We'd like to know what you think about our Travel Guide to Heaven web site. Please leave your comments in this public guest book so we can share your thoughts with other visitors.
In the few short months that have passed since A Travel Guide to Heaven was published, I have received thousands of letters, emails and faxes from people who have read the book. The overwhelming majority of these have been extremely positive. Some have been beautiful and heartbreaking and have spoken about the pain of losing loved ones. Some have been respectful yet critical of my theology. A couple have been downright nasty! (But these were usually from folks who are repelled by the whole notion of God and Heaven to begin with.) No matter what the letters have said, though, ALL of them have been deeply appreciated. Whenever someone takes the time to write to me, I feel it is a great compliment, and I want to take the opportunity now to thank you.
Unfortunately, because of my heavy travel schedule, and because of the large volume of correspondence I am getting, it is literally impossible for me to personally respond to everyone. I want you to know, however, that I read every single comment that is posted on this contact page, every morning, no matter where in the world I happen to be. I read all of them with respect, interest, and gratitude. Some of them encourage me greatly, and give me a much-needed lift, as I make my way through these busy, exciting, but sometimes hectic days. Thank you all, again, very much.
Message:
I read your book and thought it was Amazing! I truly look forward to filling my belly with from the buffet of fun and excitement that heaven promises to be. The one question that I have is this: my ex-wife is a believer. Will she be there? Heaven, to me, is not a place where she is.
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Wow, God truly has designed us for adventure. The adventure starts now and doesn't end when we die into a "rest in peace" eternity. The adventure only expands as we become for the first time - Fully Alive! Thanks Anthony for writing such a book to stir our thoughts towards what awaits the children of the King.
Message:
"A Travel Guide to Heaven", very easy to read. The picture of heaven illustrated by Anthony Destefano was intelligable. Before reading this book theology 1000c was my first real lesson on christianity. The idea that heaven is a place on earth, is familiar to me because the life lived here is what we make of it. I have had the pleasure of attending the different place of worship for three different religion, which has now become part of my culture. Not to brag but the foundation i have aquired from understanding to some extent the goals of the hindu, muslim and now christianity religion in their quest to Heaven is to me the link between us as human beings. How do we know there is a Heaven? We dont we trust that if we ful fill our nature as humans and treat others as we wish to be treated that when we die our conscience well clear and sterile as Heaven. Definately Must A Read !!!
Message:
I just completed your book "A Travel Guide to Heaven" and found many things quite surprising. Unlike many who attend St. John's, I am not a practicing Christian and so I don't know much about the Bible, God, or Heaven. Many of the ideas I have of Heaven, I got from previous Theology courses at St. John's or from studying paintings from centuries past. Your book has brought to light that Heaven is much like Earth, only more pleasurable. Your view that animals would be in Heaven was quite interesting, and I'm sure very comforting to many people who have lost their beloved pets. I have also recently finished "The Five People You Meet In Heaven" and there were many differences between your two Heavens, but one that stuck out to me was the fact that in your Heaven, people would take on their perfect being. Albom, however, believes that however you looked when you died is how you would end up in Heaven. All in all, I did enjoy reading your book, it was quite a different but pleasant read, and I would reccommend it to others.
Message:
Mr. Destefano, I also recently completed your book, A Travel Guide to Heaven. I would like to offer you my criticism on the style you chose in transferring the meaning of heaven to your readers. I've been in Catholic school my whole life, and this is the first time I've read about Heaven in this manner. The book was very down to earth and the concepts did not give you a headache, unlike other lectures regarding Heaven. Also, this book was the first time I learned of scripture references on the nature of heaven and what it will be like. Often in my past I was taught what Heaven was, but it was conveyed as something I really couldn't understand with my intelligence, because no person on Earth has ever been to Heaven then came back to tell us what it was like. Your concepts, however, are much easier to relate to. Thank you for donating this work to us, I don't think you realize how many people's perspectives have been changed due to A Travel Guide to Heaven.
Message:
The book was a very interesting read. It had vivid descriptions which allowed the reader to imagine themselves in that atmosphere. I mostly enjoyed the book, because it gave me a different view of what heaven would be like, but I felt that it was a bit fantasized. Some of the things I could not imagine, like being able to go fishing with someone you were a fan of, just because you all were both in heaven. I also didnt understand the part about going to heaven and having a more perfect body (what if you perceived your body as perfect before you got to heaven?). Other than my minor concerns I thought the book was a good read and would reccomend it to many others. It kept me fully entertained from beginning to end.
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The book was a very descrptive read. There were times where i had to question whether or not the author had been to heaven. The way that things would be in heaven seemed very likely. I understand the concept of everyone in heaven having the form that they were most happy with. I now have a better understanding of the concept of heaven and what things will be like thanks to you.
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Hello, I read your book and although I understood that you were trying to give people an idea of what heaven would be like, I came off with both negative and positive aspects about it. What I liked about it was that in giving a more concrete image of what heaven is like, it in a way answers several questions that anyone would have about it, especially regarding relationships and material things. It can give the reader a sense of relief almost that not only are we with everything in heaven, but we can do everything that we did here on Earth in heaven, but with a higher degree of pleasure. It almost gives off a feeling that we shouldnt be afraid of death because we already know what we should expect after death. However, this is exactly the reason why I did not really like it. If everyone knows what heaven is like already, there is no mystery in it. For me, I feel as if you explained too much. You described all the material aspects, which can be pleasing for the reader. However, in doing this, it takes away a vital message for me as a Catholic. Its not supposed to be the material things that matter, right? Were supposed to live in this world personally detached from physical things (such as wealth) because more often than not they can control us and cloud what is really important- care and concern for other people from the goodness of your heart, regardless if they are personally connected to you. But emphasizing Heaven in such a way can motivate people to do good because they want a safe, sure way to a wonderful place-not because it is in their heart to do it. Im not saying that Heaven is not such a place, but I dont think that Heaven being a mystery is such a bad thing. I feel that it is the mystery that enables true selfless goodness to come out in people. Although I didn't agree with your book, I appreciate what you were trying to do. The picture that you painted of Heaven is truely great and it was very easy to read your book.
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I really enjoyed reading your book, it had reminded me and helped me to continue keeping the faith that I grew up with. We sometimes tend to be afraid to use our imagination towards the easiest thing to imagine but, personally I though that doing this I would only bring my self to see an unreachable part of the reality. Something’s are given to some specific people and for me to give my self an image of something unreachable is sometimes that is sometimes impossible for me to imagine. thankfully reading your book opened my mind and helped me be a little more open minded to the fact that God does want the best for his children and that God made all of us and he saw that it was good, so i realized again, thanks to your book, that he doest through anything away or let it be wasted. SO KNOW I KNOW and feel the optimism and the feeling to continue and go on with the journey that God has for me because I know that my outcome is yet to come.
Message:
Dear Mr. Stefano I just recently completed your book.. And I must say it was an interesting read. I througly enjoyed it, and wit a good nature toward the subject made it an easy read.
