Rating: 
Summary: Scientific Ineptitude and religious prattle
Review: 200 pages and only 5 examples of bad near-death experiences. This book is not what it advertises. It is basically the pitiful efforts of a half-wit medical doctor to convince us all that we are going to hell if we don't embrace Jesus. Instead of stories about people's experiences with seeing hell while dead or near death, it is just stories about how he constantly screws up as a medical doctor (accidentally killing his patients) and about 100 pages of him insulting other religions he clearly doesn't even understand. His so called "scientific proofs" of heaven and hell and Jesus are stupid, and worse they're boring. I think there's only about 12 sentences in this whole book, just repeated over and over. This should have been a bad essay, because there is nowhere near enough material for a whole book. No matter what religion you are, I think you'll find this book insulting to your intelligence in one way or another. If you find this book burning in the street don't bother to put it out.
Rating:
Summary: What The Bible Says
Review: According to Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed unto man ONCE to die," and after that you don't come back, you go to judgment. The few exceptions to this are presented in scripture.Death was at one time assumed when a patient had a flat EKG, electrocardiogram. But a stopped heart does not prove death. A flat brain wave proves death, that is a electroencephalogram. A stopped heart may give the appearance of death, but it's just an appearance. People who think they've died may very well have mental experiences, dreams, nightmares, etc. that they can speak of when they regain consciousness. It's amazing how many people want to believe that people actually have come back from being dead.
Rating:
Summary: What The Bible Says
Review: According to Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed unto man ONCE to die," and after that you don't come back, you go to judgment. The few exceptions to this are presented in scripture. Death was at one time assumed when a patient had a flat EKG, electrocardiogram. But a stopped heart does not prove death. A flat brain wave proves death, that is a electroencephalogram. A stopped heart may give the appearance of death, but it's just an appearance. People who think they've died may very well have mental experiences, dreams, nightmares, etc. that they can speak of when they regain consciousness. It's amazing how many people want to believe that people actually have come back from being dead.
Rating: 
Summary: A Must Read
Review: Anyone who is interested in near death experiences, or who doesn't believe in the viability of hell should definately read this book. New Age thinking, and near death experiencers such as Dannion Brinkley tell us that God is non judgemental, and we only judge ourselves. Though they may be well intended this is a dangerous message, as we are all accountable for our deeds. This book explains the diabolical force behind the messages so often misleading the well intended at this critical time. Straighten out your hearts and minds, please read the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Content, But Needs a Good Editor
Review: Dr. Rawlings provides a badly needed perspective on the religion of Near Death Experiences (NDEs) that followed in the wake of Dr. Kubler-Ross' more famous publications. Rawlings makes 2 major points: 1 - Many, perhaps 50%, of NDEs are negative. The light gives way to misery, the tunnel is lined with flames, etc. The folks who come back from death's door, having experienced these NDEs, almost uniformly turn their lives around drastically, and decide to obey God'd guidance for their lives. 2 - There is a systematic bias against the reporting of negative NDEs. This bias comes from several sources: * Individuals tend to repress negative memories. If these experiences are not recorded immediately after they occur, an individual's memory can play tricks with the data. * The individuals and close family members are often strongly motivated to stay mum. Confessing to such an experience basically implies that your whole previous life was not lived well. Not many folks are ready to make such an admission. * The researchers like Kubler-Ross who write the famous books do not want to admit data that would contradict their theories about the afterlife. Dr. Rawlings has offered his data to them, but they never incorporated them into their analyses. While he offers us much in this book, Dr. Rawlings clearly did not want to share his royalties with a competent ghost writer or a good editor. I could never figure out whether the first-person pilot anecdotes were about Rawlings or some other person. Rawlings could have helped us by talking about his pilot's license and experiences (or lack of them, I suppose) in order to help us understand the context of the anecdotes, but he was not forthcoming. Furthermore, Rawlings frequently goes on long, long tangents that stray very far from the points he's really trying to make. For example, after a few NDE anecdotes, he suddenly launches into a several page analysis of when it's appropriate to administer CPR and when it's not. This analysis belonged in an appendix. In a similar vein, he also flits about, criticizing first one loosely-related theology (spiritism) to another (Hinduism) to another (astrology). The only connection I can gather from his text is that he opposes them all. Finally, he sometimes presents data without giving us a theory to interpret it. Most notably, several times he mentions that NDEs in India often revolve around encounters with Hindu deities. Are they demons? Are they angels? Is it really a polytheistic universe? Help us out, Dr. Rawlings!
Rating:
Summary: Good Content, But Needs a Good Editor
Review: Dr. Rawlings provides a badly needed perspective on the religion of Near Death Experiences (NDEs) that followed in the wake of Dr. Kubler-Ross' more famous publications. Rawlings makes 2 major points: 1 - Many, perhaps 50%, of NDEs are negative. The light gives way to misery, the tunnel is lined with flames, etc. The folks who come back from death's door, having experienced these NDEs, almost uniformly turn their lives around drastically, and decide to obey God'd guidance for their lives. 2 - There is a systematic bias against the reporting of negative NDEs. This bias comes from several sources: * Individuals tend to repress negative memories. If these experiences are not recorded immediately after they occur, an individual's memory can play tricks with the data. * The individuals and close family members are often strongly motivated to stay mum. Confessing to such an experience basically implies that your whole previous life was not lived well. Not many folks are ready to make such an admission. * The researchers like Kubler-Ross who write the famous books do not want to admit data that would contradict their theories about the afterlife. Dr. Rawlings has offered his data to them, but they never incorporated them into their analyses. While he offers us much in this book, Dr. Rawlings clearly did not want to share his royalties with a competent ghost writer or a good editor. I could never figure out whether the first-person pilot anecdotes were about Rawlings or some other person. Rawlings could have helped us by talking about his pilot's license and experiences (or lack of them, I suppose) in order to help us understand the context of the anecdotes, but he was not forthcoming. Furthermore, Rawlings frequently goes on long, long tangents that stray very far from the points he's really trying to make. For example, after a few NDE anecdotes, he suddenly launches into a several page analysis of when it's appropriate to administer CPR and when it's not. This analysis belonged in an appendix. In a similar vein, he also flits about, criticizing first one loosely-related theology (spiritism) to another (Hinduism) to another (astrology). The only connection I can gather from his text is that he opposes them all. Finally, he sometimes presents data without giving us a theory to interpret it. Most notably, several times he mentions that NDEs in India often revolve around encounters with Hindu deities. Are they demons? Are they angels? Is it really a polytheistic universe? Help us out, Dr. Rawlings!
Rating:
Summary: A Very Forgettable Book!
Review: I bought this book, I read it, and I regret it. This is 254 pages of nothing. Dr. Rawlings attempts to make the case that not all Near-Death Experiences are beautiful, forgiving and life-changing and in my opinion he does a pitiful job of backing it up. The testimonials given are extremely short, and his research of the lives of those testifying of bad experiences are almost nonexistent. He fills the book with so much junk that has nothing to do with life after death, that I cannot possibly recommend this book to anyone currently incarnated. The only possible reason that this book sold as many copies as it did was beacuse he appeared on the Phil Donahue Show years ago. If you are seeking any kind of insight into matters regarding life after death, then you will NOT find it here. A colossal waste of time and I don't say that about too many books good or bad! It has to be marked at least one star for you to see this review, but in truth it is - NO Stars pure and simple.
Rating:
Summary: Good Work!
Review: I enjoyed this book. After my daughter died, I so desperately looked for something that would tell me she still existed. I believe in God's word and yet, I was still searching. This book helped me accept that God is in control and that we live on. It goes against what the media wants us to believe, he steps out and tells his side of things without worry of condemnation by man. It's a great book!...
Rating:
Summary: The Moment of Truth
Review: I highly recommend reading this book. After a close brush I had with death, I read many books on near death experiences. All were very optimistic about death. They essentially gave the general impression that no matter what I did in my life, all my experiences and actions were either just learning experiences for my spiritual growth, or I was not going to be held accountable for my actions because in the big scheme, they did not matter. Then I read "To Hell and Back: Life After Death Startling New Evidence, by Maurice Rawlings". While I found this book very upsetting, I also find it to be one of the most important books I have ever read. It provides very strong evidence for the existence of a very real hell. Like most people, I'd prefer there was no hell, but if there is one, I want to know about it NOW, not find out after I die when it is too late. The most compelling concept that gives his patients' hell accounts such credibility is the very well documented psychological phenomenon of humans forgetting (repressing) memories of severe experiences, to protect their sanity. I know personally that severe experience memories are repressed because my mother has told me of severe experiences she has witnessed me go through while I was awake but of which I still have absolutely no conscious memory. Since the author was an objective observer, he was able to recall the patient's pleas for help to be saved from hell. While later, these very same patients only remembered the "good" part of the experience that usually proceeds entry into hell. They had to repress the hell experience because the certainty of going to hell is so overwhelming. They HAD to block it from their conscious memories to go on with life, otherwise they would go insane. The very best part of reading this book for me is that it has helped me keep ever aware of how ultimately important it is to develop and pursue a genuine integrity-filed relationship with God. I must with all my might answer the God question now, while I am alive, and not wait for death to find out the truth. As the author says in the book (paraphrasing) "the most important day of your life is the day you die". That is the day all negotiations and opportunities for escape from hell end; The moment of truth. So read the book to get a balanced look at near death experiences, and to increase your sensitivity to the personal implications of the existence of a very real hell after death.
Rating:
Summary: The Moment of Truth
Review: I highly recommend reading this book. After a close brush I had with death, I read many books on near death experiences. All were very optimistic about death. They essentially gave the general impression that no matter what I did in my life, all my experiences and actions were either just learning experiences for my spiritual growth, or I was not going to be held accountable for my actions because in the big scheme, they did not matter. Then I read "To Hell and Back: Life After Death Startling New Evidence, by Maurice Rawlings". While I found this book very upsetting, I also find it to be one of the most important books I have ever read. It provides very strong evidence for the existence of a very real hell. Like most people, I'd prefer there was no hell, but if there is one, I want to know about it NOW, not find out after I die when it is too late. The most compelling concept that gives his patients' hell accounts such credibility is the very well documented psychological phenomenon of humans forgetting (repressing) memories of severe experiences, to protect their sanity. I know personally that severe experience memories are repressed because my mother has told me of severe experiences she has witnessed me go through while I was awake but of which I still have absolutely no conscious memory. Since the author was an objective observer, he was able to recall the patient's pleas for help to be saved from hell. While later, these very same patients only remembered the "good" part of the experience that usually proceeds entry into hell. They had to repress the hell experience because the certainty of going to hell is so overwhelming. They HAD to block it from their conscious memories to go on with life, otherwise they would go insane. The very best part of reading this book for me is that it has helped me keep ever aware of how ultimately important it is to develop and pursue a genuine integrity-filed relationship with God. I must with all my might answer the God question now, while I am alive, and not wait for death to find out the truth. As the author says in the book (paraphrasing) "the most important day of your life is the day you die". That is the day all negotiations and opportunities for escape from hell end; The moment of truth. So read the book to get a balanced look at near death experiences, and to increase your sensitivity to the personal implications of the existence of a very real hell after death.
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