Rating: 
Summary: THE WILL TO BELIEVE
Review: Observe that primarily those reviews which are rabidly triumphant in there assertion of this book's alleged "truth" were found "helpful" by those who've voted for such things. This says alot.
People need to believe. Death without an afterlife is depressing, just like life without angels or miracles. That does not give these things objective reality.
The bottom line? This is a book written by an evangelical Christian for other evangelical Christians, perhaps in particular, those wavering in their faith. Lapsed Catholic? You're covered, too. Scared secular deist? Close enough.
Most of the book is padding. It is questionably written. It is poorly put together. It is far from diplomatic in its accessment of the data.
On a closing note, scoffers, mockers, and collectors of "bulldada" will want to own this; it is every bit as collectable as the "Christian Satanism" books of Rebecca Brown, Mike Warnke, and Michelle Smith. It is also about as reputable. (GCZ)
Rating: 
Summary: A different viewpoint on near-death experiences
Review:
A study of near-death experiences written by a (then) atheist doctor who was "scared straight" after recessitating a patient who claimed to have been in hell while clinically dead.
The Good:
* Based on first-hand experiences of a doctor who actually recessitated patients who then recounted near-death experiences, some of them bad.
* He comes across as honest in his concern for people's souls. He doesn't want to "convert" people, but is genuinely concerned that some of us are headed for a hell-ish destiny. So it's not written from the same New Age "We're all going to Heaven" standpoint as most of todays NDE stuff.
* Purposely avoids drawing widespread conclusions based on incomplete information. Many NDE books extrapolate wildly about the after-life just because someone saw a bright light and felt loved.
* He genuinely wanted to warn people that not everyone has a good experience. He tries to gently compel the reader to consider Christianity - and does it in a non-judgemental, sensative way without bashing other faiths.
The Bad:
* Too short, - and half of the book is padding (historical views of death and even instructions for how to recessitate someone!)
* I appreciated that he didn't try to stuff answers down my throat, but the main drawback was that he didn't delve into the questions raised by these experiences. For example, he points out that even some who considered themselves Christians had hell-ish experiences - but he doesn't try to explain why or what was lacking in their faith or life.
Rating:
Summary: A different viewpoint on near-death experiences
Review:
A study of near-death experiences written by a (then) atheist doctor who was "scared straight" after recessitating a patient who claimed to have been in hell while clinically dead.
The Good:
* Based on first-hand experiences of a doctor who actually recessitated patients who then recounted near-death experiences, some of them bad.
* He comes across as honest in his concern for people's souls. He doesn't want to "convert" people, but is genuinely concerned that some of us are headed for a hell-ish destiny. So it's not written from the same New Age "We're all going to Heaven" standpoint as most of todays NDE stuff.
* Purposely avoids drawing widespread conclusions based on incomplete information. Many NDE books extrapolate wildly about the after-life just because someone saw a bright light and felt loved.
* He genuinely wanted to warn people that not everyone has a good experience. He tries to gently compel the reader to consider Christianity - and does it in a non-judgemental, sensative way without bashing other faiths.
The Bad:
* Too short, - and half of the book is padding (historical views of death and even instructions for how to recessitate someone!)
* I appreciated that he didn't try to stuff answers down my throat, but the main drawback was that he didn't delve into the questions raised by these experiences. For example, he points out that even some who considered themselves Christians had hell-ish experiences - but he doesn't try to explain why or what was lacking in their faith or life.
Rating: 
Summary: Toward the Light? Better check Your light!
Review: For those that believe that everyone who dies will "go to the light" MUST read this book! Not everyone goes to Heaven! These are actual testimonies of people who have died and have gone to Hell and those that have gone to Heaven. Not sure where you'll go? This book reveals the Truth about where you go and why. It's not how good or how bad you've been - there's more to it than that. Have a friend that's not sure where they're going? This book could be the key to revealing death's truths that can save souls and take away some of the fears of death so that a fuller life can be lived. I've given a number of copies away and everyone has expressed sincere gratitude for showing them "The True Light".
Rating:
Summary: Rawlings' book shed "light " on my own N.D.E.
Review: I had what we now refer to as a near-death experience after falling ill in 1972. I was 12 years old. I told my parents about it, and they tried to calm me and told me that it was "just a dream." The experience did not exactly fit into the concepts of death that I held at the time...that God was an old man with a white beard and angels with bird-like wings. No, there was a tunnel, being of light, and door-like portal, that I, incidently, decided not to go through. I repressed the memory to a certain extent for many years but always realized deep inside that it was a very important event! In 1984, while attending college, I stumbled on "Beyond Death's Door" in a used bookstore. It was a wonderful revelation because for the first time I realized that other people had undergone an experience similar to my own; I wasn't alone! Bottom line, there truly is a "spiritual" level of existence beyond this "physical" world. I was given a choice to "come back." Dr. Rawlings' book is excellent, but so are many others by such authors as Dr. Raymond Moody, Jr; and Dr. Melvin Morse. For believers, and especially skeptics, please note that all three of these authors are medical doctors, men steeped in the traditions of "rational" inquiry and the "scientific method." But I know, some of you think they must be quacks. Yea, and they've held down life-and-death positions in hospital emergency rooms! Everyone reading this will eventually know that spiritual existence after physical death is a reality. For nonbelievers, I'm confident that, one day, you will be glad that you were "wrong."
Rating: 
Summary: Comfort & Reassurance, Answers for those Seeking.....
Review: I read "Beyond Death's Door" upon recommendation of my husband. A dear friend of mine was in the process of dying in the hospital. I began reading this book the night before her death and was about half-way through it when I learned she had passed away. I finished reading it later that day. As a Christian, I found this book to be very comforting and reassuring during this time. I had been with this friend nearly every week (sometimes several times a week) for the past 1 1/2 years. Now I was with her the two weeks preceding her death, often at her bedside. Knowing Malinda had placed her faith in Jesus one year ago, I knew where she was headed. Still, I observed during her suffering, her young faith sometimes waned. I read Scripture to her and reassured her of God's love and Presence. I described Heaven as the Bible reveals it. I believe in the last few days, she received this information and believed it for herself. I recommend this book for anyone who has questions about life after death. Since it was originally published in 1978, as a lay person I am not sure how up-to-date the medical information given is and for that reason I give it four stars, rather than five. I hope the author will create an updated version or at least a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Toward the Light? Better check Your light!
Review: I read "Beyond Death's Door" upon recommendation of my husband. A dear friend of mine was in the process of dying in the hospital. I began reading this book the night before her death and was about half-way through it when I learned she had passed away. I finished reading it later that day. As a Christian, I found this book to be very comforting and reassuring during this time. I had been with this friend nearly every week (sometimes several times a week) for the past 1 1/2 years. Now I was with her the two weeks preceding her death, often at her bedside. Knowing Malinda had placed her faith in Jesus one year ago, I knew where she was headed. Still, I observed during her suffering, her young faith sometimes waned. I read Scripture to her and reassured her of God's love and Presence. I described Heaven as the Bible reveals it. I believe in the last few days, she received this information and believed it for herself. I recommend this book for anyone who has questions about life after death. Since it was originally published in 1978, as a lay person I am not sure how up-to-date the medical information given is and for that reason I give it four stars, rather than five. I hope the author will create an updated version or at least a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: ahh..no
Review: I remember going through a period in my life many years ago when I had developed a very serious interest in the New Age movement. At the time, I had been dabbling with out of body experiences, the Tarot, Numerology and Astrology, among others. I had all but become convinced that life after death had more to do with traveling the astral plane than going to Heaven or Hell. I was brought up as a Christian, although at that juncture in my life I had lost my way. I was about 23 at the time and suffering from chronic depression. I had tried many anti-depressants to no avail. I decided, based on the experiences of those whose books I had been reading at the time, that suicide would most likely be the best solution, and life after death would be a much happier journey than the one I was currently experiencing. After attempting suicide (unsuccessfully) shortly thereafter, I ran across this book at a local, used bookstore, and the name of the book caught my interest. After reading it, I decided then and there I would never try suicide again. I decided that even in the worst of times, it was better to try and suffer through it with God's help than what I believe would have lead to my suffering in Hell. This book honestly saved my life, and I can't recommend it enough to those who can, in any capacity, relate with my story.
Rating:
Summary: ahh..no
Review: I saw this book from a fundamentalist website, and I can say that automatically shot down its credibility. Even though there have been cases of people seeing a glimpse of life after death, and they all report the same thing, which is no coincidence.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning proof that there is an after-life.
Review: The stories in this book will give you the chills. These people came back from near death experiences knowing things that they could not have known if they had been in their bodies. The author is a respected physician, not a wacko. The things his patients told him convinced him that there is a God, a heaven, AND a hell. At a critical moment of my life, this book convinced me not to commit suicide
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