Colton Burpo, the boy in the movie, nearly died and says that he went to heaven and came

back,
and his father Todd and mother Sonja couldnt believe it. What if Colton was just hallucinating? It
does happen. At near death, people say they saw or heard things even when theyre in a coma,
or simply unconscious. The seemingly intelligent woman that Coltons father went to exactly
used that reasoning. People who aim to be rational would quickly stipulate to the idea that a
person who utters unbelievable or even heretical things is simply hallucinating. And who does
not want to be rational?
But how about if that person who was at near death correctly guessed what happened? As in the
case of Colton in the movie, he stated that Todd and Sonja, his mother and father, were in a room
depressing about nearly losing him, even asking help from the congregation to pray for his
recovery; he also pointed the correct image of his grandfather, even if Todd hasnt showed Colton
the picture yet, and said that he has a sister who died, even if he wasnt told by his parents. His
parents wanted to believe. Todd would even tell it to his friends and ask for comments.
But apparently, he was barraged with questions. Many of us are wondering about what heaven
really looks like if it was really built on clouds, with angels singing and stuff. People think he
knew some answers. However, he doesnt respond. As much as he is a pastor and as much as
people expects him to be firm in his stand on religion and heaven, he cant just persuade his
Church to spread unproven beliefs or preach about something he didnt see for himself. He
seems to flinch at even the thought of it. But the world seems to be pressuring him as news of it
spread like a scandal. His son was even made fun of. People thought he was getting crazy. And as
a pastor who relies solely on sanity and belief, he was at risk of losing his job. Now, they need to
defend themselves against criticism and ridicule.
Its nature of man to make fun of something unusual. When you look odd, like when you wear an
outside dress in school, people will tease you. In the case of Todd, some think of heaven as
unusual since only a minority in America believes there is heaven. In fact, even some believers
would say that the heaven Colton depicts is unusual. This is the fear of the Wesleyan Church
Todd works in that the Church would be a laughing stock with its pastor preaching about
heaven different from what is written in the scriptures, and which could, at worst, break the
Church. The Church administrators, who were also Todds friends, were concerned and even told
Todd to stop preaching about heretical beliefs.
This only crossed my mind, but I wonder why many want, even aim to remove the credibility of
religion. Many Logic professors point out that Jesus was a wild party-goer, drinking at every party
he attends, or that religion is used to control, as history suggests Spain, England, and other
Catholic nations used to boost the morale of soldiers and to control the citizens. Many, even the
uneducated, say that since everything is made by God, all difficulties, hatred, and sin is made
also by Him. Maybe, they want to sensationalize and deviate from the monotony of religion. Or
they are possessed by their emotions, having lost someone saying God took him/her from them.
Or perhaps, really, they want to disprove religion because they shudder at the thought of its
existence, that there is someone judging us all from above, that there is Hell and whatnot.
Of course, it is ones decision to believe how others or this movie view Christianity. No one, not
even God forces us to believe. I dont know if this movie is real, but maybe just maybe, God
wants us to believe, and not just to believe because it is taught or because of peer pressure but
to believe because we ourselves are convinced that He is real and He is good. And when we
believe in the goodness of someone, surely we trust him/her and have faith.