My Descent into Death, and the Message of Love which Brought me Back

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Summary: Validates the MESSAGE of All Other Near Death Experiences
Review:
I heard of this book only recently, and was glad to find it still in print. I read the whole thing in one day. I am not a strong Christian, but did know in advance that this book (particularly the second half) was written from a strongly Christian perspective. However, I did not find this a turn-off, and I can recommend this book to others of ANY religion, including atheists, as was Storm, before his experience.

The important message from this book was that God DOES exist, and that we ARE here for a REASON. That reason is to learn to LOVE one another, which was the message of Jesus, and the message of every major religion. Storm points out that the same truths are in every religion, and even that the idea of God has been given to beings on every planet where there is intelligent life. But it is up to each individual to accept or reject God, here, or on any other planet.

I did not find a lot of totally new ideas in this book, having read several other books on near death experiences. But I did really enjoy reading about Storm's experience, and seeing that the message of his book conforms closely to the message of others' near-death experiences, from multiple cultures. It is an interesting read, and I HIGHLY recommend it to EVERYONE.


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Summary: Answered some of my questions on God and life
Review: After the tragedy on 9-11 where I lost a dear childhood friend, I've been doing a lot of soul searching. I have been an atheist all my life, but started looking into religions to if I could find a reason why such tragic things happen in our world, or is ALLOWED to happen in our world. Wasn't God unimaginably compassionate for his children? If so, why does evil even exist? I have read several NDE books, and channeling books by John Edward, and got the general concept that above all, love is the overwhelming lesson to be learned in life. None of these books really talked about negative NDE experiences. I was therefore very interested to read Howard Storm's account of his experience in hell. That part was quite interesting and disturbing, and is very compelling story. But how can a compassionate God allow such things to exist? Why do terrible things happen in this world? Howard Storm asked these questions to the angels he encountered during his NDE experience and was told that God has given us the power of choice (i.e. freedom). I was simultaneously reading C.S. Lewis' book on Christianity called "Mere Christianity" (an amazing book) and he had deduced this long before Howard Storm's experience. C.S. Lewis believed that by us giving a choice, God has given us capability for the purest form of love. People who choose not to love are also granted their choice, and would most likely flock to one another (i.e. Howard Storm's version of hell). It makes logical sense. In my youth, I use to suffer from "night terrors" paralysis, and always thought it was supernatural. Interestingly, the paralysis I felt ALWAYS got stronger the more I feared. Once I figured how to control the fear, the paralysis still came, but didn't last. To this day, I think some spirit manipulated my dreams so that I would wake up in fear and paralyzed. Storm described hell as a place where those dwelling there thrived on other's pain and fear. After reading Howard Storm's and C.S. Lewis' book, I now understand that if there is a compassionate God, he loves us so much that he would never take away our freedom to make our own decisions. People who do bad things choose not to love, and He won't stop them. As C.S. Lewis says, God would probably prefer to have free children, than automatons who are "forced" to behave the way He wants. Howard Storm asked the angels "Which religion is best?" to which they responded "Whichever brings you closer to God." He takes a very Christian view of his experiences and sometimes I felt somewhat uneasy reading passages due to the religious zeal. There are passages where Storm would mention God in almost every sentence. Sometimes it was difficult to tell whether he was describing his own feelings, or telling us what the angels told him. Despite this, I feel this is an important book to read for anyone interested in learning more about NDE's, and can keep an open mind despite Storm's religious zeal.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and Compelling Page-turner
Review: I liked this book, but believe that the reason some people have NDE's is to help others know that they don't have to have one to get their act together, and that there are ways to access the supernatural while still IN body. This book was OK, but I liked Tiffany Snow's better; there's no hoopla, and tells a good story (including NDE)while emphasizing personal physic activity through different methods. While Howard's book is interesting as a feature read, if you want to go further, get another book.

Rating:
Summary: Great, inspiring but left me with questions
Review: I must disagree with the reviewer who claims that this book is "just for Christians only." I have read many NDE experiences, and they come in all shapes, sizes and flavors, INCLUDING Christian. I believe there is truth in Christian and non-Christian NDEs alike, and Howard Storm's NDE confirms this. Howard Storm's NDE is one of the most uplifting and persuasive NDEs that I have read

First, Howard Storm was not a "Christian" when he had his NDE. Instead, he was an avowed atheist who became a Christian after his NDE. Howard's NDE begins when he dies and finds himself in an existence with countless other loveless/godless spirits who did nothing but attack and dismember him (and worse). In the depths of his despair, Howard the atheist remembered a song to Jesus from his childhood and began to sing it. Jesus rescued him. Howard learned the hard way that Jesus was his best friend. This I firmly believe for myself as well. Yet if Jesus can save an avowed atheist, and be "best friend" to such a person, then Jesus can also save anyone, including other atheists, Hindus, Catholics, Presbyterians, Moslems, etc. This is hardly Christian doctrine. In fact, those defenders of Orthodox Christian doctrine will find much to condemn in Howard Storm's NDE.

Second, when Howard asks one of the "Angels" with whom he visits "what is the best religion?" he's told that it is "the one the brings you closer to God". This is hardly an endorsement of "Christianity only".

Incidentally, I had to chuckle at the irrefutable logic of Jesus when he pointed to Howard that there really were no atheists because it is impossible to believe in nothing.

One of the main messages set forth in Storm's book about his NDE is that your life matters because of the way in which it affects others. This is a common thread in most NDEs, Christian and otherwise. As you affect others, so do you also affect God. If you choose to live without concern for others, you've chosen to live without concern for God as well. As it was pointed out to Howard during his NDE, the opposite of the love for God is not hatred of or anger at God, but indifference. The opposite of love for others is indifference as well. It is possible to "reject" God's love by your actions, whether you are an atheist or a Christian.

Howard Storm's book contains a great deal of hope, love, inspiration, as well as some warnings about how you live your life, its effects on others, and the effect your life will have on you in the afterlife. Perhaps it is these warnings that some reviewers find disturbing. Many NDEs are non-threatening because they affirm that God is all loving and will love us no matter what we do. Most NDEs (at least the popular ones) assure us that we will all be saved and in heaven with God when we die (or at least reincarnated to try again) because God is all loving and all good. NDEs that reject this concept (and there are just enough to cause you to pause and think about it) are usually ignored. I believe God's love will save us all. Howard Storm's NDE reaches the same conclusion, but warns us that God gave us free will and we are free to reject God's love. Storm's NDE points out that in the spirit realm of the afterlife, your spirit cannot lie to itself about whether it accepted or rejected God's love in this life. You will judge yourself truthfully and accurately in the afterlife. And there are consequences. I highly reccomend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not perfect
Review: I think a recent reviewer is probably a bit unfair to Pastor Storm in accusing him of having ''insular'' view of Christianity.In a recording of a lecture he gave (available via near-death.com) he describes the major World religions as having a ''core truth''.That said the book is not perfect.He understandably holds back on giving a full description of the earlier,traumatic,phase of his NDE which means the book does not reach its full potential as this is the part that,in a perverse sense,is the most mindblowingly salutory.Also he asks the right question in relation to the Holocaust:'How could God allow this to happen?'But somehow the answer is left hanging in the air.On the other hand the information given to Pastor Storm ,then fearful of a nuclear catastrophe,about the impending end of the Cold War (his experience took place in 1985) lends validity to his revelation. I believe his NDE is without a doubt the most awesome ever recorded.

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Summary: I read this book in one night, couldn't put it down!
Review: Just read one page and you are hooked, it's an amazing story of God's saving grace. Even my non-believer friends are reading it and are amazed by the accounts of Heaven and Hell. It's not a book about "hey, look . . . this is what's going to happen to you if you are not a good person or if you don't believe in God" It's a book from a non-believers (a total non-believer) point of view. It's not threating to a non-believer or a believer -- it simply is an account of the authors death (near-death) experience and the saving grace of Jesus. Very uplifting. Thank you Howard Storm for writing this book, it must have been very hard but you have significantly touched this readers life!

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Summary: Skeptical
Review: NOTE: I HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK YET

...but, I'm skeptical to it's significance because on the hardcover edition Anne Rice has written the Foreword. If this guy is supposed to be a pastor and a christian then why is he letting this "vampire author" tarnish his book and message!

Boo!

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Summary: My Fav. NDE Books- I've Been There Too
Review: One day in 1995 I died, and had a NDE. Ever since then, I've been reading everything I can on the subject. According to most stories I've read, I had an unusual one, not going down a tunnel, but experiencing many interesting phenomena all the same. It seems to me that there are some NDE books and magazine articles that are just hype, and published just to give recognition. I have found, through my many years and multitudes of books on the subject, that there is an underlining truth and spirit that pervades the true experiences. So, I have compiled a list of my best reads for NDE books - ones that I consider genuine and adding validating light to the personal NDE experience. I have left out compilations, these are personal narratives. I hope you enjoy them too.
Embraced by the Light ------by Betty J. Eadie
Psychic Gifts ---------by Tiffany Snow
Saved by the Light --------by Dannion Brinkley
4 Days in Eternity ---------by Wayne F.A. Marentette
After the Light -------------by Kimberly Clark Sharp

Rating:
Summary: Detailed Account
Review: This book is a detailed and believable account of the afterlife and so many of the questions that we have had over the years. The book was extrememly needed in my case as I lost a daughter, and have had so many unanswered questions.This powerful book helps to answer those questions about what lies on the other side. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Great, inspiring but left me with questions
Review: Well, this book did affect me . As a lapsed Christian, it made me think about God and Jesus . It gave me a clearer picture of Jesus.I thought it gave a more personal clear picture of Jesus as a being, as he relates to people.The descriptions of Heaven were just... wow.
There are a few things that trouble me. He said he was dragged off to hell not by fallen angels commonly known as demons but by mortal people who died and rejected God. He said he was told by the angels that there are other intelligent beings in the universe, other worlds.
All that goes directly against Christian theology which leaves me very confused.My confusion probably stops me from being able to give a deeper more vivid review of the book.I have no doubt he is being sincere. His truthfulness shines from the pages,but I'm just having a hard time processing that.
If you are interested in NDE's get this book. Its different from a lot of ones out there on the same subject. Not many are told from a converted Christian point of view.