It is not difficult to believe that Dr Alexander, who is apparently a brilliant but strongly conflicted man, had a life-altering experience when he became severely ill and was out into a coma. That sort of thing would shake anyone. But it seems he may have begun to exaggerate and embellish his experience, adding details as time passed and the experience became more remote. To some extent we all do this. His financial problems may have spurred him to capitalize on his memories, and to make a book out of a neurological event requires a bit of padding. For me the tip-off is that the scenes and experiences he describes are not consistent with what others who have had near-death experiences relate. Different souls have slightly different scenarios but this one is anomalous and disturbing. As you note, the joy and peace and love that are the gift of a real encounter with Jesus are not apparent in him.
He seems like a very troubled man, and I hope he will come to Christ before he really dies.
I warned Eben what was going to happen to him as my death from meningitis was almost twenty years to the day prior to his near death from the same illness.... Mine November 1988, his November 2008. I purposely did not share mine as I thought I was NUTS at the time. He had his birth family that had put him up for adoption with him at the time and he got caught up in the emotional frenzy of the group. You can’t have two masters.... Either self or God... That’s why diminishing self is critically important!
Dr. Mary Neal, the orthopedic spinal surgeon in Jackson Hole WY and Anita Morjania who had very profound near death experiences and did not digress from the experience by owning it as a possession from ego self. Eben fell into the trap that causes the ego self to seek self validation for recreation, a process that fills self so full there is no room for God. I speak from experience that Eben’s battle is one that a person must constantly be on guard against. I do not criticize Eben, but feel for him as he has chosen the more painful experiential path which will allow many others to learn and grow by observing him.
Side note: I know exactly what Eben’s soul issue is and it is a very difficult one to carry.... The wound of being an unwanted pregnancy and then being rejected by his parents when he was put up for adoption created a feeling of rejection at the soul level that causes one to never feel good enough no matter their accomplishments in life. He could be an Olympic gold medalist or a Nobel Prize winner and still would not feel good enough. It’s how the soul flow pattern develops personality. If God creates the coincidence, I’ll help him resolve the wound. I feel the wound just by waling up to him. He really is a good guy and has helped millions with his sharing.
“the joy and peace and love that are the gift of a real encounter with Jesus are not apparent in him.”
I have had devout Jews share with me that they met Jesus during their near death experience. They came to me as they now knew Him to be their savior but could not share with their Jewish family.