Soul for Sale on Ebay

[Maledicte]

http://articles.news.aol.com/business/article.adp?id=20060309145709990003&cid=936

Despite the outrageousness of the situation, it seems that God might have some real plans with this.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

You find the darndest things on ebay...

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Ravi Zacharias should of bought him XD Then in no time would Mr. Metha become a believer

[EireWolf]

Wow... that's really interesting. I think Mr. Henderson has an excellent idea here. One doesn't typically convert an atheist by trying to convert him. It is through listening, getting to know someone, earnest discussion, walking beside someone, and most of all praying for them, that lives begin to change.

I think it's also a really great idea that Mr. Henderson is getting honest input from an atheist on church services. It's easy for those of us who grew up in church to get used to the churchy jargon and rituals that go on, so that we don't think about it from the perspective of someone who has never set foot in a church. We need to make sure we are "accessible" to nonbelievers -- after all, that's part of what a church is for. Of course I'm not saying we should water down the message -- not at all -- but we should make sure we're not speaking "Christianese" so that nonChristians can't understand.

[Debitt]

I was thinking "WHU?" when I read the thread title, but real good can come from this. ^_^ I really admire the bidder for doing what he's doing, I think it really shows the sort of understanding that some people seem to lack these days.

[Lady Macbeth]

When I read the title I thought, "So there's another soul for sale on eBay...big deal."

This looks like it could be a good thing for both men, however, and potentially for an unknown number more. Mr. Henderson's one quote in particular strikes that chord:

Mr. Henderson says he is thrilled that Mr. Mehta is prompting such reactions. "We're getting to a place where we're talking and not converting," he says.

That's something that any community, religious or not, needs - to understand how outsiders view them, and what different approaches they can take to gain acceptance from the outside view. Whether they act on the understanding or not, it's up to them, but at least the understanding is there.

[Yojimbo]

I thought the same thing, that it was just another soul, grilled cheese Jesus, etc. But that's actually a pretty cool thing. Good to see that these congregations are getting some honest outsider critiques. I just hope in some way that God will reach Mr. Mehta or someone else who reads about this with similar views about Christianity.

[uc pseudonym]

I didn't think much of this at first either, but I'm glad I read the article. Interesting indeed, though I hope people don't need to resort to that type of thing to find respectful conversation about beliefs.

[Heart of Sword]

Wow, God could really use that!

[Lynx]

I'm glad i read that article, very interesting indeed. This reminds me of attack of the show's "it came from e-bay" segment.

[Jaltus-bot]

Wow, this is interesting.

[mitsuki lover]

I've heard of selling one's soul to Satan but never selling one's soul on eBay.
But to be serious I wonder how serious he was to begin with,that is if he meant as just a joke to begin with and then it got rather serious later on or if he was really serious all the time.
I don't see this as turning into a regular means of evangelization though.

[Heart of Sword]

I don't see this as turning into a regular means of evangelization though.

Me neither, but hey, God might use eBay in this case. I'm praying for the guy, that's for sure.

[Slater]

I see it as a potential money-getter for atheists who think they can rip pastors off x.x

I mean, it's easy to sell something that you don't think exists, eh?

[Yojimbo]

I see it as a potential money-getter for atheists who think they can rip pastors off x.x

I mean, it's easy to sell something that you don't think exists, eh?

Except one of the conditions was he was to donate the money to the Secular Student Alliance.

[Tommy]

The guy sold his soul.
The Devil bought it.

[Yojimbo]

The guy sold his soul.
The Devil bought it.

Tom you really should read the article before posting and read previous posts. I don't think you meant to imply that Henderson a former evangelical minister is the Devil. Besides no one can literally "sell" their soul on Ebay or write it on a piece of paper and give it to someone.

[Tommy]

......

You don`t get it.


Well, I`m going to make sure I never share another lame pun again.

[Arnobius]

I thought eBay pretty well canned that nonsense because with a soul there was nothing tangible to exchange. Of course since this involves selling time, it could qualify as a "service" and perhaps bypass current rules.

Of course all I can think of is that episode of the Simpsons where Bart sold his soul.

EDIT: I found three listings on eBay, none of them belonging to the guy in the article, all of them seemed done for a joke.

[Kawaiikneko]

what a very interesting article... God works in mysterious ways huh? Makes life interesting.

[mitsuki lover]

One wonders though what would have happened if the winning bidder had been a Buddhist,Moslem,Jew or Hindu.

[Slater]

x hours in the mosque/temple/etc, that's all.

[uc pseudonym]

On the other hand, how would the offer have been valid if it had been bought by one of the nonreligious bidders? They have no equivalent, and I didn't see a rule specifically related to that.

[Stephen]

That was a pretty cool read.

[termyt]

However it came to be, it was an interesting article. I kind of rolled my eyes at first, but I'm glad I read it.

[Heart of Sword]

Ravi Zacharias should of bought him XD Then in no time would Mr. Metha become a believer

Or maybe you should have, MSP.

[mitsuki lover]

What would have been weird would have been if someone from one of those Neo-Pagan Religions,you know the ones that go around worshipping the ancient Norse and Greek Gods,etc. won.
Yeah,it be weird if a Druid had won it,would that have meant he would have to spend x number of days in a forest?

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Imagine the feedback:

"Great Soul! Just as Described! A++++ Ebayer!"

[Mega.EXE]

THATS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I geuss YAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EireWolf]

Imagine the feedback:

"Great Soul! Just as Described! A++++ Ebayer!"