"The notion of a contemporary epiphany to me is very exciting, because it's a sort of biblical thing. It's something that has happened to people in other centuries or in the context of religious experience"

Pamela Stephenson expresses fascination with the idea of a contemporary epiphany, positioning it as a rare and powerful experience reminiscent of moments described in religious texts. By referencing the "biblical thing", Stephenson invokes the sense of gravity and transformation associated with epiphanies documented in scripture and sacred narratives. Traditionally, an epiphany is a sudden revelation or insight, a moment in which an individual perceives something essential about themselves, the world, or a spiritual reality that was previously hidden or unknown. Such moments are often depicted as life-altering, deeply meaningful events, reserved for prophets, saints, or those living in relatively ancient times.

Stephenson’s excitement over the possibility of such experiences occurring in the present suggests both awe and longing. She contrasts the extraordinary nature of religious epiphanies with the ordinariness of contemporary life, implying that such experiences feel distant or rare in today’s world. The phrase “contemporary epiphany” carries with it a tension between the ancient and the modern, the spiritual and the secular. It asks whether profound revelation is still possible in an era often characterized by rationalism, skepticism, and the mundane pressures of everyday life.

The use of the words “to me is very exciting” hints at a personal desire or curiosity not just for the event itself but also for what it would represent: a bridge between different eras of human consciousness and experience. Such a moment would inject the present day with the mystique traditionally reserved for times long past, suggesting that the divine or transcendent encounters are not confined to history or formal religious practice. Stephenson’s reflection ultimately invites consideration of whether and how individuals today can encounter the sacred, the mysterious, or the profoundly transformative, and what it would mean for someone to experience a true epiphany in a modern context.