Alex Malarkey, 'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven,' Admits He Made It All Up

[shunyadragon]

[Bill the Cat]

We have a thread on this in the Christianity forum as well:

http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...ants-his-story

[NormATive]

I recall when these "NDEs" first began oozing out in Christian circles. I also recall how complete 180 they were from basic, Biblical understanding. None of what is described in these accounts can be found in scripture regarding what actually IS in Heaven (according to the book itself). It's clear in scripture that people will not be reunited with their families - they will be like angels:

I think what happens is that sometimes folks who experience brain death begin to hallucinate. What forms the content for these hallucinations? Probably stuff they see in movies and read in books. Or, some colorful sermons that take license with Biblical imagery. The mind has an incredible ability to create very real illusions given the right stimulus (such as hallucinogens like LSD, and serotonin).

I think it took a lot of courage for this young man to tell the truth.

NORM

[Enjolras]

I recall when these "NDEs" first began oozing out in Christian circles. I also recall how complete 180 they were from basic, Biblical understanding. None of what is described in these accounts can be found in scripture regarding what actually IS in Heaven (according to the book itself). It's clear in scripture that people will not be reunited with their families - they will be like angels:

These stories are not only incompatible with Scripture, but wildly contradictory when compared to one another. Eben Alexander would have us believe he was "a speck on a beautiful butterfly wing; millions of other butterflies around us. We were flying through blooming flowers, blossoms on trees, and they were all coming out as we flew through them..." whereas Colton Burpo tells us that Jesus rides a rainbow-colored horse and that the souls of dead children must still do homework in heaven.

Worth noting is that when Hindus have near death experiences, they meet Krishna or Vishnu in an ornate temple; Buddhists meet Buddha under a tree; Muslims meet Mohammad in the garden of virgins; and Crow Indians visit the happy hunting grounds.

think what happens is that sometimes folks who experience brain death begin to hallucinate. What forms the content for these hallucinations? Probably stuff they see in movies and read in books. Or, some colorful sermons that take license with Biblical imagery. The mind has an incredible ability to create very real illusions given the right stimulus (such as hallucinogens like LSD, and serotonin).

Sam Harris points out that everything that Alexander described about his experience has been reported by DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) users.

I think it took a lot of courage for this young man to tell the truth.

NORM

Sadly, instead of admitting he made the whole thing up, Burpo is just doubling down: http://www.christianpost.com/news/co...s-true-132739/ In his defense I think his Dad, perhaps even unwittingly, helped create the whole narrative.

[Doug Shaver]

None of what is described in these accounts can be found in scripture regarding what actually IS in Heaven

So, if I read an account that is consistent with scripture, I should believe it?

[NormATive]

So, if I read an account that is consistent with scripture, I should believe it?

Nope. There's only one way to find out for sure.

NORM

[Darth Executor]

Alex Malarkey

At least he lived up to the family name.

[Doug Shaver]

There's only one way to find out for sure.

If I only have someone's word for it, and if it seems antecedently very improbable, I can't be absolutely sure it didn't really happen, but I don't think I'm being unreasonable if I think it probably didn't.

[Jedidiah]

If I only have someone's word for it, and if it seems antecedently very improbable, I can't be absolutely sure it didn't really happen, but I don't think I'm being unreasonable if I think it probably didn't.

I am a believer. I believe "heaven" is real is real. But I do not believe that these there and back books are true, even if the author (or experiencer) is convinced their experience was real.

[NormATive]

...I do not believe that these there and back books are true, even if the author (or experiencer) is convinced their experience was real.

Why not? Are you referring to even the ones that are in line with proper Christian doctrine (I know there were a few)? So, if these people were dead, what happened to their souls?

NORM

[Christianbookworm]

They were only clinically dead, not brain dead.

[Jedidiah]

Why not? Are you referring to even the ones that are in line with proper Christian doctrine (I know there were a few)? So, if these people were dead, what happened to their souls?

NORM

There are non in line with "proper Christian doctrine" since "proper Christian doctrine" does not have any detail about what it is like in heaven. Plus the facts that you don't get to come back once you really die.

[whag]

There are non in line with "proper Christian doctrine" since "proper Christian doctrine" does not have any detail about what it is like in heaven.

Plus the facts that you don't get to come back once you really die.

That's what skeptics say.

[jordanriver]

all over America at 5:00 PM on Fridays, millions of dead come back to life.