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orang
Guest
If what isn’t 100% true ? What are they really saying is 100 %, they are just relaying an experience. NDE could be a bridge of some kind, they just seem to be telling a story.
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VeritasLuxMea
Guest
Sure, a protestant has a fancy tale and all of the sudden we all become skeptics.
Where does this healthy skepticism go when we’re not using it on protestants? 
How do these people explain Hindu/Muslim/etc. NDE’s? We all agree that those occur, right?
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Starrsmother
Guest
I’ll say this, if a near death experience actually happened, this one by a little child and the couple on the internet by priests impact me the most. Having said that, I read the book and remain unconvinced. I’d give it a profound “Maybe—”
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GEddie
Guest
Well, up to now there have been no bestselling books or hit films about these NDEs.Sure, a protestant has a fancy tale and all of the sudden we all become skeptics.
How do these people explain Hindu/Muslim/etc. NDE’s? We all agree that those occur, right?
I for one know that there have been a ton of NDE attested from India. But I have been a student of NDE since Life After Life was published in 1977.
I have never read or heard of a Muslim NDE account, though I don’t doubt they happen; there are a ton of Muslims; and we all have the same kind of head.
I think the doubts concerning this film have two sources: a) it’s a little boy (therefore highly imaginative and suggestible) who in fact was never near death; and b) his dad is a preacher (able to coach the child extensively).
I will still see this picture when I get the chance.
ICXC NIKA
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Starrsmother
Guest
I think healthy skepticism is a sign of good sense–infact this book falls under the category of private revelation as do all NDE’s which means that the Catholic church neither accepts them as true nor denies them as a ruse and we’re all free to believe or not as we choose. Another example of a personal revelation is all the stuff supposedly happening in Medjugorde. I know several people who absolutely swear that the Blessed Virgin appears there all the time–now me, I don’t buy that either frankly. If it is legitimate, I’m pretty sure that one day Mary will do something big enough to make it plain as day to all of us, just as she did at Lourdes and Fatima. If not, well then I doubt I’ll ever believe it–though I am always interested in hearing what people say is going on somewhere. I listen and then file it away under “possibly happened–possibly someone’s on crack”! LOL!Sure, a protestant has a fancy tale and all of the sudden we all become skeptics.
How do these people explain Hindu/Muslim/etc. NDE’s? We all agree that those occur, right?
To me, the boy’s religion has zero relevance on whether the NDE is true or not. I believe that if God wanted to appear to a protestant child that He would do so–Jesus loved children and protestants certainly can go to heaven too. To me, the fact it happened to a child IS the one and only fact that gives the story any credence at all–because, remember this little boy was very ill when the NDE supposedly happened----but in truth, he never actually died, flat lined or anything anywhere close to that. Thus, I’m not sure that one can even logically call it a possible NDE–as the kid never came all that close to dying–it would be more of a vision in my opinion–again, if it really happened! The bottom line is that it was a fairly good book when I read it–but I have a healthy skepticism.
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Memaw
Guest
The fact that they claim it happened to a 3 year old child is what is selling the whole thing. God Bless, Memaw.
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Memaw
Guest
The Catholic Church does in fact accept some private revelations as true, such as Fatima and Lourdes, etc. but She does not put them on the same level as Public Revelation that ended with the last Apostle. Why do you think the Church spends so much time studying them to see if they are actually authentic??? If there is anything about a private revelation that not in agreement with Catholic teaching, then it is never proclaimed “Worthy of Belief.” ( I imagine the same could be said about an NDE) . There is a BIG difference between an authentic private revelation and a NDE experience. I don’t ever recall the Church studying any NDE’S to see if they are authentic. God Bless, MemawI think healthy skepticism is a sign of good sense–infact this book falls under the category of private revelation as do all NDE’s which means that the Catholic church neither accepts them as true nor denies them as a ruse and we’re all free to believe or not as we choose. Another example of a personal revelation is all the stuff supposedly happening in Medjugorde. I know several people who absolutely swear that the Blessed Virgin appears there all the time–now me, I don’t buy that either frankly. If it is legitimate, I’m pretty sure that one day Mary will do something big enough to make it plain as day to all of us, just as she did at Lourdes and Fatima. If not, well then I doubt I’ll ever believe it–though I am always interested in hearing what people say is going on somewhere. I listen and then file it away under “possibly happened–possibly someone’s on crack”! LOL!
To me, the boy’s religion has zero relevance on whether the NDE is true or not. I believe that if God wanted to appear to a protestant child that He would do so–Jesus loved children and protestants certainly can go to heaven too. To me, the fact it happened to a child IS the one and only fact that gives the story any credence at all–because, remember this little boy was very ill when the NDE supposedly happened----but in truth, he never actually died, flat lined or anything anywhere close to that. Thus, I’m not sure that one can even logically call it a possible NDE–as the kid never came all that close to dying–it would be more of a vision in my opinion–again, if it really happened! The bottom line is that it was a fairly good book when I read it–but I have a healthy skepticism.
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Starrsmother
Guest
Yes, of course the Catholic Church DOES stand behind some private revelations–but the vast majority they don’t take any stand on one way or the other. Fatima and Lourdes did begin as private revelations but the Church has since pronounced their veracity as they HAVE been accepted by the church. But just to face the obvious, there are way more supposed revelations out there than ones accepted as genuine by the Church. Church accepted ones are few and far between and it takes the church a lengthy amount of time to research them and take a stand–as it certainly should. Some personal revelations are decried by the church and those we are expected to stay away from. However, so long as a supposed revelation doesn’t proclaim something that is opposed to Catholic teaching, one may believe or not–as each of us feels called to inside and it is left up to each individual to decide if they believe in any specific personal revelation or not. If you choose to believe and it turns out that it really wasn’t true, you aren’t gong to hell just because you believed it in other words. My vote remains to accept with trepidation if one must accept at all, and to do so with deep caution and a high degree of skepticism. I’m not big into believing fairy tales no matter how sweet or charming they are. Infact, personally I take the same attitude to people claiming that they speak in tongues and stuff like that too. I don’t call anyone a liar, I just don’t always buy everything everyone is selling if you get my drift.
I’m not sure about any NDE’s being accepted as true by the Church, but Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy prayers are basically private revelation–I mean, she swore she saw and spoke to Jesus–and the Church has accepted these “visions” and promotes the devotion and Novena. Infact many saints that we venerate have left us devotions that they believed were given them by Jesus or Mary and often they swear that they were shown heaven, hell and purgatory–and to me, that’s pretty close to a NDE of you think about it!!!
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Luvz2travel
Guest
LOL…I’m sorry your post made me laugh. I don’t know if I believe it either. In all honesty I don’t really care. The movie was a bit hokey…think hallmark movie and I though the house the pastor lived in for example was way too wealthy looking for a poor struggling family in a small town who was in debt but hey what do I know and it was a movie after all.
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BeetleJuice
Guest
I haven’t read the book “Heaven is for Real”, but I was very interested in seeing the movie and saw it the other day. I, for one, believe Colton’s story. I’m a bit uneducated on the solid facts of the story, but coming from the movie and numerous interviews with the Burpo family, his parents seem like kind and caring people. Why would they decieve the whole of America? Their son almost died! God saved Colton from what could very well have been the end of his life. Why would his parents abuse this miracle for publicity? Colton’s father is a pastor, he should know.
And the things Colton said about heaven… everything he said was impossible, unless specifically told so by his parents. And who am I to automatically say “Colton only knows this because his parents told it to him”?
And what about the deal with Akiane Kramarik’s painting of Jesus? I looked into Akiane’s story, and she supposedly has these visions of heaven and of God, and paints them. One of her paintings, the one of Jesus, was immediately recognized by Colton. Um, coincedental? Was Akiane suddenly part of this publicity stunt?
Again, I’ve really only seen the movie and watched some interviews, so it isn’t really my place to say whether or not the story was fake. However, coming from what I’ve seen and what my gut is telling me, I’m going to say yes, the story is real.
God bless
And the things Colton said about heaven… everything he said was impossible, unless specifically told so by his parents. And who am I to automatically say “Colton only knows this because his parents told it to him”?
And what about the deal with Akiane Kramarik’s painting of Jesus? I looked into Akiane’s story, and she supposedly has these visions of heaven and of God, and paints them. One of her paintings, the one of Jesus, was immediately recognized by Colton. Um, coincedental? Was Akiane suddenly part of this publicity stunt?
Again, I’ve really only seen the movie and watched some interviews, so it isn’t really my place to say whether or not the story was fake. However, coming from what I’ve seen and what my gut is telling me, I’m going to say yes, the story is real.
God bless
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orang
Guest
what I really like more then anything is Greg K took the job and is a huge well liked star by both men and women. He’s got a special talent to project common sense compared to many and comes across as a good guy for a neighbour, boss, employee and all that. So he’s a good role model to begin with.
There are so many presentations and suggestions about unsettled homes and families the norm is beginning to look like problems come with everything, even family things. So I havn’t seen the movie but would imagine the plot would not be going into domestic and disgruntled , …in this its a good showing in how people can relate with each other and just get down to living life without the expectations and pressures society is constantly suggesting. To myself the effect , if it is a movie I think it would be, the effect and model on the culture is the most important feature. The whole media is baking an off way to be, at the social, everything is in some kind of immediacy . Things need to settle right down and the media or social I guess acts as though the general public is a bunch of immediate bazurks soaking everything in munching down food. Wanted to check out new movie trailors on my comp for something to do the other night…there isn’t too much which looks well thought out in all the category’s… Thought gravity would be good but saw the trailor…What ? as soon as hearing S Bullocks and G Clooneys voice, the tone and so on…you know they are not astronauts at all …and couldn’t/t possibly be in outer space, so I donno.
There are so many presentations and suggestions about unsettled homes and families the norm is beginning to look like problems come with everything, even family things. So I havn’t seen the movie but would imagine the plot would not be going into domestic and disgruntled , …in this its a good showing in how people can relate with each other and just get down to living life without the expectations and pressures society is constantly suggesting. To myself the effect , if it is a movie I think it would be, the effect and model on the culture is the most important feature. The whole media is baking an off way to be, at the social, everything is in some kind of immediacy . Things need to settle right down and the media or social I guess acts as though the general public is a bunch of immediate bazurks soaking everything in munching down food. Wanted to check out new movie trailors on my comp for something to do the other night…there isn’t too much which looks well thought out in all the category’s… Thought gravity would be good but saw the trailor…What ? as soon as hearing S Bullocks and G Clooneys voice, the tone and so on…you know they are not astronauts at all …and couldn’t/t possibly be in outer space, so I donno.
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1qaz2wsx
Guest
i think it just backs up my theory that heaven is personal and it will be what you make it. i wondered when i read the kids book " where is everyone else" all the kid saw was jesus and his dead relatives and a sister he didnt know about. i personally dont think we will be with former family members . for example if i was married happily and my wife died young and later i remarried , who would i live with in heaven, or would i be moved to mormon heaven. just kidding .besides i dont think there will be any sex in heaven, this is a human trait and there will be no need for procreation .
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carmelitenovice
Guest
While I’d like to believe their story, unfortunately I don’t, for many of the reasons discussed in this thread and also in this review by L.D. Richardson (not me) on Amazon:
amazon.com/review/R3UW8D4NVTURO5/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0849946158#wasThisHelpful
Also, the length of time between the dream (which is what Colton had IMHO) and his telling his parents what he saw (several years as I recall).
Some friends of mine were falling all over themselves, “He knew about his miscarried sister!” Well, kids hear a lot of things in a lot of ways. Perhaps his sister heard about it and told him or another relative mentioned it when they thought Colton was occupied, in another room or sleeping. Who knows?
Want to believe him and wanted to see the movie (I generally like Greg Kinnear) but…
amazon.com/review/R3UW8D4NVTURO5/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0849946158#wasThisHelpful
Also, the length of time between the dream (which is what Colton had IMHO) and his telling his parents what he saw (several years as I recall).
Some friends of mine were falling all over themselves, “He knew about his miscarried sister!” Well, kids hear a lot of things in a lot of ways. Perhaps his sister heard about it and told him or another relative mentioned it when they thought Colton was occupied, in another room or sleeping. Who knows?
Want to believe him and wanted to see the movie (I generally like Greg Kinnear) but…
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StSentry83
Guest
Actually, he’s already admitted that he made it up. So there’s no reason to believe it at all at this point.
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carmelitenovice
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^^Actually no. that was a different kid and a different story. Not the Burpo family.
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StSentry83
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Whoops, my heartfelt apologies.
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Crown_of_Stars
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I know no one can know for certainty whether or not these claimed accounts are truly real, but I have to say I don’t put much stock in them. I see it more as a “trend”, while accounts told by the saints I believe, because they lived in a time where it wouldn’t have been “the thing” to start talking about. I don’t know what it is, I just am not as quick to believe, I suppose because some of them, at least, have been admitted falsehoods. I will be fair to add that I have never read any of these books, but I know enough about their contents. I won’t say I fully believe it isn’t true, but I don’t fully believe it is either.
Also to add…what I really find difficult to believe are stories where the person who has “died” has said they were met by a bright light, then by Jesus, who looked confused and said, “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here right now,” and sent her back. I heard of this account and saw a video of it, and I really didn’t believe it. I thought, for one thing, Jesus wouldn’t be all-knowing? He would be confused and ask a soul what she was doing? And this “it’s not your time” and being sent back…I just don’t know. Someone doesn’t die unless God has made them die, and He wouldn’t “undo” His own action…would He?
Also to add…what I really find difficult to believe are stories where the person who has “died” has said they were met by a bright light, then by Jesus, who looked confused and said, “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here right now,” and sent her back. I heard of this account and saw a video of it, and I really didn’t believe it. I thought, for one thing, Jesus wouldn’t be all-knowing? He would be confused and ask a soul what she was doing? And this “it’s not your time” and being sent back…I just don’t know. Someone doesn’t die unless God has made them die, and He wouldn’t “undo” His own action…would He?
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Jerurussia
Guest
The BOOK Heaven is for Real has lots of Catholic stuff, like the Virgin Mary and Saint Michael the Archangel. That gives high cred for a non-Catholic, says I.
The MOVIE was anti-Christian, and definitely anti-Catholic, with all the Catholic stuff cut out by the producer, one of those Oprah-friendly preachers, T.D. Jakes. It’s a travesty.
The MOVIE was anti-Christian, and definitely anti-Catholic, with all the Catholic stuff cut out by the producer, one of those Oprah-friendly preachers, T.D. Jakes. It’s a travesty.
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thequeen
Guest
He has sold lot of copies of the book I work for a major retailor and it is always on the shelf with all the other books that we carry and is usually one of the first to go I am sure he has more than a made more than a few dollars from the sales.I do, however, believe his trip to the BANK with his earnings from writing the book
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maryjk
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It has been a while since I read the book, but I don’t remember much about the Virgin Mary or Saint Michael.
I do remember it in the question and answer section in the back.
In fact, I thought the “Catholic stuff” was more of an afterthought. Maybe to draw in those Catholic book buyers.
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