I have a story out today that I’ve been working on for most of this year. It’s about the best-selling evangelical memoir “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven,” and what happened when its co-author—the “boy”—said it was all a lie.

Christian malarkey fooled millions. And sold millions of copies. Now revealed as fake – like all other “miracles”.

Really interesting follow-up by @publicroad about the boy who allegedly died and went to Heaven, but didn’t die and later said he didn’t go to Heaven. That was years ago. Things have only gotten worse for the family.

Just a remarkable and wild story

Remember that kid who went to heaven "true" story that inspired so many Christians? Parents divorced. Mom & kid nearly homeless. Kid admits it was all a lie. Dad knew, but ran with it anyway. Go back far enough & you'll find this isn't the only fake story.

"The cover of The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven calls the book 'a true story.' But the boy himself now says it was not true at all. ... 'I did not die. I did not go to Heaven.'"

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven changed Christian publishing forever—and tore a family apart: “I Did Not Die. I Did Not Go to Heaven.”

@slatestarcodex Nominative determinism: Alex Malarkey says that his father made up most of the life-after-death bestseller _The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven_

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven Changed Christian Publishing Forever. It Also Tore a Family Apart. The cover calls the book “a true story.” But the boy himself now says it was not true at all.

How a Christian bestseller about an injured boy’s trip to heaven became a massive scandal—and ripped a family apart. slate.com/human-interest… via @slate