In the realms of apocryphal stories involving death and destruction, there is one that recurs with remarkable frequency from fundamentalist pulpits — almost invariably presented as an actual event. The story begins with “a man in my church” or perhaps “a man who was a friend of another man who once visited Bobby Roberson’s church [...]

Once upon a time a missionary returned from service on the mission field and brought with him many strange and curious artifacts with which to shock and awe the people in his supporting churches. But as it happened among the colorful maps and other knickknacks which the missionary purchased at a local tourist shop for [...]

Once upon a time there was a drawbridge by which a train would cross a perilous chasm. And at that drawbridge was a keeper who’s job it was to lower the drawbridge in order that the train might pass unharmed. Now it just so happened that it was a sunny Tuesday morning when the father [...]

In the battle of good over evil in men’s hearts and minds, fundamentalists believe that evil will triumph every single time it is encountered for more than a fleeting instant. Consider this story… A man had two bird cages. In the one lived a melodious songbird. In the other an ugly, squawking (and notably black) [...]

Missionary stories are a great source of apocryphal illustrations… A missionary came back from Africa and went to some churches that had supported him. At one of them, he told of how at one point, he had camped in the jungle overnight. The next day he came into the nearest village, where the people came [...]

I personally heard this illustration from evangelist Ron Comfort… Once upon a time, an atheist scientist discovered that there was ‘lost time’ in the cosmic record. Through some unspecified process he learns that several hours have just gone missing. His Christian friend told him he would discover the reason for the lost time in the [...]