My atheist 17 year old son has been given a ticket to one, compliments of some girl in his class that he has the hots for.
Should I let him go or should we run in the opposite direction?
2007-10-30 18:02:26 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
He's a big boy and is very intelligent, so obviously he's unlikely to be swayed by such tactics. You'd have to be pretty dumb to fall for such blatant propaganda/lies.
Just wanted to hear some opinions.
I don't forbid him to do anything. My belief is, if it feels right to him then it probably is right for him
2007-10-30 18:55:38 · update #1
Oh and BTW, he HAS heard the other side, and he has made up his own mind, and his beliefs do happen to differ from mine... I'm not an atheist...
2007-10-30 18:58:42 · update #2
I assume you mean something like a Judgment House. (Concervative Christian alternative to a Haunted House)
Come on now... It's not like he's 5. What are you afraid of if he goes? Are you afraid that he might hear and believe? That he might rationally evaluate both arguments and come to his own conclusions that might possibly differ from yours?
ooooh... scaaaaary...
God forbid he hear the other side for himself and make up his own mind.
2007-10-30 18:16:02 · answer #1 · answered by David M 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It's a Christian thing, and 17 is certainly old enough for the graphic nature of Hell House, so I'd say let him go.
I went to a couple of them. They are not for small children, and generally small children are not admitted. They are more for teens.
They depict graphically some of the effects of evil such as crashes caused by drunk driving, school shootings, and other ugly manifestations of evil in the world. These are usually portrayed by live actors. Finally there is some kind of invitation or suggestion that you can turn to Christ to help you avoid or recover from these evil happenings.
I think the idea is that kids want to be scared on Halloween, so why not scare them in a constructive way?
I don't know whether the Hell House will have any effect on your son, but I don't see how it could hurt him. If the girl he has the hots for gave him a ticket to Hell House, is she a Christian?
2007-10-30 18:29:31 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The coercive tactics can certainly unhinge someone easily persuaded.
You have some idea as to his level of competence.
Forbidding a 17 yo from attending is not only counter-productive, but would be on par with the "emotionalism" used by "Hell Houses".
Reason, and education in logical fallacy would be more effective either before or after.
Sundance/IFC used to schedule a documentary of some HH's.
If necessary locate a copy [library?] and watch together.
Discuss.
This is the Best Answer I can Offer.
P.S. When I was approximately his age, I would attend Pentecostal services just so I could sit in the back with a girl who's parents belonged. Neither of us payed too much attention to the theatrics or sermons.
2007-10-30 18:44:07 · answer #3 · answered by B C 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't bother. They're really stupid. All it is, is a bunch of idiots that pretend they've gone to hell. They run around screaming and saying things like "I shouldn't have listened to my friends, no I'm going to suffer in hell for eternity". Seriously, go to youtube and type in Hell House and watch some of the stupid videos. They really are like that.
2007-10-30 18:09:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's laughable to say the least. I have been to it just to make fun of the pathetic Christian scare tactics. Tell him to run from the girl not the hell house. She is obviously trying to scare him into believing in a mythological God, hopefully your son isn't that simple minded to let that nonsense get to him.
2007-10-30 18:06:32 · answer #5 · answered by Pathofreason.com 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Well, here's a layout of what it seems to be... http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_he.htm
Personally I think he'd be better off skipping it...especially if they use it to try to make people accept Jesus or something.
Edit: http://www.npr.org/programs/wesat/features/2002/aug/hellhouse/
"At the end, the sinners are shown suffering their eternal damnation. Then visitors are asked if they want to accept Jesus and join the church. About one in five do."
2007-10-30 18:07:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
You never know, he might find it (unintentionally) entertaining.
There's an annual "Hollywood Hellhouse" put on by professional comedians who don't even change a word of the script, and it's hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qcOh4_BFzY
http://www.hollywoodhellhouse.com/
2007-10-30 18:05:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read about them but haven't seen on in person... I would NOT let my child to go one. They preach things that are not true and stretch what little truth they DO present. It's all based on fear, not respect in the truth.
2007-10-30 18:12:39 · answer #8 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I watched a video of one and i thought it was quite stupid.
I thought it was supposed to be like a haunted house, until Satan was acting as priest in a gay marriage :(
most likely your son will be fine, it's NOT going to convert him.
2007-10-30 18:09:04 · answer #9 · answered by Bobby The Wolf JPA 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Let him go. If hes a athiest then it shouldent bother him. Its just somebody elses faith talking. Not his own.
2007-10-30 18:07:30 · answer #10 · answered by Saturn554 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋