non-Spirit-filled believers hearing voices

[Timmy]

What are possible causes for non-Spirit-filled believers to hear (or think they hear) audible voices (not "still small voices" or such) that aren't from ordinary sources, such as other people, radio, TV, etc.? This poll allows multiple selections, so click as many as you think could explain it in different instances.

If you think there's no such thing as a non-Spirit-filled believer, don't answer. Or click Other, if you like.

Note: this isn't just about your personal experiences, if any. It is about non-Spirit-filled believers in general. They (some of them) have reported hearing audible voices, now and then. Just wondering what your thoughts are on possible causes for them. Not that they are all from the same cause (hence, the allowing of multiple clicks).

BTW (edit): if Satan/Lucifer/The Devil might be the culprit, select "A demon talking". Lump them all together.

(This was inspired by the Does this offend you? thread.

[Timmy]

Other: tricks.

[Baron1710]

((((timmmy)))))

[Timmy]

Gasp! Did you hear that???

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Gasp! Did you hear that???

No. What?

Did you hear something?

[RandyWayne]

I would add two more: Imagination and Stomach gurgling (which could probably be put under the category, Imagination).

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I would add two more: Imagination and Stomach gurgling (which could probably be put under the category, Imagination).

Oh yeah, I hear those voices quite a bit!

[pelathais]

The phenomena of "hearing voices" can include a variety of stimuli and perceptions. One may actually be "hearing" a voice due to incomplete or confused input from the auditory nerves or from a complex chemical misfire in the auditory receptor locations within the brain itself.

Such conditions are a by-product of a number of different traumas and other health related conditions. Drugs and alcohol can also be contributing factors.

Or, there may simply be some heretofore unexplained external phenomena at work. Mysteries abound in this universe.

Being hearing impaired myself, I can testify to a number of weird sounds and sensations. I often hear loud ringing that isn't really "there" as an external sound. Sometimes when there is a low level of background noise ("white noise" like from a fan) I seem to "hear" speaking in the background as well. Many times I have gotten up and unplugged my wife's clock radio thinking the thing was going off and some radio DJ was disturbing my sleep only to have the "conversations" continue. I can't make out what is being "said" - it's like a couple of people in the other room are talking. Turning off the fan ends both the "white noise" and the "voices." It seems to just be a garbled identification in my damaged sensory inputs.

I have heard "loud" noises and later wondered if they were crashes and bangs off somewhere or if they were cries or shouts from people. I simply can't tell the difference sometimes. I have been sleeping and awakened to someone "calling my name" out - only to find that there's no one around. Was that God? An angel? Or was it a car backfiring outside down the road somewhere?

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by pelathais

The phenomena of "hearing voices" can include a variety of stimuli and perceptions. One may actually be "hearing" a voice due to incomplete or confused input from the auditory nerves or from a complex chemical misfire in the auditory receptor locations within the brain itself.

Such conditions are a by-product of a number of different traumas and other health related conditions. Drugs and alcohol can also be contributing factors.

Or, there may simply be some heretofore unexplained external phenomena at work. Mysteries abound in this universe.

I hear ya.

[Timmy]

Pel, I see that you selected "A human spirit talking". Do you think a dead (or something else, like on an out-of-body-experience or something) can speak to living humans, audibly (to the living)?