It seems, yet again, that you have either missed the point or prefer conflict over conversation. It's hard to tell with you sometimes. The gist of the thread, and the point of talking about other people's recounting of their near death experiences (NDE) is that, when they say things that conflict with tenets of the faith tradition they are claiming to hold, taking what they say at face value is not a wise thing to do and that, as Christians, we have a resource for determining what those major tenets are by which to measure statements.
Whenever someone’s experience confirms in what could be called a miraculous way those things we Christians believe about God, it adds to our faith in a way that brings assurance - though they certainly should not stand as the only way we can know what we believe. When someone speaks in church about how God touched their life in a supernatural way, giving glory to God, it helps to EDIFY those who hear it. Part of the reason I think we are encouraged to meet together and not forsake it is so that we can share with each other in the trials and triumphs of living our faith. It's a concept that has always been a part of Christianity.
Boatbums: Perhaps you haven't actually read the book yourself and you are only taking stabs at it because it wasn't written as an experience by...
Boatbums: "I jump to conclusions? Better get that mirror cleaned, pal."
Tsk, tsk, Bb -- read your statements above in contrast to mine. Stop jumping to conclusions, you'll sprain your hip
Good for you to hold to that. I agree with reservations for the word "experience" -- revelations, messages from God I am sceptical about, whether it be Catholic or non-Catholic and if you have noticed I do not dwell on these whether it is Lourdes or some other.
Day-trips to heaven I am very sceptical about -- whoever that might be. As something like Dante La Commedia fine to read, but I'm not going to dwell on it.
As I said above -- if you want to believe it, fine, your choice