Heaven is For Real

[NinaMMitchell]

Has anyone else read this book, and do you believe it? I believed it at first, but now I'm pretty sure I don't. I don't mean to sound like a doubter, and I'd really like to believe this kid's story, but I'm not convinced. It's been a while since I read it, but one thing that sticks out in my memory is that the little kid said that Jesus had "markers" on the palms of his hands (from the nails). Now, I remember reading or hearing somewhere that it was way more likey that the spikes were driven into Jesus' wrists, not the palms of his hands (sorry I can't site where I got that information from, but I don't remember). Plus, I've watched interviews with this kid and his dad and it just seems like his dad told him what to say before. Keep in mind though, this kid is a lot older in these interviews, and capable of telling his story his way. I would love to be convinced that it's a true story if anyone else has read it and believed it.

 

[roger_dodger]

Saying that the marks were on Jesus' hands instead of wrists is not necessarily a mark of deceit or fraud. There aren't any Roman "manuals" or standardized method for Romans to crucify someone. Modern researchers have shown that the center of the palm could have supported the weight of the body.

I don't have any reason to casually dismiss the story of a Christian child who tells, as far as can be seen, things that we all
believe. There are other examples of "near death experiences" wherein people tell of Heaven and, in one case I have heard of, Hell (he changed his ways after that and is now a Christian).

 

[NinaMMitchell]

I'm not "casually dismissing" it. I believed it at first. But I felt less and less convinced the more I read of it. That one thing about the nails in his hands wasn't the only thing that made me question it though. But like I said, it's been a while since I've read it, and maybe I should re-read it. Have you read the book?

 

[roger_dodger]

Yes, I have read the book, Nina. No, I was not accusing you personally of casually dismissing it. I obviously worded that badly.

Yes, there are frauds and hoaxes. We all know that. However, there's simply no way of verifying something of this nature - it's an experience for that single person and there are no "witnesses" as it were.

I think it is wise to be a little skeptical. I'm not arguing otherwise. But, did the story say anything that conflicts with what we believe to be true? I believe there is a Heaven because our Lord tells us there is. I read the book and enjoyed it. I give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, there not Democrats. ;)

 

[duari91]

Let's not forget that this kid was only 3-4 years old when this event happens. In fact, the book suggests that he didn't actually die on the operating table. This would explain why his soul was so "immature." He still had a connection between his living body here on earth. I believe that had he actually died, he would have experienced heaven as a mature soul.

Who knows. Maybe he did experience heaven that way, but his experience was clouded due to the fact that he had to understand things as a 4 year old when he came back. It is entirely possible that Jesus had the nails driven through his hands. Did you know can crucify someone with nothing but wood and rope? You can literally tie them to the cross, and they would suffer the same fate.

It can be theoretically possible that they tied him to the cross, AND hammered a nail into his hands. Not as a way to hold him to the cross, but as a way to insure his SUFFERING. Make sense? He didn't need to get nailed to the cross at all, but he needed to be suffering at the hands of sinners.

I believe the story is genuine. There are things that the little boy said that were impossible to understand. Especially at his age. How did he know that he had a little sister die in his moms womb? Better yet, who is going to secretly tell a 3 year old this information? To say he is lying is the same as saying people in his family/friends were secretly going behind his parents back and teaching him certain information that 3 year olds cant conceive of yet. Just doesn't make sense in my opinion.

 

[KathyW]

I loved the book. God speaks through each of us in different ways. He chose to speak through this little boy for reasons we cannot understand this side of heaven.