I'm an atheist living in the Bible belt. I've had numerous fundamentalists (mostly Southern or Missionary Baptists) try to convert me by showing me stories about people who had died and come back to life. The people say that they talked to Jesus, and saw hell, and have come back to life filled with love and fear for God.
Do they really think those stories are persuasive at all? I mean, every religion has these stories. For instance, Mormons have these stories, but when they talk to Jesus, he tells them that they need to follow the word of Joseph Smith. When they "visit hell," they warned against sins that most Christians never worry about. Why are their experiences less valid than other Christians?
Muslims, Hindus, etc.. they all have these same stories.
So why do people use these stories to convert people? When I hear them, or get handed a stack of the stories, I mostly just figure the person is a nut.
2007-07-17
17:43:26
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16 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
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Religion & Spirituality