Near death experience of Howard Storm

[Catholic_Lady]

More like 'the cumulative weight of everything about this guy's claim that doesn't add up'.

What about his claim of being an atheist doesn't add up though? 

We agree that atheists come in all types - good or bad, dumb or smart, tolerant or hostile. All that is required is that you don't believe in God.

Again, I'm not saying he definitely wasn't exaggerating about his atheism (or maybe even making it up entirely though I doubt that), but not on the grounds that he somehow didn't fit a particular atheist mold.

[Cecelia]

It's clear what doesn't add up about his claims:

He fit a very theist stereotype of being an Atheist. Then he switched to the other side of the spectrum, jumping several hurdles with absolutely no skepticism. For example, he KNEW it wasn't a dream. He looked for no other possible explanation. He jumped right on the Jesus Bandwagon. It just screams of someone who has no idea what it's like to become an atheist. "I denied the reality before me" That doesn't sound like something a former atheist would say. They might say "I didn't see the evidence" or "The experience showed me the way when nothing else did." An Atheist is also likely to have many more questions than "WHAT ABOUT THE BIBLE?" They'd ask about specifics that bothered them if they didn't find it to be true. It all adds up to him lying about being an atheist. I would not be surprised in the least to learn he was a liar.

[robvalue]

"Science doesn't know everything yet" =/= "My unsupported assertions will be proven true one day"

I'll give up now.

[scoobysnack]

Not saying I have all the answers, although you all think you do for some reason, which is odd but at the same time isn't. It's odd that someone would think they have it all figured out, but that can be attributed to the ego. It also isn't odd because people tend to believe in what they do based on perceived perception of authority figures whoever they personally believe that to be. Something I'm starting to learn while here on this forum is that atheists have their faith just as everyone does, and it's hard to change, just as it is for everyone. The difference would be they call it the rational understanding and belief in the system of collective knowledge based on science and government. There's also apparently a hierarchy and many variants of atheism. I would attribute it to the human experience we all share, since we all have an ego and opinion. Almost like I've bonded with you all, although you would think we are polar opposites.

Well soon I'll start talking again about the vibration that controls existence. Even science knows everything is vibration, from sound to light, to matter, and energy. I've been around, and have the patience.

I also need to add that we all have a confirmation bias, even me. And I'm not perfect, and shouldn't judge anyone. I'm here to learn and share.

[KevinM1]

Here's the thing: in order to wow a skeptic, you need to be able to prove that whatever happened cannot be the result of what's known.

We know about the hallucinatory effects of altered brain chemistry due to:

Fever
Infection
Injury/trauma
Medicine (including anesthesia)
Oxygen deprivation
Alcohol
Drugs
Shit, even things like sleep paralysis

So, the burden is on the person sharing their story to prove that their visions weren't due to one of the multitude of rather mundane causes listed above (and I probably missed one or two). And none of them do because it makes their fantastic narrative, and the product they're trying to sell based on it, utterly un-fantastic. It cuts the legs out from under the sales pitch.

Logic dictates that the simplest answer is likely true. In lieu of real evidence, the things I mentioned above are far, far more likely as being the cause of the visions than anything else.

[Cecelia]

Here's the thing: in order to wow a skeptic, you need to be able to prove that whatever happened cannot be the result of what's known.

We know about the hallucinatory effects of altered brain chemistry due to:

Fever
Infection
Injury/trauma
Medicine (including anesthesia)
Oxygen deprivation
Alcohol
Drugs
Shit, even things like sleep paralysis

So, the burden is on the person sharing their story to prove that their visions weren't due to one of the multitude of rather mundane causes listed above (and I probably missed one or two).  And none of them do because it makes their fantastic narrative, and the product they're trying to sell based on it, utterly un-fantastic.  It cuts the legs out from under the sales pitch.

Logic dictates that the simplest answer is likely true.  In lieu of real evidence, the things I mentioned above are far, far more likely as being the cause of the visions than anything else.

Don't forget proving that he didn't make it up in the first place.  Remember Alex Malarkey?  He recanted his story.

[scoobysnack]

Here's the thing: in order to wow a skeptic, you need to be able to prove that whatever happened cannot be the result of what's known.

We know about the hallucinatory effects of altered brain chemistry due to:

Fever
Infection
Injury/trauma
Medicine (including anesthesia)
Oxygen deprivation
Alcohol
Drugs
Shit, even things like sleep paralysis

So, the burden is on the person sharing their story to prove that their visions weren't due to one of the multitude of rather mundane causes listed above (and I probably missed one or two).  And none of them do because it makes their fantastic narrative, and the product they're trying to sell based on it, utterly un-fantastic.  It cuts the legs out from under the sales pitch.

Logic dictates that the simplest answer is likely true.  In lieu of real evidence, the things I mentioned above are far, far more likely as being the cause of the visions than anything else.

Don't forget proving that he didn't make it up in the first place.  Remember Alex Malarkey?  He recanted his story.

I'm only here to share and plant the seed.

[The Valkyrie]

That's not a seed...it's a stale nut.

[Athene]

I'm only here to share and plant the seed.

That explains a lot, actually. What are you smoking?

[Homeless Nutter]

I'm only here to share and plant the seed magic beans.

There - fixed that for you...