Authors: William J. Peters and Michael Kinsella (PhD)

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

ISBN: 978-1-9821-5042-6

William Peters, co-author of At Heaven’s Door, founded the Shared Crossings Project and is the Director of the Research Initiative. (2022, inside back cover) Peters volunteered at the Zen Hospice project in San Francisco, California. His training was in social work and teaching. He is a graduate of Harvard (College of Education) and University ofCalifornia, Berkley. Peters has been studying the end-of-life experiences for decades and this was his master’s thesis work also. He works with individuals and groups in the end-of-life journey’s. To learn more please visit his website.

Doctor Kinsella, co-author of At Heaven’s Door, is the chief researcher at the Shared Crossing Research Initiative. His work has been showcased in several journals on both religion and religious theory.  (2022, inside back cover)

The authors say that “Since the dawn of human civilizations, death has been an integral part of life. (2022, p.7) Much of what we know about ancient people and societies comes from careful excavation of their tombs and grave sites. We know what they ate, how they stored their wine and food, what their craftsman bult, their myths, their clothing, what weapons they sued to fight their wars.” 

Peters talks about the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco and how that shaped his decision to pursue death in his life. An example is a man he calls Brad who had a partner, Randy, dying from AIDS. They became friends of sorts and spoke about caring for those dying and what occurs at or near the time of death. “Brad tole me…Randy was resting beside a small fire they had carefully built. As the fire began to pulse, Brad saw a cascade of brilliant white light….he realized this was a different light, coming from above. He began to feel light-headed and noticed a distinct, pulling sensation in his heart…the building seemed to open from above, and he watched as a silhouette of Randy’s body rose through a column of light.” (2022, p.15) 

Another participant, Michelle, her father died suddenly in the hospital. “Michelle recalls the sensation of her father’s presence; It was like he was standing in a doorway just waiting. He was right next to me.” (2022, p.39) 

Christina, another person who participated in this book mother had a stroke close to Halloween. The prognosis was not god and she had been taken off of life support. Christina said her mother “…was gasping for air, and it was really hard to watch someone struggle like that. I did not want her to keep suffering. I put my head on her chest and the last thing I said to her was Mommy, it’s okay. I am here. God is here. Right when I said that, that’s when I felt the light.” (2022, p.54-55) 

Story after story provides similar insight into the unique dynamics of people who are somehow intertwined during or near the time of death. Some were heartwarming and some heartbreaking for the sadness, but either way there was a definite connection between the here and now and the next dimension. 

I am fascinated by this and the possibility that what I believe to be a reality is that. This book was a fun read even through the sad parts.