“Heaven Is for Real” is one of the biggest star-power movies to tackle the afterlife in recent years. But other books and movies have come before with different versions of the afterlife, both real and imagined.
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1. ‘To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story,’ book by Dr. Mary C. Neal, 2012
In 1999, Dr. Mary Neal was trapped under her kayak during a trip to Chile and drowned. As she felt herself dying, she was met with spirits who guided her down a brightly lit path toward a domed structure. Spirits there told her it was not her time to die and that she still had a job to finish on earth.
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2. ‘Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife,’ book by Eben Alexander, 2012
Alexander, a neurosurgeon, had his own brain attacked by a rare illness. He lay in a coma for seven days, but his mind journeyed beyond and encountered an angelic being who guided him into a version of the afterlife.
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3. ‘90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life,’ book by Don Piper, 2004
Baptist minister Don Piper was pronounced dead after his car collided with a semi-truck. For 90 minutes, he visits what he believes is heaven, where hears beautiful music, meets old friends and experienced bliss, before miraculously coming back to life.
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4. ‘Defending Your Life,’ movie, 1991
This fictional comedy starring Meryl Streep and Albert Brooks treats heaven like college: You have to apply to get in. While Brooks makes his case for getting into heaven, he inhabits a purgatory paradise full of good food, entertainment and none of the earthly guilts.
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5. ‘What Dreams May Come,’ movie, 1998
Robin Williams, as a doctor, dies and ascends to a beautiful heaven. Meanwhile, his inconsolable wife (Annabella Sciorra) commits suicide and winds up in hell. Williams risks his own place in heaven by going to hell to search for his wife and try to get her out.