Fascinating.
I am in Government class, and a congressional candidate is speaking to us. Of course, he is selling himself; that's the nature of the beast. He seems reasonable enough, and has based his political philosophy on his Christian beliefs - which I respect. But it seems to me that there are a few views that I - also an intelligent, thinking believer - disagree with. And it is at this that I realized that he is playing his Christianity itself - and not just as a generic, relatively light "character witness" sort of way. He's pulling on the "Christian community" factor. And I don't mind saying that it lowers my respect for him.
Now, I understand the motive and reasoning behind it - you play the angles you have. This *is* a Christian college. I suppose it's more of a situation that saddens me than one that truly lowers him in my eyes. Rather, he reminds me that man is low, and through the association he is lowered.
Another thought: A story is also significant as a mode of persuasion (beyond the sympathy factor, which is strong) because it diminishes the listener's ability to "cut through the crap" (if, indeed, there is any). Posturings toward deceit are more difficult to perceive when clouded in the flowing rush of a story. And, when they are noticed, they inherit the benefit of the sympathy factor.