Light and Death

Rating:
Summary: A thoughtful book that ultimately over-reaches itself
Review: ...how a book like this is immediately pounced upon as garbage by non-Christians and venerated as a masterpiece by most Christians if the author is Christian?

First, I want to say that Michael Sabom's scientific technique in studying the NDE is much better than the "science" employed by other researchers. His original book "Recollections of Death" has absolutely no religous baggage inside. If you'd prefer to leave Christianity out, then I recommend you go find the older book in a library or at the auctions (it's out of print).

I agree with the author on many points. For the most part, the idea that the NDE is not a true experience of the afterlife is a good one. After all, if the person is still alive they have never died.

The meaning of the spiritual aspects of the NDE are really up to each individual to decide. It doesn't mean that each individual will decide correctly, but the NDE does not have much effect in the battle between religions, except to prove the existance of the spirit realm. For that I recommend his first book. Chapter Ten of "Light & Death" discusses the spoiling of newer arguments against the spirtual nature of NDE.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, Informative, Intriguing, and Inspiring
Review: Dr. Sabom presents a Christian perspective of the Near-Death Experience, citing many Bible passages that allude to the NDE. As a "liberal" Christian (by Sabom's definition), I found his "conservative" or fundamentalist Christian approach a bit puzzling and surprising; however, it was intriguing nonetheless. Most authors on the subject tend to go the other way, i.e., be overly objective for fear that they will appear unscientific and therefore unintelligent. Dr. Sabom clearly does not suffer from this ego hangup. There were a number of very interesting quotes by people who have had NDEs, not unsimilar to those given up by other authors on the NDE but each adds to the credibility of the NDE as something more than a mere hallucination of an oxygen-deprived brain.

There is an interesting chapter on prayer ("spiritual medicine at work").

The book will not appeal to the skeptic, but for those who are prepared to recognize the limits of science, it is an excellent read. I bought extra copies for my daughters, both registered nurses, hoping that Dr. Sabom's research and views will at least partially counterbalance the skeptical attitude of most doctors they come in contact with.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, Informative, Intriguing, and Inspiring
Review: Dr. Sabom presents a Christian perspective of the Near-Death Experience, citing many Bible passages that allude to the NDE. As a "liberal" Christian (by Sabom's definition), I found his "conservative" or fundamentalist Christian approach a bit puzzling and surprising; however, it was intriguing nonetheless. Most authors on the subject tend to go the other way, i.e., be overly objective for fear that they will appear unscientific and therefore unintelligent. Dr. Sabom clearly does not suffer from this ego hangup. There were a number of very interesting quotes by people who have had NDEs, not unsimilar to those given up by other authors on the NDE but each adds to the credibility of the NDE as something more than a mere hallucination of an oxygen-deprived brain.

There is an interesting chapter on prayer ("spiritual medicine at work").

The book will not appeal to the skeptic, but for those who are prepared to recognize the limits of science, it is an excellent read. I bought extra copies for my daughters, both registered nurses, hoping that Dr. Sabom's research and views will at least partially counterbalance the skeptical attitude of most doctors they come in contact with.

Rating:
Summary: The word is Zondervan
Review: I don't want to rehash the thoughtful comments of the other reviewers... I saw a TV special about one of the people included in the book and that led me to buy the book... I neglected to note the publisher, Zondervan, an evangelical Christian publisher....that in itself lets the reader know where the author is going with his research. As a nurse I have been priviledged to hear such accounts first-hand; regardless of the ultimate nature of this human experience, one cannot avoid being deeply touched...what is saddening to me is that such experiences then become the 'battleground' for belief systems that are uncomfortable with mystery, and a rather small minded claim on knowing the 'truth' for the rest of us!

Rating:
Summary: A thoughtful book that ultimately over-reaches itself
Review: Michael Sabom is a serious researcher and this book is frequently well-argued, thoughTful and touching upon key issues related to Near Death Experiences. At times his remarks about NDEs, informed as they are by his medical knowledge, are fascinating.

It is when Mr Sabom tried to connect his clinical and medical knowledge to his Christian views that I found his arguments unpersuasive. For example, the author doesn't refer to, and seems unaware of, the fact that the Essenes (an influential early Christian sect) believed in re-incarnation, and it was the church which later altered the Bible so that it would exclude all suggestions that reincarnation occurs. Again the author seems unaware of the work of Jane Roberts (and Seth) so that the breadth and depth of his discussion of the nature of physical reality appeared to me relatively shallow. In sum Mr Sabom is strikingly old-fashioned in his religious views and this restricted world view irretrievably taints the conclusions that an otherwise thoughful book draws.

Rating:
Summary: An engaging exploration of NDEs as spiritual experiences.
Review: Sabom is a world renowned researcher of near death experiences. Unlike a lot of other books on this fascinating subject, he approaches the topic as a cardiologist with scientific care and attention to detail. He makes no outlandinsh claims but presents a resoned case for NDEs as a spiritual experience (as opposed to a fluke of a malfunctioning brain).

He also explains the relatinship between an NDE and death itself, exploring the difficulty of defining death. A lot of the claims about the impact of an NDE are examined statistically (rather than anecdotally as so many others have done) and interestingly, found to be rather bogus. He even points out that NDEs are generally therapeutic--not that one would want one induced for their medicinal value!

This is a book full of interesting insights into what an NDE really is and what it suggests about life and death. It is unique in that it ends with an evaluation of the NDE in light of traditional Christian "theology"--and the NDE fares quite well. Christians may be a little suprised that the NDE can fit within their tradition, but Sabom does a thorough job of building his case.

If you have any interest in spirituality, NDEs, religion or the after-life you will, like me, find this book very fascinating and enjoyable. An articulate and convincing argument.

Rating:
Summary: Superb! Science, not anecdote, support Sabom's thesis.
Review: Unlike most all of the other popular books available on near death experience, Dr. Sabom has used a rigorously scientific approach to examine this fascinating subject. It's such a great read, I'm sending this book as Christmas gifts to a number of family, friends and business associates.