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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Society & Culture
➔ Religion & Spirituality
Chassidy H:
No, they are literally talking about people who die for a few minutes then are resucitated (I have no idea how that's spelled). Near death experiences, basically.
Also, I am atheist because I require proof and evidence. I'm sure you have proof or evidence for Christianity, but any Muslim, Hindu, whoever, could show me just as much evidence for their religion.
2007-07-17
17:55:47 ·
update #1
My self being a Christian will hopefully be able to help you a little with this. Most likely when they are saying that the person died and came back to life they are not meaning literally. Dieing is a figure of speech meaning the person was dead to religion and the following of God. Coming back to life they are saying that the person found God and religion into their lives and are "born a new person". This is where the whole "born again Christian" comes from. Does that help???? Also, can I ask why you choose to be an athiest? I am not trying to be judgemental at all. I just am wondering as why you choose to live that lifestyle? Don't you want to believe in something peaceful and serene when you are no longer on earth any more? Don't you want someone to look to when you are in need?
2007-07-17 17:51:29
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answer #1
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answered by Soon to be a WIFEY! 1
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I don't know why people say they talked to Jesus or saw hell and came back to life. I certainly haven't done those things.
When I am talking with a person, whether the aim is to convert them or just to share our ideas, I want them to talk the most and let me know what they are searching for. If someone believes Jesus was a myth, talking about the need for baptism will not really convince them. That would be like writing an essay on the poems of Walt Whitman when someone asks you what the fourth planet from the sun is. It is giving them information they are not searching for and you waste your breath and their time.
So I let people talk and see where they stand. Do they think Jesus was a mythological figure? If so then I can show how people claimed to see Jesus with their own eyes and ears, but no one did this with Hercules or Hermes. Do they think Jesus was merely a good moral teacher but nothing more, then why exactly was he killed? He was killed for his claims of divinity and authority (hence "king of the Jews" as being the reason for his execution). If someone believes that Christ was the Son of God, but do not believe in the Trinity, then I will not oppose them. They are already following the teachings solidly written in scripture, there is no reason to persuade them to an exact doctrine.
2007-07-18 00:58:29
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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I'm guessing that the point is; If their godman can resurrect the dead, then the believer has some hope of eventually surviving the first and second death.
However, these fundie xtian dilletante evangelists are "fundamentally" dishonest. They are using only Near Death Experience data of xtians to promote their religion over the NDEs of people who either have another religion, or have no religion at all - not everyone who has an NDE sees Jesus...
2007-07-18 01:03:06
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answer #3
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answered by sheik_sebir 4
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I think the hardest nut that needs to be cracked is you. You use the provisions that God placed in operation for the benefit of man, yet you give Him no glory for that?
I believe that many of the stories told are valid, even if you do not. I will ask you to take a look at what an ex-atheist has to say about God. His name is Lee Strobel, and I invite you to seek out his writings. If you won't listen to the others, perhaps you'll listen to a one time atheist. So far as who is deluded and who is not, there is cause to place that conclusion at your feet.
2007-07-18 00:54:01
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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I don't know why people do that.
My heart goes out to you. I don't think I've ever heard of such an encounter, but I'm sure from someone who is not a believer such stories must sound ludicrous and unreal.
I much prefer baby-steps; and allow people to find Christ for themselves. However, in saying all of that --- I also need to let you know that some of those stories may in fact be true...Nothing is impossible with God.
God bless
2007-07-18 00:50:23
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answer #5
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answered by redglory 5
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It's because, even if we don't know these are true stories, that those "near death" experiences are the only insight we have to "what is on the other side".
They don't use them to convert people, just to spread the good word.
2007-07-18 00:50:33
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Yeah it's pretty much a load of horseshit. That's why I live in Southern California. It's the one place in America that fundamentalists are scared to go.
2007-07-18 00:53:09
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Romans 1:19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
2007-07-18 00:46:56
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Mormons don't really believe in a hell. They only have 3 levels of heaven....depending on how good you've been.
2007-07-18 00:52:03
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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The aspect of going to hell if you don't believe what they believe is their most convincing argument (for the weak-minded, anyway).
2007-07-18 00:46:35
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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