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This sort of subjective "I went to heaven" testimony is certainly questionable. I've read a couple of this type of book, and actually went to hear one author. While I don't want to deny their experience as being made up, I think a lot of what they experienced came from their subconscious, and wasn't actually a trip to heaven. Of course, with the potential for making money in the Christian media business, it is entirely possible that the first few people out with this stuff used it to cash in and retire comfortably.

Tyndale knew about the situation for a long time and did nothing. Christian publishing is a bit of a scandal these days.

Never liked the heaven tourism books...piles of junk mostly.

Must be hard getting people to believe you with a last name like Malarkey.

What a sad chapter taking in the gullible once more.

When striving to be current, don't be surprised when you get zapped.

Back in the old Baptist Bookstore days, I don't remember there being a whole lot of books of these types even available for sale. I could be wrong, but I remember shelves of commentaries, some music and lots of bibles and more Sunday school supplies than Carter has liver pills (dad taught me that one). Doesn't mean it was better "back in the day", just seems like bad books are going to happen when you're trying to appeal to a wider "Christian" audience.

One of the things that bothers me about these so-called "Heaven tourism" books is the hold that they have on Christian people (who really ought to know better) vis-à-vis the assurance of heaven. After reading Heaven Is For Real, a Christian told me that there was enough evidence in that book to convince anyone of the reality of heaven. To which I said, "Shouldn't the scriptural testimony about the matter be enough?" Luke 16:29-31 apply here, I think.

Back in the "old" Baptist bookstore days, most of the books they carried were published by Broadman or Convention Press. Their mission and purpose of "serving those who serve churches" put them in the business of providing books to study in order to preach or teach Sunday School, or to supplement the church training program. Remember the plethora of "study course" books?

The recent phenomenon of inspirational and recreational reading, including what I call "theology lite" is what sells now. After all, if you go to the mega church down the road, the only Bible study book you need is the one your pastor authored, right?