I agree with Jon. Many times natural emotion or hallucination is mistaken for revelation and inspiration. And in these cases when the revelation turns out to be false or to bring about negative outcomes the revelation is written off as "a trial." The person thinks God wanted them to do the wrong thing to teach them a lesson. This is a false idea that religious people should put out of their minds. But it is not easy or pleasant for the person to admit that the alleged revelation was not valid in the beginning.
"Science is about seeking to explain the world around us. For him at least, it can co-exist with faith." Stated in Jon's first reference Last sentence last paragraph (see here).

This is what I believe as well. I maintain the idea all miracles fall within the natural laws of the universe.

But the sensation Jon posted about was not what I was referring to when I described my desire to have a "religious experience." I was referring to the unity one can feel with their peers. The experience could be had in many different non-religious settings. I use the term "religious experience" to describe a wide range of experiences that may be better associated with a different term.

One of the points I was making is that I do not need to wade through all the phony rehearsed dialogues at a church in order to have the feeling I am seeking.

A "religious" experience

This is hardly a subject with a whole lot of room for opinion. "Religious" experiences are actually biological reactions to external stimulus. (see here, here, here, and here. Wikipedia here) To claim otherwise is to put more importance on unfounded and religiously biased claims than on actual observations made through extensive research.

How many times do we have to discover the natural causes behind previously presumed supernatural phenomena? We must assume that unexplained phenomena have a natural cause. This is the only way to be intellectually honest with ourselves. There is no reason to believe that anything exists outside of the natural word.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck don't assume it's a unicorn.

A Religious Experience

While sitting in church a few Sundays ago I asked myself why I go. I have a bad attitude at times while listening to shallow whiteness being born with a lack of authenticity or convincing power. And while pondering this bad attitude I asked myself, 'Why do I come here?' I found myself composing a lengthy explanation in my head that I wrote down...

I come for a religious experience

Religion: a body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices

Experience: an accumulation of skills and knowledge as a result of participation in applicable activities.

Religious experience: betterment of ones self as well as true knowledge gained through the participation in and observation of group activities among persons sharing particular beliefs and practice.

One can participate in a religious experience in schools, among peers, at a concert, watching a film, reading any book, and even among atheist colleagues. God as a topic of discussion is not a prerequisite in the endeavour to have a stimulating religions experience. The only prerequisite is that one be open enough to the topic at hand to enable that individual to find common beliefs or practices with the other individuals involved.

Individual religious experience: to resolve in ones own mind a conflicting principal or principals that have never before been resolved in the persons mind. The person is finding common ground within their own mind. They have found truth or at least truth that is true in their own personal perception of the reality we all exist in.

There may be a more universal term for the experience described here. But for the purpose of my use of the term "religious experience" the explanation given here most clearly defines the term.

Time

The theory of general relativity tells us that time itself is relative. That is, time passes at different rates depending on the position of the observer (See Wikipedia entry). If we apply this, admittedly a bit inappropriately, to our everyday lives it puts things into an new perspective. From this perspective we find less importance in the speed with which we accomplish goals and can, instead, focus on the quality of those goals. We can focus on advancing our own intellect, and the overall intellect of humanity, instead of racing to jump through the hoops of a prescribed life. I think it's time to strive to be the proverbial tortoise, instead of the hare.

Time

Time is a temporal measurement of temporal activities that have no relevance in the eternal existence of our soles. The only activities that matter are the activities that contribute to the refinement and development of our intelligence. Our intelligence is the part of our existence that uniquely defines us as individuals. Intellectual, moral, and social development are the only worth while pursuits. The TIME it takes to progress in life's pursuits is bass and inconsequential in comparison to the actual progression. The question to focus on is not how fast we accomplish things but if we are purifying our beings at any rate at all. Location, activities, and acclamations developed and perpetuated by our own acknowledgment of self-acclaimed, unmerited, certificates of completion are not relevant. Are not real. Are below me and my existence.