Excellent connection! I blame Protestants' penchant for proselytizing with conversion stories, that Catholics picked up on, but I also expect that Catholics would have done it without them. It's just so emotionally satisfying to hear about, and it gives the people who contribute to them (or think that they are) many warm fuzzy feelings, …
Excellent connection! I blame Protestants' penchant for proselytizing with conversion stories, that Catholics picked up on, but I also expect that Catholics would have done it without them. It's just so emotionally satisfying to hear about, and it gives the people who contribute to them (or think that they are) many warm fuzzy feelings, and our culture generally is very bad at disciplining emotions. We over-indulge them or wallow in them, by turns.
I've heard of people having NDEs, and not changing their lives even a smidgeon. I've had low-level "magic moments". When the going gets tough (or boring, or lonely) that's not why you stay Catholic. A really amazing feeling 10 years ago doesn't get you through the valley of the shadow of death.
Excellent connection! I blame Protestants' penchant for proselytizing with conversion stories, that Catholics picked up on, but I also expect that Catholics would have done it without them. It's just so emotionally satisfying to hear about, and it gives the people who contribute to them (or think that they are) many warm fuzzy feelings, and our culture generally is very bad at disciplining emotions. We over-indulge them or wallow in them, by turns.
I've heard of people having NDEs, and not changing their lives even a smidgeon. I've had low-level "magic moments". When the going gets tough (or boring, or lonely) that's not why you stay Catholic. A really amazing feeling 10 years ago doesn't get you through the valley of the shadow of death.