I read with great interest Embraced by the Light, it had beed loaned to me by born again believers in Jesus Christ. I considered NDE as new age and occultic and as I had loved and embraced the beliefs of Shirley MacLaine, the book drew me in. However, I was pleasantly surprised how I was drawn toward Jesus Christ and gave my life to Him.

I read Deceived by the Light as I was looking for answers to some of my doubts about Betty's experience. The book appeared to offer some answers although I reckon they were rather extreme. I have not read any where else about Betty being a Mormon yet this book claims she is and that her experience were typically Mormon mythology.

I can't completely dismissed the book as ramblings, but rather an invitation to debate.

My friends dismissed the book as extreme, but he had a right to his opinion.

Although Doug Groothius is skeptical about the near-death experience (NDE) and it's
biblical interpretation, the author manages to keep a good balance on his views, the bible
and the NDE. His main focus is the authenticity of most NDE's and the after affects in
their lives, specifically Betty Eadie's account of her NDE in "Embraced by the Light."

Some pertinent questions are asked by the author.
1) Why did it take Betty Eadie so many years to tell her story?
One must have time to assimilate what has happened and not to react emotionally. This
is a very emotional experience as well as intellectual and spiritual. Knowledge comes at
a very fast speed, since most NDE's only last about 5 minutes. In 1974 I personally
experienced a NDE and after sharing the experience with my family and a few friends I
pretty much kept it to myself. In 2000 I put together my own personal website to share it
with others, I felt the timing was right.

2) What biblical response do the NDE's acquire? Most NDE's experience a great
love, an unconditional love that is God's love. If we respond to this love, isn't this what
Jesus has asked us to do? Most NDE's change their life's course after their experience.
Consider these bible quotations: JN 13:34 I give you a new commandment: love one
another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. JN 15:10 If you keep
my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's
commandments and remain in his love. JN 15:13 No one has greater love than this, to
lay down one's life for one's friends. JN 17:26 I made known to them your name and I
will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.

3) What about near-hell experiences? Although Betty Eadie does not go into detail
about her negative experience, she does recount the void and hopelessness that one feels
without the love of God. I personally experienced this void at the end of my NDE before
coming back into consciousness. One account of the near-hell experience comes from
Howard Storm. In his book "My Descent into Hell and the Message of Love which
Brought me Back". This is the story of a near-death, recovery, and transformation - of
lessons from spiritual beings about the future, the meaning of life, life after death, the
role of angels, and much more. But the Lord of Light sent him back with a message of
love. His life was so immensely changed after his near-death experience that he resigned
as a professor and devoted his time to attending the United Theological Seminary to
become a United Church of Christ Minister. JN 5:24 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever
hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to
condemnation, but has passed from death to life.

I leave you with one of my other book reviews by Carl Jung. "Memories, Dreams,
Reflections". These writings come straight from Jung's own inner experience and it is
his last book before his death in 1961. I have read and re-read this work because at
different times in my life I needed to re-evaluate where I was and where I was going.
Other books by Jung are more intellectual and scientific, whereas, this autobiography has
the wisdom of a person in the later part of life and it was written not so much to teach but
to leave with us his legacy. Having myself had a NDE, I was especially
re-affirmed by Jung's own NDE and his dealings with this phenomenon.
His acceptance of his own humanity and his returning from this state to share with us his
knowledge and vision is a gift to all of us. It is not easy to return to our humanity and
deal with the sufferings we encounter but growth is the only evidence of life. We have to
come down from the mountain top and work in the valley.

This brings to mind two books
written by Hannah Hurnard called "Mountains of Spices" and "Hinds Feet in High
Places". Allegories about living our lives with others and not in solitude. Solitude is a
wonderful place but if we stay too long we become self-centered, afraid to reach out to
others. Another author who gives a good perspective on life is Henri Nouwen and his
books "Out of Solitude" and "Reaching Out".

One reviewer below stated, "When Mr. Groothius has a detailed near-death experience of his own that he can use for comparison to Betty Eadie's, then I will take him seriously."

Isn't this like saying, "If you've never experienced heroin, then you can't knock it"? Also, I wonder if that reviewer has had a NDE which he/she can use to determine if Eadie's experience is valid?

Are all subjective/existential experiences beyond evaluation? If so, then anyone could claim anything, and all others would be forced to believe.

Groothuis does a good job of cutting through this type of thinking and shows how truth-claims about NDE's can be tested, and evaluated.