Upon the urging of one commenter, I read “90 Minutes in Heaven.” I managed to do so in one weekend which again makes me wonder why the people over at the New York Times have not taken the time to review it. It certainly isn’t because it takes too long to read.
I could bemoan the tone and numerous logical fallacies, however to concentrate on those would be a tad unfair. The book is not a polemic like “The God Delusion.” In fact, it isn’t really about 90 minutes in heaven either. At its core, it is about solidarity, hope, and coming to terms with a catastrophic life-altering change.
First, I’d like to talk a little bit about Piper’s experience in heaven. It is less than 10% of an approximately 200 page book. This is actually something to be thankful for, because it reads like two children trying to one-up one another. How wonderful was heaven? More wonderful than the most wonderful thing you can imagine. Lest I be accused of exaggerating, I’ll let some quotes speak for themselves.
Without the slightest doubt, I know heaven is real. It’s more real than anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. I sometimes say, “Think of the worst thing that’s ever happened to you, the best thing that’s ever happened to you, and everything in between; heaven is more real than any of those things. – Longing for Home pg 194
Age expresses time passing, and there is no time there. All of the people I encountered were the same age they had been the last time I had seen them — except that all the ravages of living on earth had vanished. Even though some of their features may not have been considered attractive on earth, in heaven every feature was perfect, beautiful, and wonderful to gaze at. – My Time in Heaven pg 27
Besides heaven being melodious, luminous, brilliant, beautiful, perfect, etc., etc., ad nauseum. Piper provides one minor tweak to the biblical account.
One thing did surprise me: On earth, whenever I thought of heaven, I anticipated that one day I’d see a gate made of pearls, because the Bible refers to the gates of pearl. The gate wasn’t made of pearls, but was pearlescent — perhaps iridescent may be more descriptive. To me, it looked as if someone had spread pearl icing on a cake. The gate glowed and shimmered. – Heavenly Music pg 34
As is typical of these types of descriptions, it exists in a realm where words cease to have any meaning.
As for the miracles, it is hard to see any. Don Piper was declared dead. Piper therefore makes the logical leap that he was dead. No room for mistakes allowed in this declaration, despite a number of other mishaps Piper acknowledges during the course of the book. However, it remains unclear how thoroughly the police officers following behind the inmate driven semi, or the EMTs dispatched actually checked him.
The EMTs pronounced me dead as soon as they arrived at the scene. They stated that I died instantly. According to the report, the collision occurred at 11:45 A.M. The EMTs became so busy working with the others involved, that is was about 1:15 P.M. before they were ready to move me. They checked for a pulse once again. – From Heaven to Earth pg 37
Dick Onerecker was the first one to notice Don Piper was alive, and apparently prayed that Piper be delivered from “unseen injuries.” What this actually means is left open to interpretation, as its definition changes throughout the book. Piper initially interprets it to mean no brain trauma or internal injuries. Doctors confirm in the book that he had no injuries to his brain or organs in his thoracic cavity. By the final chapter, Piper just repeats the brain trauma portion of the deliverance. To me, it appears to be a post-hoc rationalization and moving goal posts. It is also perfectly consistent with his survival. He was never, in fact, clinically dead.
At the heart of the book is Piper’s personal transformation, his battle with depression and ever constant pain. The backdrop is set against not the life he had before, but actually experiencing heaven. It is exactly those twists in the details that make this story, which is a moving story in its own right and something I can definitely empathize with, fall completely tone-deaf and flat as a commentary on the human condition. On page 107 Piper describes his depression vanishing. Poof. Piper describes it as a miracle. I describe it as a contrivance. It is clear Piper’s depression didn’t just vanish. It came back to haunt him, in little everyday reminders of things he was no longer able to do. This is by far the most frustrating aspect of the book.
Piper faced finding what he describes as a “New Normal.” It is breaking down the barriers of expectations, letting people help you, and finding ways of helping other people in solidarity. Letting go of your expectations and dreams of your former life and finding hope and happiness in your new condition. If anything, I would expect Piper to recognize there is no way life is supposed to be. It is about adapting and changing. Disaster can come suddenly and at any moment, but the recovery is gradual and a constant struggle. Through it all, there is a love of other people, your friends and your family, your community, even a few people you wouldn’t expect who help with your personal adjustment and give you strength to go on. Which is why, when Piper describes his depression vanishing like turning off a switch I am saddened. It is an incomplete metamorphosis. It is a reversion to the expectations and attitudes that he had before the accident. As I described this aspect of frustration to my mother, she pondered whether or not Piper was planning on writing a sequel to address this deficiency. I can only hope that is the case.
In the end, I think most readers will find what they are looking for when reading “90 Minutes in Heaven.” As far as near-death experiences [NDE] go, Piper admits his attitudes in the final chapter.
I have no intention of trying to solve this [NDE] debate. I can only relate what happened to me. No matter what researchers may or may not try to tell me, I know I went to heaven. – The Why Questions pg 201
In the same way, some may not believe my account; they may think it was some kind of wish fulfillment during a point of severe trauma. I don’t have to defend my experience.
I know what happened to me. For those of us whose faith is in the reality of heaven, no amount of evidence is necessary. I know what I experienced. – The Why Questions pg 205
As Piper mentions throughout the book, he is not a particularly introspective person and doesn’t particularly focus on what happened, but rather why it happened.
I’ve devoted an immense amount of time to considering why it happened rather than what happened. – The Why Questions pg 201
In the final analysis, “90 Minutes in Heaven” is a moving story that is utterly hamstrung and incomplete by its reliance on religion and irrational belief. On the one hand, the organization of the church enabled a great deal of the story, especially help to a family going through a crisis. It also enables Piper to help other people who are going through similar struggles. He has lived their pain. However, much like Piper’s accident, the book is a mess, but the heart of it survives if you are willing to use your brain.
I agree with you… everyone wants to know why bad things happen to good people. But the reality is that stuff just happens, and it’s not always part of a huge cosmic push. It’s how we deal with it that counts.
There is another book I might recommend that takes a much more rational approach to religion, and doesn’t buy into the ‘everything happens for a reason’ concept. It’s called God in the Wilderness: Rediscovering the Spirituality of the GreatOutdoors with the Adventure Rabbi (Doubleday; 978-0-385-52049-2; $11.95; on sale April 8, 2008).
According to Jewish tradition, the wilderness was where God gave the Jews the Ten Commandments and the Torah (known to Christians as the ‘Old Testament’). Their 40-year journey in the desert transformed a group of ragtag slaves into the nation of Israel. Concepts such as our modern court
system, the ethical treatment of animals, and a weekly day of rest, stem from this time of wandering in the desert.
The book explores the lessons lost when religion moved indoors.
Comment by Jeff Finkelstein — March 18, 2008 @ 4:16 am
Are you an EMT? no. he was checked twice for a pulse. He had none. It is absolutely a miracle he had not internal injuries and he was dead. A EMT there would tell you that.
Comment by Zach — June 11, 2008 @ 4:27 am
Hi Zach,
If you read the book carefully, he had numerous “internal injuries,” just no injuries to his brain or organs in his thoracic cavity (chest area above the diaphragm). No doubt some of his injuries were “unseen.“ I’m sorry, that is clearly a post-hoc rationalization. Piper consistently changes definitions to make the ends meet in his narrative.
I completely agree with you that they checked Piper for a pulse twice, (three times in fact). But you are making the same error in logic Piper makes. Just because they didn’t find a pulse the first two times doesn’t mean he didn’t, in fact, have one. There are without a doubt, numerous factors that contributed in the possible misdiagnosis. Cold weather. Other people involved in an accident. The fact the police officer was most likely shaken up by having an inmate on his watch get in the accident. Some rustiness on the part of the police officer the first time the pulse was checked. The low expectation of finding a survivor in the Escort when it was hit head-on by a semi and the driver was obviously mangled. The EMT checking him the second time was probably told beforehand that Piper was already dead.
Confirmation bias is a strong psychological phenomenon.
Even if the EMT used the word miracle in describing the situation, they may not mean it in the same exact sense you mean it, or how Piper meant it. I find it surprising that you speak with such authority on what an EMT who checked his pulse at the scene would tell me. The book obviously relies on the police reports. Have you conducted an interview with either the police officer who checked his pulse the first time or the EMT who checked it the second? Then how do you know what they would tell me with such authority?
Comment by codesmithy — June 11, 2008 @ 8:22 am
For those who believe no amount of proof is necessary. For those who don’t/refuse to believe, no amount of proof is sufficient.
Comment by Lisa — July 26, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
Hi Lisa,
You set up a false dichotomy. There are those who can be convinced given a burden of evidence. The burden of proof for a miracle is extraordinarily high, because extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
In general, I subscribe to the sensibility that Hume gave.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/hume-miracles.html
My conversation with believers usually ends when we can no longer agree on something basic. Nevertheless, Piper’s story hides behind a veil of ignorance. There is no proposed mechanism for exactly how Jehovah saved Piper’s life, how experiences of the metaphysical soul are implanted on the brain, etc. These seem to be of little interest to the believer. Which I find paradoxical, since one would think believers would like figuring out the mysterious ways their God works to know him better.
The only demand made by the credulous believers is that these things happened exactly as they say they did. How about some skepticism? Not denialism, just an honest consideration of the alternative hypotheses and reflection on what is more likely to be true. However, the one thing that I have noticed about believers is their willingness to wholeheartedly adopt the first thing they are told and unflinchingly stick with it.
Comment by codesmithy — July 27, 2008 @ 12:19 am
Hi codesmithy the atheist,
Sorry you are so bitter and angry…I will pray for you. I was once where you are but thankfully I am not now… what a miserable place to be. If you have the freedom to believe what you want and probably don’t like people pushing their beliefs on to you then why don’t you just carry on to yourself with your negativity and hatred for religious people. Oh yeah, wouldn’t be that much fun would it. He was mangled up and didn’t bleed to death….Seriously, do you think THREE EMT’s would want to risk their jobs because, “Oh, well duh it’s cold out here, never thought about that messing with his pulse” I am sure this story is scary for you…Don’t let anyone or anything make you miss out on God’s blessings. It’s YOUR choice in the end. God bless you
Comment by Freedom of Religion — September 4, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
Hello Freedom of Religion,
Don’t feel sorry that I’m bitter and angry, because I don’t feel either as a general rule. However, I do resent liars and “bullshitters” (using Frankfurt’s choice of the term) and that particular affliction is one I wish to keep.
As for pushing my beliefs on other people, I find it sort of ironic that you bring this up. There is actually a lot of back-story that led me to reading 90 Minutes in Heaven, but basically a commenter came along and challenged me to after I marveled at its place on the NYT bestsellers list. I was perfectly happy not reading it, but he thought it was unfair to level any criticism at the book without having read it first, even if it was as innocuous as calling for the book to merely be reviewed according to the same standard as “The God Delusion” was (since they are both “non-fiction”). Eventually, I relented and wrote the review the NYT didn’t, trying to hold it to the same “non-fiction” standard. As it turned out, there were some issues with doing that, which I acknowledged in the review.
I never claimed that the EMT’s didn’t check his pulse. I’m just pointing out that not finding a pulse and not having a pulse are, in fact, two different things.
As for freedom of belief, I don’t necessarily agree with you. For example, if someone denies the Holocaust or global climate change I believe those erroneous beliefs should be criticized, just not censored (i.e. you shouldn‘t be thrown in jail for expressing them). I believe all beliefs should be challenged and held to similar standards, whether people like it or not.
Clifford gives a convincing argument that we a ethical duty to only believe true things on the basis of skeptical inquiry.
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/w_k_clifford/ethics_of_belief.html
Your choice is really between whether you want to fulfill your ethical obligation or ignore it.
Comment by codesmithy — September 7, 2008 @ 10:13 am
I am an EMT and firefighter. In situations like the one described in Don Piper’s book, I would assume it would be very difficult to get a pulse. You may not understand how hard it can be, but I assure you it is. I often have a hard time finding a pulse on older people who are just sitting in a chair in their home with no debilitating medical condition.
There is a big difference between ‘clinical’ death and ‘biological’ death. The human body can still maintain itself semi-sufficiently even with the faintest heartbeat. If there were other victims and a limited amount of EMTs, it would make sense that they would do a quick check of Piper and then move on to other patients who had a better chance of surviving.
Comment by John — September 15, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
before I say what I have to say, i’m Christian.
I am still a little bit sceptic (sp?) about this book, I mean, wouldn’t he need to have oxygen going to his brain for him to be able to stay alive? and i’m sure getting the pulse can be difficult.
but who knows…
guess we’ll find out when we die, but then for the non-Christians it’ll be too late.
i’ll be sure to pray for you
Comment by Andrew — October 6, 2008 @ 12:50 am
Hi Andrew,
The important thing about skepticism is to consider alternative hypotheses. As a start, I would rephrase your statement
as
Or,
Or,
Or,
Etc. Etc. Etc.
In the history of mankind there have been countless Gods and Goddesses; many abandoned. It is the height of hubris to assume your faith is the right one, especially when the Bible gets things so wrong: from the age of the universe and the Earth being at the center to Jesus coming back within the lifetime of some of his followers. As such, don’t you see how maddeningly parochial your statement is?
Even in a Pascal’s Wager sense, why would one rationally worship Jesus, if by doing so you would piss off Baal or Zeus or Zoroaster in the process (considering all Gods/Goddesses being of nearly equal probability of existing).
I also find it ironic that Christians feel it necessary to tell me that they are praying for me. It is as if they believe that is the only way their prayers will have any effect. As such, I have to question how much one really believes in the power of prayer if they feel it necessary to announce it beforehand. It is as if an event can’t be objectively judged as divine intervention, the glasses always have to be tinted.
So, I guess what I am saying Andrew is that your skepticism needs work.
Comment by codesmithy — October 6, 2008 @ 4:53 am
I am in the middle of reading this book. Even if Don was never biologically dead, the amount of injuries he was able to pull through in 1989 is truly awe-inspiring.
I believe in GOD! I believe that God uses events to turn our eyes to him. I truly believe if you seek him, you will find him. No matter your method, God will appear to you.
Some might get angry when an individual states they are praying for them. It’s not meant to make you feel angry or to think Christians look down on you. We pray for others so that they might experience the relationship that we have with God.
Good luck with your journey.
Comment by carrie — October 29, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Ok, some questions:
1. Why do 95% of people belong to the same religion as their parents?
I say it is because they are taught to believe that specific theology is right from day one by their families. If you were taught that the Earth was the center of the universe your whole life and were kept around people who all thought that way, isn’t that what you would believe? I’m interested in your answer.
2. If your religion is correct, then all other religions are wrong. Why do people of these other religions have such strong convictions. They also speak of “words being spoken to them.” Are they lying or mistaken?
3. If you say that they are mistaken even though they feel so strongly, why can’t you step back and see the big picture and realize you are probably mistaken too. This “being spoken to” is called your moral compass. Everyone has one, it is instilled in you as you grow up through learning right and wrong. The reason you felt you were being spoken to is because you were looking for a “sign.” If you look hard enough for anything you’ll find it. People who sit out and try to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster will eventually see it (they won’t really, it always ends up being a log or something). The point is they think they see it.
4. Yes the bible says a lot of good things. So does every other religious text. It’s easy to stand up for the golden rule. I want to hear why you support a religion that has scripture laying down rules for slavery?
Exodus 21:20-21 “And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod and he die under his hand he shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished for he is his money.”
These are rules being handed down from god. Pretty much your slave is your money, do what you want. If you strike him so hard he dies they you are in the wrong. However, if the slave can continue working within the next day or two, you are within reason.
Women, how do these verses make you feel?
I Corinthians 14:34-35 “Let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
These questions aren’t meant to be rhetorical, I actually would like to hear your answers. Thanks
Comment by Jason — November 14, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
First of all, Christianity is a unique religion because Jesus offers personal salvation because of a personal love. Second, the golden rule that Jesus spoke of is different from the earthly golden rule (Matthew 7:12) because Jesus’s is proactive unlike the earthly one which is reactive. Third, the devil will use anything to bring people away from God, including other religions, thus giving the temptation that ALL religions are correct or incorrect. Fourth, Christians need not look for a materialistic sign of truth, for faith is the basis of Christianity and faith is the evidence for things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Fifth, slavery was apart of the Hebrew culture during the events of Exodus. Sixth, Jesus commanded us to feed His sheep (John 21:17b). If we are to be responsible Christians, we must spread the Word, especially to our own children. As for the Scripture about women, the verse was for the women of Corinth. Paul wanted the meetings of the Church to be orderly. And because during this time period, men usually led the service, so Paul is trying to encourage order during the meetings.
May the Mercy and Grace be with us all.
Comment by Samic — November 17, 2008 @ 6:39 am
Samic. Thanks for your response. It is my belief that Christians say the bible is the true word of god. The rationalization of some of these verses as being a product of the time they were written seems to imply to me that they were written by MAN not God. After all God is supposed to be all knowing and all powerful. He should not be limited to thinking as men did thousands of years ago. He is of course supposed to be perfect. If he is anything short of perfect he would cease being God.
Comment by Jason — November 21, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
I am an Atheist and I read this book because my mother sent it to me. I come from an extremely religious family and I am fascinated with religion and how people can believe these fairy tales. For those who are “believers” please check out this site I came across. http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Comment by Chris — November 26, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Jason,
Excellent point! God speaks to people through other people. The Holy Spirit is among us for that very purpose.
Comment by Samic — December 1, 2008 @ 1:47 am
Here’s a different perspective. Has anyone here ever experienced a high lucidity event during sleep? Well I have and when I read this book, the chapters on heaven reminded me of that (my) experience. In fact it was such a “real” event that I thought I had died in my sleep. I am not here to debate religion and I respect other’s beliefs. What I am trying to say however is that the mind is very powerful, to an extent that we can’t comprehend or control in some cases. Faith aside, there is more data that suggests Piper’s event was in his mind than a visit to heaven.
Comment by Charlie — December 12, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
I am a Christian, and have not yet read the book. However, I have seen God work in my life and believe with all my heart and soul that everything does happen for a reason. God uses even the smallest things to speak to you, and uses scripture to complete this task most of the time. All I can tell you is that we all are on our own journey where we must make independent decisions, and for those of us that have found God on our way, we will gladly inherit his kingdom when our time comes. Until then, I suggest looking for answers in the Bible instead of from man.
God bless and keep you all.
Comment by Amy — December 21, 2008 @ 6:26 am
Hi Amy,
An uninformed and irrelevant opinion coming from a self-identified Christian, how unprecedented!
Sincerity doesn’t make something true. People will decree with equal sincerity about UFO abduction and religious experiences that don’t involve a zombie.
Although you may think of science as something from “man”, it is nevertheless special. Planes fly. Computers work. If you care to doubt science, feel free to jump out of a 10th story window at your earliest convenience. Maybe god’s angels will save you like the Roman Catholic officials at Prague in 1618, as they claimed, or maybe you’d better make sure that there is a pile of horse excrement to break your fall.
Comment by codesmithy — December 21, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
If God had told her to jump out of the window, you can be sure His angels would catch her.
Comment by Lynn — June 1, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
Hi Amy.
Don’t you see that there are billions of people all over the world in other religions who claim that their god speaks to them just as yours speaks to you. And they too, know it with all their heart.
There are over 6 billion people in the world and only about 2 billion are Christian. You know 100% that you are right, which is a nice way to say the other 4 billion people are all wrong.
So how is it that all these other 4 billion people claim to be spoken to by their god just as you? Are they lying? I don’t think they are lying, I think they are just mistaken. I don’t mean to put words in your mouth, but I would be willing to think you would agree that they are mistaken.
So, we have determined that 4 billion people believe in gods that are not real. This proves that humans have a predisposition for creating gods and religion.
So, what is more likely….that 2 billion other people (Christians) are mistaken just like everyone else or that virgins had babies, snakes and donkeys talked, angels and demons exist, heaven and hell exist, and that a sky wizard lives in space and can hear everyones thoughts simultaneously?
I’m putting my money on the simplest explanation which is that if 4 major religions have it wrong then it is likely that 5 major religions have it wrong.
Comment by Jason — April 6, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
Guys, just take a look around us…I challenge you to take an honest look at the evidence for evolution, an honest look at the evidence for a worldwide flood, the fulfilled prophecy of the old testament, just because there are many “religions” does not mean that Jesus is not the savior of the world…God does not want our religion, he wants our hearts!
Comment by will — April 15, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
Hi Will,
Your comment has very little to do with “90 Minutes in Heaven” or my review of it. Regardless, I have accepted your challenge, and here is my response.
If you want to reply to it, I ask you (and who ever wants to pursue this discussion) to post your comments there. I don’t mind discussing the issues that you raise, but it is also tangential to original subject of the post and thus better discussed elsewhere.
Comment by codesmithy — April 16, 2009 @ 6:42 am
I died once and what I seen was creepy. It was a long white tunnel and everybody I knew that died before me was there. The women were on the left and men on the right in perfect order like they were alphabetized or something LOL. They were all wearing white and calling my name. I then got resuscitated right as I was walking towards them.It’s like your walking yet floating yet flying. The scariest thing I seen was something that looked like scorpion from mortal kombat without his mask on with this board that kinda like glued me and he could drag me wherever he wanted. I’m still not religious but I do believe there is something out there now. I still do everything I did before this happened. Also I believe religion should not be taken out of church no matter how communistic that sounds.
Comment by Eric Savoth — May 4, 2009 @ 9:44 pm
I began reading this book aprox 1 month after my 28 yr old son was killed this year after a New Years Eve accident. He had a head on collision and was ejected through the windshield of his car. He died on January 4th, 2009 from massive brain injury. I began reading the book for some type of comfort. Not even half way through the book, I became so enraged by the christian propaganda that I threw the book across the room and finally in the trash. I believe in God, however I do not subscribe to the christian faith. I was also an ER Nurse for 11 years, and the physiology just does not add up. If the pastor had no head injury and no thoracic injury, what exactly was the trauma that caused his instant death? There is no documented case of clinical death for 90 minutes. The brain injury that occurs after only 6 min without oxygen does not sustain life. The part that made me the angriest is that his life was spared through the power of prayer, I can tell you if that is all it took, my son would be alive today. People all over the world were praying for our son. I found the portion of the book that I read, pompous, arrogant and self-serving and typical of a faith that shows no tolerance or patience for other belief systems.
Comment by Debra DeFrain — May 7, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
If life were saved through prayer, no one would ever die. I believe the prayer fit in with God’s will and that is why the pastor was saved. God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him. Not for us to decide if God’s Will is right or wrong. If we’re Christian we have to have faith that His will is perfect.
Comment by Lynn — June 1, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
Howdy,
So I’ve read 90 Minutes in Heaven recently and though we may question as to why some things happened the way they did and not completely understand then that wouldn’t be the work of God. There will be things in our lives where we don’t know why things turn out they do, from simple decisions to life changing decisions. For all ‘Christians’ out there stop questioning and trying to figure things out and just be in awe of our Lord and Savior. Our Lord has, is and will always do things in our world where we won’t be able to completely comprehend but at that point we should just leave it at that.
Now for the guy of this blog deal or whatever…I was just wondering if you have heard or listened to the Christian Apologist, Ravi Zacharias? I can honestly say that you would talk circles around me as like most athiest you are well read and have carefully thought out your rebutals and all. So I shall not wast my time but if you have a chance go to the library and check-out the book “Jesus Among Other Gods.” I feel that this book will really have you thinking and help you in your understanding of Christ. Then as a follow up there are YouTube videos as studies in which I ask that you view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk_ivE7CdRs.
Upon completion of these things, or an honest attempt at least, I would like to hear your response.
I do agree with you in what you said regarding “…all beliefs should be challenged and held to similar standards, whether people like it or not.” If we as so called, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, etc. wish to claim that our faith is #1 and ‘The Way’ then we need to back it up and be well informed not only of our own religion but of the other religions and their arguments. So yes, we need to be questioned. Once we stop questioning things, then God’s work is done.
Take care my friend and I wish you a safe and successful journey in life no matter where it may take you. Also, if given the time I look forward to your response, maybe to just this post, but if you have the time a response to the reading and viewing of the YouTube videos.
~God Bless~ Ryan in Russia
Comment by Ryan — May 28, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
forgive the run-on sentences, grammar mistakes and all…it’s 3:30am over here in Moscow currently. Though being an ESL teacher there should be no mistakes…haha…
Ok…well I feel everything is clear…so, tata
Comment by Ryan — May 28, 2009 @ 11:25 pm
I can’t claim to use the best English either. I certainly have had episodes where I wrote a post late at night to find it to be nearly incomprehensible the next day. I would say my worst problem is dropping articles, but I’m sure others would disagree.
My response to your comment is here: http://codesmithy.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/ravi-zacharias-socrates%e2%80%99-daimonion-and-liberation/
It is sort of meandering, but I hope underlying point comes through. If you want to continue this discussion, I ask that we do it over at the new post, since I consider it off-topic here.
Comment by codesmithy — May 30, 2009 @ 11:34 pm