Heaven Is For Real

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:32 pm by Ambaa Choate

Heaven Is For Real 2015-03-13T22:32:45-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Heaven Is For Real is the title of a book that was written based on the real life story of a little boy who had a near-death experience. He apparently reported to his family that heaven was real and that he had met long-dead relatives. The book is now a movie and Brad and I were subjected to a preview for it when we were in North Carolina.

I’m a little saddened that this story and the experience of this little boy is being turned into Christian propaganda. The book and the movie, from what I’ve seen, both seem to be using the little boy’s experience as a way to “prove” that Christianity must be right. (I have neither read the book nor seen the movie).

It’s not that simple, though.

I believe that in our time of death we are met with whatever we expect and need in that moment.

God doesn’t want to jar us or scare us. Death should be a peaceful transition. And so if we pray to Krishna every day, I think it will be Krishna who greets us as we leave our current earthly body. If it was Jesus we revered, it would be he who would show up.

If we have always believed that we will see our past loved ones, then their images will be there for us. Even those we never knew or met can manifest because their life is woven into the collective unconscious Being.

Heaven Is For Real doesn’t prove anything. It could be a lovely story of peace and hope if it weren’t being used as a tool to bludgeon other religious belief.

There have been many accounts from people who have died and come back or had near-death experiences (and from what I understand this boy didn’t actually die). They tend to tell slightly different stories of that experience. Perhaps they really went somewhere, perhaps it was the brain putting out comforting hallucinations to calm one into death.

I see no reason, with the infinite power of the universe, that it wouldn’t give us exactly what we expect, want, and need to smooth over our transition out of our current body.

Christians are invested in everyone believing exactly what they believe (to the point of fighting among themselves about what those beliefs are), so they can’t just enjoy a story. They have to use it as a “I told you so” to everyone else on earth. They cannot accept that an experience they had may not be the same experience everyone else will have. If the pastor who wrote this book could have just been inspired by his son’s story and used it to be a better person, great. But he has to capitalize and monetize that story instead, using it for criticism of those who don’t share his beliefs.

This is, of course, leaving aside that the authority of a three-year-old is not all that compelling.

heaven is for real book

heaven is for real movie

heaven is for real review

hell

reincarnation

Previous Post

January 13, 2014

When Did Honesty Become an Excuse to Be Mean?

Next Post

January 16, 2014 Religion Hidden In Our Daily Lives

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian denomination practices baptism by immersion only and adult profession of faith?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Baptist Methodist Anglican Catholic