology, Mormonism, etc. all have some very nice and devout followers.
I have seen my father weep over Sweedenborg. I knew necromancers who freely gave everything they had. I grew up in a household saturated with new age. Despite all that, my parents were deeply religious and compassionate people. My husband has an atheist friend. One would be hard pressed to find another person who volunteers or cares as much as that man. I know a young woman who would be most certainly dead from a drug overdose, if she didn’t meet her future husband who is a Jehovah Witness. Can any of this prove that new age, necromancy, atheism or the JW religion are from God?
Feeling close to God is no proof either. Some of our saints never had spiritual consolations. Yet the psychic world offers plenty. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that Catholicism has to be dry and without spiritual consolations. But spiritual consolations do not validate anything, besides the counterfeit is able to stir up the same effects... so how something FEELS, in this case the feeling of holiness is no proof of authenticity or that the feeling is from God.
