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 for my Christian Social Teaching class and I must say that you left in awe. I always imagined Heaven to be a place, so far out of my reach. I never quite imagined it to be anything other than white clouds and angels. Your book helped me to imagine a Heaven that seems real to me, a Heaven that I feel like that is within my reach. I especially found comfort in reading about guardian angels and how they watch over us. Thank you for painting a vivid picture of Heaven.
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Hello, I am a student at St.Johns University and am currently taking a theology class: Introduction to Christian Social Teachings. I read your book : A Travel Guide to Heaven, and find it very interesting and rational. I do feel that heaven will be a similar place to earth but much, much better in every way possible. The book is a great book to read specially for those who are afraid of death, it sooths ones fear of not knowing what happens once we pass away. However, not a lot of people stop to think about heaven. Artists have depicted a picture of heaven in which we are always praying, in the clouds. Not a lot of people stop to think of how they would like their heaven to be, therefore once the end comes, they fear for the worse. I feel that this book should be given to as many people as possible, that way people can go about their life happier without fear.
Message:
i still have doubts about whta heaven is like or if really exsists. after reading your book i kind of got an idea of heaven that wasn't so mystical and intimidating. that when i got to heaven it wouldn't be this huge cloud and that everyone spoke in song and had wings. i guess i am saying i liked the booked the, it heaven down to a humanistic and attainable level.
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Hi, Im a student at St.John's University and I am currently enrolled in Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching. It was for this reason I came across your book. When I first saw the title I can admit I was a bit skeptical. However as I read on I became deeply drawn into the chapters. Each one had a unique heading and stirred interest, my personal favorite was "The Vacation that never ends". I had never realized heaven in that way. I feel each chapter addresses many of the concerns and myths associated with heaven thoroughly. I find it a great motivation to follow christian social teaching. Heaven is usually such a vaguely used term. It was great to get an opinion and ideal of what it could be like. One problem I found while reading was it could be a little misleading, some things were't backed by actual passages in the bible which caused me to be a little wary. I do realize though that this is merely opinion and not to be practiced or preached. You said yourself that you are no theologian of any kind. Overall, I feel that this is great for those aspiring to go to heaven, it causes you to want to find out for yourself what it is exactly like and can even inspire you to re-guide your own path in order to even be elgible to have any travel plans in heaven.
Message:
Hi, im thankful for your wonderful gesture for giving us a free book, with stjohns expensive tuition that last thing we would want to worry about was scraping out couch quarters to buy a book. Let me first say it was a pleasure reading your book, and just how descriptive and well written the book was, but there are a few things i am just very unsure of. In your book, you make heaven sound so wondrous, an ecstasy of unending high. I just feel there is something which we are missing. Although we dont know its everyones interpretation, i feel an emptiness.. - Danny
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I am grateful to Mr. DeStefano for his kind contribution his book to Prof Flanagan’s Christian Social Teaching class. I was initially unsure of how to approach this text having been raised in a severe religious environment. My ideas of heaven had long changed from the happy images of a small child to an austere understanding of heaven as a state of mind rather than a reality while hell with its fire and brimstone was an ever present assurance to those who did not follow the teachings of Christ and the church. I approached the text with a certain bias towards the language of the author and to what seemed at times an over simplification of the concept God and the after life. But slowly as I read, my opinion softened and I began to wonder if DeStefano’s illustrations of heaven, and the resemblance they bore to the comforting images I had as a child, were not so far off the mark after all. While this book has not changed my mind about heaven completely, I did find the chapter on marriage in heaven a comforting one. The concept of a place where there would be no marriage has always troubled me. I love my husband fiercely and dearly, we believe it was God who led us together in the first place, and we have promised our faithfulness for eternity. How then, as a Christian can I reconcile with an idea of heaven where marriage is not justified? Nobody had answered that question for me until I read the chapter in DeStefano’s book. It provided me with a great deal of comfort and the knowledge that God recognizes our union into eternity as we do on earth—it’s simply the form that will change.
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I have always imaged heaven to be a place were we all walk around in white robes and get bored out of our minds for all eternity. I can truly say that reading your book has given me a different perspective on heaven. What really stuck with me is a question you raised in the 1st chapter: "do you really think God is going to abandon his love of creating and his love of the physical just because this little world of ours comes to an end?" And I completly agree. I am not a person that attends church every week, but from my understanding only people who truly deserve to go to heaven will get in, kind of like God's favorite people. If so then why would God make heaven boring for his "favorite people"? Exactly like you said, heaven won't be boring, even though none of us truly know what its going to be like, I have hope that heaven will be like nothing anyone has ever experienced before.
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Thank you for the book Anthony. I recieved it in a theology class. When I first took a glance at the book, I was curious as to what it could possibly be about. As I read the book, it gave me a vibrant image of how heaven would look like. Although, it was only in my imagination where I pictured such a beautiful and spectacular heaven. The more I read the book, the more I thought of how it is too good to be true. I always hear about God and heaven, but I could never believe what anyone says until I see proof. However, this book is good for those who needs inspiration or motivation. And I thank you again for the book.
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I tought the book was fantastic becasue it reinforced things i already thought or beleived, so i love being "right" about what i thought heaven would or should be. it was an easy read, so it was hard to put it down espically the part about our tour guides i never looked at angels in that light before. thank you for the book. i honestly and truely appreciate it!
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i thought the book was motivational not so much for its message but by its way of conveying a picture of heaven differently than other christian books. what i dont get abou thte concept of heaven is why sinners can not go to heaven? dont we ALL sin? just a thought. besides that, i thought the book was organized very well when it came to the different perceptions of heaven. thank you for the book!
