Hardcore atheist has nde, quits job and becomes a church pastor

Fred90

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This man's name is Howard Storm. He was a self-described hardcore atheist. He said he used to look down on Christian and mocked them mercilessly. One day he became very sick, was hospitalized and had an NDE. Long story short, he went to Hell and was then saved by Jesus. Storm quit his lucrative job as a university professor, went to seminary school and became a church pastor outside of Cincinnati.

This is a rather long video. I encourage you to listen to this while driving, etc. It is a fascinating story and I believe he is telling the truth, particularly when considering that he quit a really good job, sent to seminary school and became a church pastor. Wow!

 

halcyondays

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Still try to bring the unwashed heathen back to Christ, Fred? lol... Creationism/intelligent design didn't persuade so it's the near death experience this time. The problem with the NDE is that near death isn't death. The hypoxic brain may experience visions but studies have shown that less than 30% of NDE patients experience them.

The heart may stop instantly but neural activity in the brain lingers as does cellular activity everywhere. Heart/lung bypass machines have kept millions of heart surgery patients alive for hours on the table while their hearts are stopped and repaired or even cut out and replaced.

If your man Storm had been Hindu he would have seen the destructive aspect of Shiva then been saved by Vishnu the redeemer. If he were Moslem he'd have seen Allah. If he were Neopagan he'd see Charon waiting to row him across the river Styx to Pluto's realm. Funny how such dreams and visions depend on where you were born. ;)
 

Fred90

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If your man Storm had been Hindu he would have seen the destructive aspect of Shiva then been saved by Vishnu the redeemer. If he were Moslem he'd have seen Allah. If he were Neopagan he'd see Charon waiting to row him across the river Styx to Pluto's realm. Funny how such dreams and visions depend on where you were born. ;)

What's odd is that I've searched for examples of what you're describing and haven't found any. However, I'd be interested in looking into them if you know of any.

You sound like the man Storm described himself as once being. Isn't it rather extreme that Storm went from being like you to becoming a pastor over what you call a "dream"? Personally speaking, I've had lots of dreams, but none of them compelled me to make a 180 degree change to my life.
 

Tight_N_Juicy

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And? He's one person. His personal experience is not proof of the after life. As was stated, only a certain percentage of people who have NDE's have these "visions".

NDE's often give people ideas of an "afterlife". In all reality it's just DMT in your brain. It's a chemical reaction. Not "God".
 

halcyondays

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What's odd is that I've searched for examples of what you're describing and haven't found any. However, I'd be interested in looking into them if you know of any.

You sound like the man Storm described himself as once being. Isn't it rather extreme that Storm went from being like you to becoming a pastor over what you call a "dream"? Personally speaking, I've had lots of dreams, but none of them compelled me to make a 180 degree change to my life.

Look harder. Around the world the religious dreams and visions that people have almost always follow the theology & eschatology in which they were indoctrinated from childhood. Years ago during a sweat lodge a Lakota friend had a vision where the Spirit of the Buffalo spoke to him and changed his life. He also had a vision of a Lakota Christ. No surprise since he had been raised in both traditions.

Yes it is extreme. It's called a conversion experience. But it's not evidence. You're still trying to convince others (and perhaps yourself) that your Christian god exists based on evidence when all that's required is faith--no evidence--aka happy are those who have not seen but believe.
 

Fred90

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I'm certainly not disputing that people of other cultures have different experiences. I did find some Hindu accounts, but all of the Muslim accounts that I found on YouTube described meeting Jesus and never Allah.

Over the course of my life I have been acquainted with several people who had claimed NDE's. One of them was a very quiet, soft-spoken accountant that wasn't at all the religious type. There are seemingly countless others who have shared such experiences. I believe Howard Storm's account. He wouldn't have quit his university job to go to seminary school and become a church pastor over a "dream". We all have dreams and, when we awake, we realize that we had a dream. Nobody has a dream and does what he did. I appreciate your skepticism and I too am often skeptical of some NDE claims, fwiw.
 

halcyondays

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I'm certainly not disputing that people of other cultures have different experiences. I did find some Hindu accounts, but all of the Muslim accounts that I found on YouTube described meeting Jesus and never Allah.

Over the course of my life I have been acquainted with several people who had claimed NDE's. One of them was a very quiet, soft-spoken accountant that wasn't at all the religious type. There are seemingly countless others who have shared such experiences. I believe Howard Storm's account. He wouldn't have quit his university job to go to seminary school and become a church pastor over a "dream". We all have dreams and, when we awake, we realize that we had a dream. Nobody has a dream and does what he did. I appreciate your skepticism and I too am often skeptical of some NDE claims, fwiw.

So if someone had a dream about Christ and quit his university job to go to seminary and become a church pastor you would discount his experience because it was only a "dream?" Bullocks. You'd be all over it as more "evidence" of the god you want to believe in by faith but fail to do so which is why you're looking for evidence. A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign.

oh Fred Fred Fred your violation of the faith requirement of your own scriptures knows no bounds!
 

Fred90

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So if someone had a dream about Christ and quit his university job to go to seminary and become a church pastor you would discount his experience because it was only a "dream?" Bullocks. You'd be all over it as more "evidence" of the god you want to believe in by faith but fail to do so which is why you're looking for evidence. A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign.

oh Fred Fred Fred your violation of the faith requirement of your own scriptures knows no bounds!

There you go again. Is it possible to have a discussion or is everything an argument for you?
 

halcyondays

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There you go again. Is it possible to have a discussion or is everything an argument for you?

You're the one who just discounted dreams as less important than NDEs, lol! Perhaps Joseph should have ignored the dream which told him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the baby. (Not that I believe that story when the nativity story in another gospel says they returned to Galilee right after the birth in Bethlehem. Hmm two completely different nativity stories. I wonder which one I should believe, lol.)

You remind me of the priests, nuns, religion teachers and parents who said "don't argue with me!" as they attempted to brainwash me in their faith. :laughing: Translation: shut up while I evangelize.
 

Fred90

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You're the one who just discounted dreams as less important than NDEs, lol! Perhaps Joseph should have ignored the dream which told him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the baby. (Not that I believe that story when the nativity story in another gospel says they returned to Galilee right after the birth in Bethlehem. Hmm two completely different nativity stories. I wonder which one I should believe, lol.)

You remind me of the priests, nuns, religion teachers and parents who said "don't argue with me!" as they attempted to brainwash me in their faith. :laughing: Translation: shut up while I evangelize.

It's not that. You're pretty much rhetorical, adversarial and derisive 24/7. So be it. Not everyone can engage in a friendly conversation.
 

halcyondays

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It's not that. You're pretty much rhetorical, adversarial and derisive 24/7. So be it. Not everyone can engage in a friendly conversation.

Only you see it as unfriendly because it offends a religious doctrine you cannot defend without faith--which you don't have. I'm enjoying this immensely. :)
 

Tight_N_Juicy

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It's not that. You're pretty much rhetorical, adversarial and derisive 24/7. So be it. Not everyone can engage in a friendly conversation.

You knew what kind of conversation this would be before you posted the thread.

No one has told you to eat shit or said Fuck You.

This isn't a hostile exchange. You're trying to make it one..