2013-02-12     Near Death Experiences (NDE)        John W     John's previous articles

This file is an attempt to keep a record of the many NDE books and articles which have appeared in recent years.
Items are filed in chronological order, older ones at bottom.  Please let me know of any missing items (jdwomi@gmai.com).
See www.amazon.com for favorable and unfavorable reviews of the books below

We should not base our faith on such books, but these books are a great encouragement for our life of faith.
These books are especially an encouragement for families which have recently lost a loved one - as one comment on the site of Mary Neal says: I recently lost my 23 year old son and I cannot express how much hope and comfort your book gave me.

One thing for sure, when you start reading one of these books, it's not easy to put it down!
 

Proof of Heaven by Dr Eben Alexander  (No. 1 on N.Y. Times best seller list for several months)
A neurosurgeon's journey into the afterlife

To Heaven and Back by Mary C Neal MD
A US doctor's extraordinary account of her death, Heaven, angels and life again.
Mary's website                          Review by John W

Evidence of the Afterlife by Dr Jeffrey Long

This book looks at the scientific evidence about afterlife experiences.
Dr Long is a medical scientist. His father was a onetime contender for a Nobel Prize in medicine

Dr Long argues that many of the world's problems 
- drug and alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, gang violence, religious strife, racism etc - 
could be lessened if people became more aware of near death experience information.
Such information gives the individual more confidence and serenity for life,
and helps us realize how petty our earthly squabbles are in the light of eternity

One of the first experiences studied is of a man who committed suicide....and had a glimpse of Heaven (not Hell!).
I have shown this book to a grieving family where a member took their life. Book gave family great encouragement

The research of Dr Long and other writers says that near death experiences 
include some or all of the following elements:

1. Out-of-body experiences: separation of consciousness from the physical body
2. Heightened senses
3. Intense and generally positive emotions or feelings
4. Passing into or through a tunnel
5. Encountering a mystical or brilliant light
6. Encountering other beings, either mystical beings (= angels) or deceased relatives and friends
7. A sense of alteration of time and space
8. Life review
9. Encountering unworldly ("heavenly") realms
10. Encountering or learning special knowledge
11. Encountering a boundary or barrier
12. A return to the body, either voluntary or involuntary

From Hong Kong - Dying To Be Me  by Anita Moorjani.
Lots of info + YouTube interview with Anita:
Google: "dying to be me anita moorjani"

90 minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
A true story of death and life

Heaven is for Real  by Todd Burpo
A little boy's story of his trip to Heaven and back
Heaven is for Real website     Mini-review by John W

Now a movie: 'Heaven is for Real' is a compelling story, not a canned sermon

My Descent into Death by Howard Storm         Review in Catholic Herald

About a USA man who had an unhappy NDE ....he saw Hell
....said it was like a rat cage...everyone clawing at each other
....then he had a glimpse of Heaven
....then came back to this life
....and changed from being an atheist to a ...Christian pastor!

I've met about half a dozen people who've had NDEs.
All but one had a happy experience.
The one's description was something like in above article