"Heaven is for Real" book by Todd Burpo

[bmaj]

I see the author as a guy trying to get people into his church and trying to make money with a bestseller.

Could be. Or maybe he’s just an honest pastor amazed at what his son has told him and just wants the world to be made aware of it. Hard to say unless one knows him or his son personally or has proof that he’s being less than honest. All interesting thoughts.

 

[leonie]

I liked the book. I didn’t see anything contrary to the faith. A few times they talk in Protestant terms about salvation.

What I really liked about the book is that it made me think about Heaven. It’s easy to get caught up in this materal world and forget that there’s a better world waiting for us!

 

[leonie]

Thats why I dont believe most accounts of near death experiences. I read one where a dying lesbian woman recognized homosexual angelic beings, and one where the person saw Khrishna and Buddha.
And I have read one by a unknown Christian who claimed he saw Buddha in hell.
Accounts of any kind must be taken with a big grain of salt.

Yea, I remember reading a book way back in the 90s written by a mormon. That book was filled with all kinds of Mormon theology.

Really, unless you are well formed in theology, it’s better to stay away from this genre.

When I read that mormon near death book, I wasn’t a knowledgable Catholic and I bought it hook, line, sinker. Now, I think I am capable of reading private revelation and discerning whether it is contrary to the faith.

 

[bmaj]

You’re so right about that!!!

 

[Lucky_Scrunchy]

Thats why I dont believe most accounts of near death experiences. I read one where a dying lesbian woman recognized homosexual angelic beings, and one where the person saw Khrishna and Buddha.
And I have read one by a unknown Christian who claimed he saw Buddha in hell.
Accounts of any kind must be taken with a big grain of salt.

I am aquainted with one lady personally who died and met the Lord. Her story is the only one I believe without reservation. She saw a great many things. I met her, she is very down to earth. She had the experience before she even knew anyone had ever had them. I have wept many tears of joy when I read her testimony, and were so touched by the simplicity and how she told about Christ in a way that just fitted with what one could expect and totally not expect at the same time… leading to repentance and a feeling of safety and love all at once…
Anyway she is a Lutheran - and wasnt told to change churches by the way - she later became a pastor in the Lutheran church. She was given to know many things in heaven she said, one thing was that reincarnation doesn’t exist (big news for many in my new age country) she also said that Catholics have something right when they ask saints for intercession, because the dead do pray for the living. She is very ecumenical now and prays the rosary sometimes… She said she is not afraid to die anymore.

Can you share her story?

 

[mcrow]

I read the book and I think it’s an interesting story. I don’t think there was any attempt to make up a story here or that he is doing it just to make money. It was a short book, so I’m sure a lot of stuff was edited out to fit the publisher’s word count. Having worked with publishers before, they tend to have a length in mind for these sort of books.

Though it’s been a few months since I read it, I feel like I read parts of it where he did in fact question his faith. However, I doubt the editor would have kept anything going into great description of how he found the bible verses, studied the bible…ect. This book was clearly intended to be published as a generic Christian book and it shows that. They purposely filed off the serial numbers of whichever denomination he may have been from, beyond the fact that we know he wasn’t Catholic.

Having a 3 year old, my duaghter talks similar to the kid in the book, so it does not seem strange at all to me. She talks about Jesus all the time, without me programing her. Before I even converted and became Catholic(Or religious at all) my daughter was 8 months old and had to have a massive cranial reconstruction surgery because the plates in her head fused too early. So, they basically took the top half of her skull out (from the bridge of the nose up) and rebuilt it. Two years later, before I converted, she told me that Jesus was holding her when she was in the hospital with an “owie head”. She said he had a beard, longer “pretty hair”, and tan skin “like when Mommy is in the sun too much”. Now, I had barely mentioned Jesus to her at all and certainly never talked about what Jesus looked like, and neither had my wife. As far as we can tell nobody she had contact with talk about this stuff with her either.

I’m not certain that the book is completely truthful but I think it’s largely recalled from memory and in good intent.

 

[Luvz2travel]

So is hell. Ok sorry couldn’t resist.

 

[kristleful]

I read the book and I think it’s an interesting story. I don’t think there was any attempt to make up a story here or that he is doing it just to make money. It was a short book, so I’m sure a lot of stuff was edited out to fit the publisher’s word count. Having worked with publishers before, they tend to have a length in mind for these sort of books.

Though it’s been a few months since I read it, I feel like I read parts of it where he did in fact question his faith. However, I doubt the editor would have kept anything going into great description of how he found the bible verses, studied the bible…ect. This book was clearly intended to be published as a generic Christian book and it shows that. They purposely filed off the serial numbers of whichever denomination he may have been from, beyond the fact that we know he wasn’t Catholic.

Having a 3 year old, my duaghter talks similar to the kid in the book, so it does not seem strange at all to me. She talks about Jesus all the time, without me programing her. Before I even converted and became Catholic(Or religious at all) my daughter was 8 months old and had to have a massive cranial reconstruction surgery because the plates in her head fused too early. So, they basically took the top half of her skull out (from the bridge of the nose up) and rebuilt it. Two years later, before I converted, she told me that Jesus was holding her when she was in the hospital with an “owie head”. She said he had a beard, longer “pretty hair”, and tan skin “like when Mommy is in the sun too much”. Now, I had barely mentioned Jesus to her at all and certainly never talked about what Jesus looked like, and neither had my wife. As far as we can tell nobody she had contact with talk about this stuff with her either.

I’m not certain that the book is completely truthful but I think it’s largely recalled from memory and in good intent.

Wow, that’s wonderful that your daughter has those memories! I, too, am of the opinion that very young children can remember and talk about things of that nature—not all children, but some are precocious and observant enough. I was like that, and so was one of my little sisters. When my sis was two, we had a chair from my grandparents’ house (a whole state away) brought to our house. She didn’t know that, but as soon as she climbed onto the chair, she bent over, smelled it, and said, “This chair smells like Grammy!” She hadn’t been to that house or seen “Grammy” for several months, so she was very young when she made that memory!

 

[laircy]

They purposely filed off the serial numbers of whichever denomination he may have been from, beyond the fact that we know he wasn’t Catholic.

It said they were Wesleyan Methodists.

I read the book months ago. It was pretty good. I don’t think they were trying to lie or anything.

Btw, sorry to bump an old thread.

 

[bmaj]

Definitely worth getting from the library if not buying the paperback… no cost to read it, and you get some money back from your tax dollars.

 

[happymommy]

It said they were Wesleyan Methodists.

I read the book months ago. It was pretty good. I don’t think they were trying to lie or anything.

Btw, sorry to bump an old thread.

It’s okay, you don’t have to be afraid of Wesleyan Methodists. They won’t bite…or drink, or dance or swear. They are fairly nice people; at least my aunt and uncle are

 

[bmaj]

It’s okay, you don’t have to be afraid of Wesleyan Methodists. They won’t bite…or drink, or dance or swear. They are fairly nice people; at least my aunt and uncle are

Great comment!

 

[laircy]

It’s okay, you don’t have to be afraid of Wesleyan Methodists. They won’t bite…or drink, or dance or swear. They are fairly nice people; at least my aunt and uncle are

I’m not afraid of them, the was at the comment of there being no mention of their denomination in the book, when it was in fact mentioned.

 

[SOPLibrarian]

Hello,

Regarding the speech capabilities of little ones & what God can make happen:

My son is not yet 2.5 years old. He speaks in complete and (often shocking) sentences. Last month, my dayhome provider lost her grandfather five days before the family was scheduled to see him (after a four year separation). She was desolate. She was crying in her living room and my son, at 2 years 4 months, came up and put his hand on her and said, “Tina, it’s okay. He’s in heaven.” When I came to pick him up, she grabbed my shoulders and nearly shook me as she related the story. Since she was raised Catholic and her grandfather was a devout Catholic, and my son is only 2 years old, I really think that she believes this was God’s way of telling her, through the mouth of a child, that it was okay. We should not underestimate what God can do when he wants to pass on a message to us.

The only time we have ever uttered the word ‘heaven’ to our son was on the passing of our 14-year-old dog.

I do not know if this book is real or if any near-death experience is real. I think that the brain can manufacture scenarios on its own, which would make sense of each religious group only ‘seeing’ and interpreting the things that are familiar to them… What are dreams after all?

 

[SeekNFind]

I’d like to read this book. Can anyone post more details about what he said about Mary, angels or saints?

 

[maryjk]

I’d like to read this book. Can anyone post more details about what he said about Mary, angels or saints?

It has been a while since I read it, but if I remember correctly, there was a note at the end saying that Mary was in heaven. I don’t remember any mention of the Angels or the Saints. There was mention of a lion in heaven.

 

[SeekNFind]

It has been a while since I read it, but if I remember correctly, there was a note at the end saying that Mary was in heaven. I don’t remember any mention of the Angels or the Saints. There was mention of a lion in heaven.

LOL thanks.

 

[bmaj]

Hello,

Regarding the speech capabilities of little ones & what God can make happen:

My son is not yet 2.5 years old. He speaks in complete and (often shocking) sentences. Last month, my dayhome provider lost her grandfather five days before the family was scheduled to see him (after a four year separation). She was desolate. She was crying in her living room and my son, at 2 years 4 months, came up and put his hand on her and said, “Tina, it’s okay. He’s in heaven.” When I came to pick him up, she grabbed my shoulders and nearly shook me as she related the story. Since she was raised Catholic and her grandfather was a devout Catholic, and my son is only 2 years old, I really think that she believes this was God’s way of telling her, through the mouth of a child, that it was okay. We should not underestimate what God can do when he wants to pass on a message to us.

The only time we have ever uttered the word ‘heaven’ to our son was on the passing of our 14-year-old dog.

I do not know if this book is real or if any near-death experience is real. I think that the brain can manufacture scenarios on its own, which would make sense of each religious group only ‘seeing’ and interpreting the things that are familiar to them… What are dreams after all?

Love to hear things like that - thanks for sharing, SOPLibrarian. From the mouths of babes!

 

[yellow8yellowM]

Problems with the story:

1. Everybody in heaven has wings–some bigger than others.
2. The Blessed Virgin Mary was not mentioned until briefly in the prologue.

Anybody else see any theological problems with the depiction of heaven?

 

[bmaj]

Problems with the story:

1. Everybody in heaven has wings–some bigger than others.
2. The Blessed Virgin Mary was not mentioned until briefly in the prologue.

Anybody else see any theological problems with the depiction of heaven?

In all of the Catholic artwork and stained glass images in Catholic churches I’ve seen of St. Michael the Archangel and other angels, they definitely have wings.
I also think that people who have NDEs will likely be remembering most the aspects that stood out for them. It may have been perfectly natural for the little boy (in his mind) to see the Blessed Mother in Heaven, so perhaps he didn’t go into great detail about her when relaying it to this parents. And I would think the horrendous future battle he saw being waged between good and evil probably overshadowed a lot of everything else he saw. And a non-Catholic minister Dad writing the book would likely be putting his slant on it, even if he wasn’t intending to. But I don’t think that would make it hard to fathom. At least for me.
Just some thoughts.