Charlotte-born doctor talks about time in heaven

Charlotte Observer ^ | 03/29/2013 | Tim Funk

[boatbums]

Last Friday night (March 22), March Madness was in its televised glory. And Taylor Swift was singing and strumming at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Despite such competition, Christ Episcopal Church managed to draw 1,100 people.

The attraction: A doctor describing his time in heaven.

Not just any doctor. Sitting on stage, answering questions from the Rev. Chip Edens, the church’s rector, was Dr. Eben Alexander. He’s a Charlotte native who wrote “Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife.” His book is such a mega-seller that he has talked to Oprah – and Universal Pictures won a bidding war to turn it into a (probably 3-D) movie.

Read more here: http://funkonfaith.blogspot.com/2013/03/charlotte-born-doctor-talks-about-time.html#storylink=cpy

[boatbums]

Another good reason to carefully examine claims of NDE (Near Death Experiences).

This doctor, who now says he is a Christian, and who attends an Episcopal church in Virginia, told the crowd that his experience convinced him of the following: reincarnation makes sense, but hell doesn’t; scientists know less than they think they do, but there’s no contradiction between science and religion; and God loves all of his creatures – Christians, Jews, atheists, big-time sinners, etc.

He said:

“I realize that Christ came to show us the eternity of all of our souls,” he said. “It’s all about understanding that gift of love. This talk about coming back to life someday in physical bodies doesn’t really make any sense. It’s all about souls being eternal. Easter is just a confirmation of the real miracle of Jesus coming back. But he was doing that as a gift and … showing us what we all have: eternal life.”

We can KNOW from Scripture that some of what this man purports he learned by his experience is not in line with what God says. Reading this account helps me to understand that, anytime someone makes claims about their personal experiences as they relate to Christianity, it should be taken with a grain of salt and measured by the one, divinely-revealed and authoritative source we have - the Holy Bible.

[Legatus]

reincarnation makes sense, but hell doesn’t

Hell is one of the few things that made sense to me back when none of the rest of it did. What kind of loving God would force people to abide His Presence for eternity when they want nothing to do with Him?

[grame]

Bump

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

I have not read his book, but I see the comments made here. I also see your comments. I agree with you...

“...anytime someone makes claims about their personal experiences as they relate to Christianity, it should be taken with a grain of salt and measured by the one, divinely-revealed and authoritative source we have - the Holy Bible.”

This said, with or without the grain of salt...God does not contradict Himself...never has, never will.

[Kolath]

New Heavens and New Earth. The souls of the saved are resurrected with new bodies (etc, etc). Humans were meant to be corporal.

[Jemian]

Amen!

[boatbums]

New Heavens and New Earth. The souls of the saved are resurrected with new bodies (etc, etc). Humans were meant to be corporal.

I wonder how the doctor would explain all the passages in the Old and New Testaments that speak of a bodily resurrection? Jesus returned with a glorified body and we, Scripture, says will also have bodies like unto his.

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)

[newguy357]

The resurrection, and the associated new, glorified body for each resurrected person, is central to Christianity. As Paul wrote, without the resurrection our faith is nothing. Happy Easter.

[RegulatorCountry]

I recall seeing reports of this man’s claimed experience a while back. He seems to still have major problems with personal ego, because there’s an awful lot of “I think” in there. I don’t doubt that he had some sort of experience that seemed spiritual in nature, which is surprising enough given his state of disbelief prior, but what he describes strikes a false note.

[boatbums]

Hell is one of the few things that made sense to me back when none of the rest of it did. What kind of loving God would force people to abide His Presence for eternity when they want nothing to do with Him?

Not only that, but the doctrine of reincarnation - with its need for souls to transform from life to life in never-ending cycles until Nirvana is attained or self-salvation - is totally foreign to the Bible. Scripture says, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:27,28)

Ideas like those of this doctor only serve to placate people into a false sense of security where "everything's cool, it'll all work out in the end" and "Don't worry, be happy!". Thoughts like these can only come from the father of lies and proves that we can't allow emotion to guide us in the truths we must believe.

Nice to hear from you, Legatus. Hope all's well with the family. Have a Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday!

[Legatus]

All’s well here, and the grits are still good. Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday to you too.

[MNDude]

I believe in heaven but I don’t think we can travel there back and forth like we can to Florida

[boatbums]

I recall seeing reports of this man’s claimed experience a while back. He seems to still have major problems with personal ego, because there’s an awful lot of “I think” in there. I don’t doubt that he had some sort of experience that seemed spiritual in nature, which is surprising enough given his state of disbelief prior, but what he describes strikes a false note.

It did to me, as well. I don't recall how long ago this "experience" happened to him, but he sure needs to take some time to absorb it all in relation to what the Bible says - seeing as he identifies as a Christian - and sort it all out before he presumes to write a book, make a movie and go on a speaking tour to churches and Oprah. He may have good intentions, but, from what he is saying, he is spreading a false gospel and aiding and abetting the enemy of our souls. Notice how some of his thoughts are almost close to being Scriptural but the gist perverts the truth. Yes, God loves ALL his creation and He is no respecter of persons, but it doesn't mean everyone will be with Him in heaven for eternity.

I can understand how someone could feel elated over coming close to dying and then being given a second chance - especially if he was not a believer before the event - and wanting to tell everyone they meet about it. But we should never forget that Satan can transform himself into an "angel of light" and his ministers into "ministers of righteousness". Counterfeiters succeed because their work is nearly identical to the real thing and those who do not examine it closely can be fooled. This doctor should have taken the time and effort to examine his experience in light of what the Bible and orthodox Christianity has taught about such things. I pray that no one is taken in by the errors he is talking about.

[HerrBlucher]

I have read hundreds of near death experiences and I don’t know of any that completely reflected a strict Orthodox Christian worldview. There were usually heresies in there somewhere, most commonly pre-mortal existence, re-incarnation, and the ability to alter your afterlife condition...i.e. get out of Hell. And yes, many NDE’s report the existence of Hell, most notably Howard Storm’s in his book “My Descent into Death.”

At least the Doctor is no longer an Atheist, that is a start.

[RegulatorCountry]

I have mixed emotions to the point of misgivings about the whole NDE thing. I don't doubt they've experienced something, and that that something struck them as profound. The majority report very similar experiences that sound remarkably like the Old Testament, being gathered unto their people. It's comforting to think that those I love who have passed on were themselves welcomed and comforted. But, it's too comforting and too, well, I can't exactly put it into words. It's appears to be at variance with scripture.

[caww]

....”We can KNOW from Scripture that some of what this man purports he learned by his experience is not in line with what God says.”......anytime someone makes claims about their personal experiences...... it should be measured by the one, divinely-revealed and authoritative source we have - the Holy Bible.”........

Absolutely...I've heard these stories time and again and they always end up opposing what God says. Just enough truth in them, or perceived truth to bait and switch.

This guy lost it the moment he said it's his 'experience' was what convinced him that reincarnation makes sense...hogwash on the rest of it as well.

He's doing what so many Christians are today...mixing pagan mumbo-jumbo with Christianity..and unfortunatley because so many Christians do not know what God has to say about these things, they swallow it hook line and sinker....and are then ‘set up’ for whatever further deceptions the enemy of mens souls wants to take them....and he will surely do so.

We indeed live in a society, (Christian and not), ‘who hear with their eyes and and see with their feelings’.....

[boatbums]

Have you read about the little boy's experience spoken of in his book, Heaven is for Real? From a little kid's perspective, things he reportedly saw were plausible. Though, we can't really know how much was verbatim and how much was embellished by his minister father who wrote the book. There are several instances in Scripture where people WERE brought back to life from death but we don't have any of their testimony as far as I know. I don't totally deny it CAN happen, just that we should be wary and not easily tricked into believing wholesale what someone says as being THE truth just because they say they saw it. The subconscious mind can do strange things to the conscious mind, that's for sure, but our guard should be up whenever someone purports to being a "prophet" with new revelation or a visionary declaring new truths. It's no different with a person claiming to tell us things they saw on the "other side". Too much room for deception there.

[caww]

.......”Ideas like those of this doctor only serve to placate people into ‘a false sense of security’ where “every thing’s cool, it'll all work out in the end” and “Don't worry, be happy!”..... Thoughts like these can only come from the father of lies and proves that we can't allow emotion to guide us in the truths we must believe.”.....

The internet is chocked full of this stuff, and those promoting it are making lots of money off those ignorant of Gods word...and even those who are Christian can be coerced because they haven't a clue of the whiles of the enemy of men's souls, nor his power.

Jesus taught us to be aware of the devils antics and how he plays his game. He also warned us these things would come.....

I'm also going to say that too many Christians depend too much on what their Pastor teaches, and seldom inquire of the Lord what their Pastors are teaching from the pulpits. It's all so easily accepted....especially if it makes them feel good.

[boatbums]

Yes, we do. Many people are caught up in the mystical, or, what I call the “woo-woo” aspect of faith. Some people I've known can turn the simplest mundane thing into a supernatural experience. Always searching for an experience instead of the truth. Often, if I tried to tell them what the Bible said about something, they refused to hear it because of what they experienced and that mattered far more! It can be an insidious trap, one that Satan particularly likes to set. You're right about some people just being too lazy to search out the truth. It's just too easy for them to listen to others and swallow hook, line and sinker whatever they're told. Unfortunately, too many Christians are exactly like sheep who will follow whoever tickles their ears and promises excitement - hopping from one "revival" to the next. A very spiritually dangerous thing to do!