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The Soul After Death
The spiritual realm after death defies observation, yet mankind persists in its desire to peer beyond this threshold—a threshold through which we all must pass.
“You will not die. Your body will die, but you will go over into a different world, being alive, remembering yourself and recognizing the whole world that surrounds you.”
—St. Theophan the Recluse, 19th Century
THE SOUL AFTER DEATH is a comprehensive presentation of the 2,000-year-old experience of Orthodox Christianity regarding the existence of the other world, addressing contemporary “after-death” and “out-of-body” experiences, the teachings of traditional Oriental religions and those of more recent occult societies.
Although the mystery of what lies beyond the veil of death is not fully visible to us in this life, nonetheless, writings and teachings of ancient Christianity dating from the first century have proven timeless and straightforward, yielding sound insights into the spiritual world beyond death. From the firm foundation of Orthodox patristic teaching, Fr. Seraphim Rose offers an interpretation of the meaning of the contemporary experiences which have been publicized by Drs. Kubler-Ross, Moody, Osis and Haraldsson, and other researchers.
“He who has the memory of death as his constant companion, painfully seeks to learn what awaits him after departure from this life.”
—St. Symeon the New Theologian, 11th Century
Principal teachings of Orthodox Christianity concerning the properties of the soul after death are presented in a clear concise manner, as taught by Church fathers and teachers of the early centuries. THE SOUL AFTER DEATH offers an undiluted draught of pristine, mystical Christianity as it has existed since the time of Christ.
“You will not die. Your body will die, but you will go over into a different world, being alive, remembering yourself and recognizing the whole world that surrounds you.”
—St. Theophan the Recluse, 19th Century
THE SOUL AFTER DEATH is a comprehensive presentation of the 2,000-year-old experience of Orthodox Christianity regarding the existence of the other world, addressing contemporary “after-death” and “out-of-body” experiences, the teachings of traditional Oriental religions and those of more recent occult societies.
Although the mystery of what lies beyond the veil of death is not fully visible to us in this life, nonetheless, writings and teachings of ancient Christianity dating from the first century have proven timeless and straightforward, yielding sound insights into the spiritual world beyond death. From the firm foundation of Orthodox patristic teaching, Fr. Seraphim Rose offers an interpretation of the meaning of the contemporary experiences which have been publicized by Drs. Kubler-Ross, Moody, Osis and Haraldsson, and other researchers.
“He who has the memory of death as his constant companion, painfully seeks to learn what awaits him after departure from this life.”
—St. Symeon the New Theologian, 11th Century
Principal teachings of Orthodox Christianity concerning the properties of the soul after death are presented in a clear concise manner, as taught by Church fathers and teachers of the early centuries. THE SOUL AFTER DEATH offers an undiluted draught of pristine, mystical Christianity as it has existed since the time of Christ.
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Seraphim Rose
43 books275 followersSeraphim Rose, born Eugene Dennis Rose, was a hieromonk of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the United States, whose writings have helped spread Orthodox Christianity throughout modern America and the West. They have also been widely read in Russia. Although not formally canonized as of 2008, he is venerated by some Orthodox Christians as a saint in iconography, liturgy, and prayer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 18, 2024
What happens to one's soul after death? By now, over at least the last seven or so decades, there have been many reports of what the after life is like from those who have been medically dead and then returned to life. While many have similarities, many are quite different. For example, some report being above the hospital room, seeing their lifeless body, family and medical staff about, hearing and seeing them there. Others report a bright being of some sort meeting them, and asking them questions, non-judgmentally about past events in their life. Others report having a celestial being leading them to a peaceful bucolic meadow with beautiful trees. A few report seeing terrifying images evocative of Hell. Some Hindus report having encounters with Hindu gods in their near death experiences (NDEs). Other Hindus have reported being attacked by yamdoots, demons of the underworld trying to drag them into the Earth.
What are we to make of all this? Is what NDE survivors report experiencing an accurate picture of what will be encountered after death --- or is it something else altogether?
As is the case of many of his other works, Fr. Seraphim delves into an area that many others in Christianity may fear to tread. A scholar in his own right, he objectively examines these various NDE accounts. He then examines out of body experiences (OBEs) as described by those into spiritism and New Age spirituality. There does seem to be some similarities.
He then examines NDEs as described by Orthodox saints and ascetics who were sent back to give an account of the after life. Clearly, there does seem to be a marked contrast between what they've experienced and what others have.
Long story short, there does seem to be an intermediate state between death and full movement into the after life --- where much is going on --- and this likely explains the varied accounts of NDEs as well as the contrasts between some of those and those of the Christian saints.
Best to read the book to find out more if interested.
This is an outstanding book for those interested in learning more about that transition from life to death to the after life. I highly recommend this book for that purpose.
What are we to make of all this? Is what NDE survivors report experiencing an accurate picture of what will be encountered after death --- or is it something else altogether?
As is the case of many of his other works, Fr. Seraphim delves into an area that many others in Christianity may fear to tread. A scholar in his own right, he objectively examines these various NDE accounts. He then examines out of body experiences (OBEs) as described by those into spiritism and New Age spirituality. There does seem to be some similarities.
He then examines NDEs as described by Orthodox saints and ascetics who were sent back to give an account of the after life. Clearly, there does seem to be a marked contrast between what they've experienced and what others have.
Long story short, there does seem to be an intermediate state between death and full movement into the after life --- where much is going on --- and this likely explains the varied accounts of NDEs as well as the contrasts between some of those and those of the Christian saints.
Best to read the book to find out more if interested.
This is an outstanding book for those interested in learning more about that transition from life to death to the after life. I highly recommend this book for that purpose.
October 13, 2013
The reaction this book generated is misleading as to what the book is actually about. Fr Rose was attacked as a Gnostic for affirming that the soul after death passed through a number of aerial toll-houses (twenty, to be precise). On first glance this seems wacky and utterly devoid of patristic and biblical support. However, when one actually reads what the book says and what one means and doesn't mean by "aerial toll-house," it's actually fairly level-headed.
This book is not primarily about "aerial toll-houses." It's a manual on what the Fathers and New Testament teach about angelology, demonology, and answering occultic-claims. And for that reason, it is very useful. Here are the high-points of the book:
The Nature of Angels, both Fallen and Unfallen.
The matter-spirit dialectic of modern man is false. Angels are "an immaterial fire" (25). While angels are limited by time and space, they are not limited in the same way we are. They have bodily form but they are unbounded (e.g., can go through doors and walls). Granted, it's a difficult point and I only bring it up to show the inadequacy of Cartesian metaphysics.
But an Angel Appeared to Me!
One of the most useful aspects of the book is that it gives us good guidelines for "testing the spirits." American Christianity by and large has done a terrible job at this. If someone tells us they had an experience of heaven et al, especially one who was clinically dead and later revived, we often believe them. If they experience "light and pleasantness and feelings of puppies," who are we to say that they are wrong or that their religious experience/tradition is inadequate? I mean, at the hour of death they apparently experienced "heaven." No?
The problem is that research by psychologists across the world, whether ultimately true or not, shows that other religions--Hinduism primarily--can make the same claim. Except that the "after-death meetings" for Hindus are quite unpleasant--there is nothing fun about meeting a Hindu god!
But still it raises a good question: why do most "out of body" experiences feel "warm and light?" Fr Rose has an interesting suggestion: because the soul itself is no longer bounded by the body. He is not saying the body is evil, but the body, by definition since it extends into space and time, is limited by space and time. Out of body experiences, therefore, do not have these limits. Thus one can expect some euphoric experience.
This euphoric experience, however, does not suggest that the person's religious tradition is necessarily correct. It might be, but we need to be careful saying it is correct because then we give legitimacy to some Hindus, most occultists, and many irreligious American experiences.
Fr Rose then goes onto contrast these modern American experiences with the lives of the saints. Fr Rose is not saying that these experiences are merely psychological or fake. He is simply saying they are not necessarily heaven-sent and could be the work of delusions and demons.
Evaluation
Fr Rose's use of sources
Despite many criticisms of Rose on this point, there does seem to be considerable pedigree, both Eastern and Western Christian, of some form of post-death meeting with angels and/or demons. Rose skillfully used a variety of ancient and widespread fathers and holy men on this point. However, I have one criticism of his use of sources: while he was often quoting early Fathers, other times he was quoting the 19th century Russian saint Ignatius Briachninov's quoting of early fathers. It would have been more convincing had Rose himself skipped Briachniov's quotations and gone straight to the patristic sources.
Excellent Response to the Occult
Fr Rose gives a brilliant refutation of today's occultism. He sounds a clear note of warning and gives many guidelines on evaluating the clam that "angels appeared to me."
Are Demons too Powerful?
At the same time, however, one gets the impression that demons are way too strong. Rose tells stories of how seemingly holy men who went to confession, lived piously, seemed to confess Christ were yet dragged to hell by demons over a few sins. I don't deny that some men are hypocrites. While we saw a lot of how demons delude people in this book, we didn't hear too much of how the cross broke the power of hell and shattered the kingdom of darkness. That's troubling, actually.
Re-constructing the toll-houses
Are they literal? A lot of Russian thinkers sometimes say they are. Probably not, though. I suggest, instead, an alternative. Rose mentions CS Lewis in his book. While he has a few criticisms of him, he notes him as an apologist of supernatural Christianity. In the last chapter, after the protagonist dies, Screwtape mentions to Wormwood that the man, while in utter joy, may yet have to experience "pains." It's doubtful Lewis referred to Purgatory, so there could be some overlap with what Rose is trying to say. Other fathers (cf Augustine De Cure pro Mortuis) did believe that "stuff happened after death and the prayers of the pious could in some sense, perhaps, affect the dead," cautioned against reading too much into it. I don't hold to "toll-houses" but I do recommend Rose's work as a good response to occultism and a reliable guide to angels and demons.
I really don't want to criticize this book too much. There is so much in it that was good and helpful. And the possible existence of "aerial toll houses" doesn't bother me that much. What does bother me, though, is that the struggling believer leaves the book with a sense that his faith might not amount to much in the end. That maybe Christ's power isn't strong enough. Yes, I believe in synergy and struggling for salvation,, but the believer doesn't leave the book with much hope.
EDIT: My views have changed somewhat since reading this book, but my point there was that the impression that the demons just might overpower you anyway. Rose doesn't do much to dispel that idea.
Further, he doesn't mention any of the texts that talk about Christ decisively breaking the power of reigning sin and ending the curse of the law. The book is good as a response to the occult, but it is woefully weak when dealing with a host of New Testament texts.
This book is not primarily about "aerial toll-houses." It's a manual on what the Fathers and New Testament teach about angelology, demonology, and answering occultic-claims. And for that reason, it is very useful. Here are the high-points of the book:
The Nature of Angels, both Fallen and Unfallen.
The matter-spirit dialectic of modern man is false. Angels are "an immaterial fire" (25). While angels are limited by time and space, they are not limited in the same way we are. They have bodily form but they are unbounded (e.g., can go through doors and walls). Granted, it's a difficult point and I only bring it up to show the inadequacy of Cartesian metaphysics.
But an Angel Appeared to Me!
One of the most useful aspects of the book is that it gives us good guidelines for "testing the spirits." American Christianity by and large has done a terrible job at this. If someone tells us they had an experience of heaven et al, especially one who was clinically dead and later revived, we often believe them. If they experience "light and pleasantness and feelings of puppies," who are we to say that they are wrong or that their religious experience/tradition is inadequate? I mean, at the hour of death they apparently experienced "heaven." No?
The problem is that research by psychologists across the world, whether ultimately true or not, shows that other religions--Hinduism primarily--can make the same claim. Except that the "after-death meetings" for Hindus are quite unpleasant--there is nothing fun about meeting a Hindu god!
But still it raises a good question: why do most "out of body" experiences feel "warm and light?" Fr Rose has an interesting suggestion: because the soul itself is no longer bounded by the body. He is not saying the body is evil, but the body, by definition since it extends into space and time, is limited by space and time. Out of body experiences, therefore, do not have these limits. Thus one can expect some euphoric experience.
This euphoric experience, however, does not suggest that the person's religious tradition is necessarily correct. It might be, but we need to be careful saying it is correct because then we give legitimacy to some Hindus, most occultists, and many irreligious American experiences.
Fr Rose then goes onto contrast these modern American experiences with the lives of the saints. Fr Rose is not saying that these experiences are merely psychological or fake. He is simply saying they are not necessarily heaven-sent and could be the work of delusions and demons.
Evaluation
Fr Rose's use of sources
Despite many criticisms of Rose on this point, there does seem to be considerable pedigree, both Eastern and Western Christian, of some form of post-death meeting with angels and/or demons. Rose skillfully used a variety of ancient and widespread fathers and holy men on this point. However, I have one criticism of his use of sources: while he was often quoting early Fathers, other times he was quoting the 19th century Russian saint Ignatius Briachninov's quoting of early fathers. It would have been more convincing had Rose himself skipped Briachniov's quotations and gone straight to the patristic sources.
Excellent Response to the Occult
Fr Rose gives a brilliant refutation of today's occultism. He sounds a clear note of warning and gives many guidelines on evaluating the clam that "angels appeared to me."
Are Demons too Powerful?
At the same time, however, one gets the impression that demons are way too strong. Rose tells stories of how seemingly holy men who went to confession, lived piously, seemed to confess Christ were yet dragged to hell by demons over a few sins. I don't deny that some men are hypocrites. While we saw a lot of how demons delude people in this book, we didn't hear too much of how the cross broke the power of hell and shattered the kingdom of darkness. That's troubling, actually.
Re-constructing the toll-houses
Are they literal? A lot of Russian thinkers sometimes say they are. Probably not, though. I suggest, instead, an alternative. Rose mentions CS Lewis in his book. While he has a few criticisms of him, he notes him as an apologist of supernatural Christianity. In the last chapter, after the protagonist dies, Screwtape mentions to Wormwood that the man, while in utter joy, may yet have to experience "pains." It's doubtful Lewis referred to Purgatory, so there could be some overlap with what Rose is trying to say. Other fathers (cf Augustine De Cure pro Mortuis) did believe that "stuff happened after death and the prayers of the pious could in some sense, perhaps, affect the dead," cautioned against reading too much into it. I don't hold to "toll-houses" but I do recommend Rose's work as a good response to occultism and a reliable guide to angels and demons.
I really don't want to criticize this book too much. There is so much in it that was good and helpful. And the possible existence of "aerial toll houses" doesn't bother me that much. What does bother me, though, is that the struggling believer leaves the book with a sense that his faith might not amount to much in the end. That maybe Christ's power isn't strong enough. Yes, I believe in synergy and struggling for salvation,, but the believer doesn't leave the book with much hope.
EDIT: My views have changed somewhat since reading this book, but my point there was that the impression that the demons just might overpower you anyway. Rose doesn't do much to dispel that idea.
Further, he doesn't mention any of the texts that talk about Christ decisively breaking the power of reigning sin and ending the curse of the law. The book is good as a response to the occult, but it is woefully weak when dealing with a host of New Testament texts.
January 14, 2012
I did not actually finish this book, and perhaps never will. It is not devoid of virtue, far from it, but it is depressing as Hell. Literally in a certain sense, because it left me with the impression that as far as Fr Rose and his God were concerned, I was already certain to go to Hell and there was nothing to do about it, nor did any of the two really have a problem with this. God had pretty much given up this planet and was satisfied to salvage a few elite souls, leaving the rest under the thumbs of demons, the good people with the bad, save only for serious ascetics who also were members of a certified Eastern Orthodox Church. Dystopia is too mild a word for such a scenario. Normally if I don't want to reread a book, I will turn it in to a used-book shop. But the thought of this book falling in the hands of a depressed or sensitive person makes that impossible.
That said, for members of the Orthodox Church who need a serious wake-up call for their spiritual life, I think this book may be very valuable. And if you are completely immune to all things spiritual and read it for some scholarly purpose, I suppose it may also be good. It seems quite well researched and authoritative. Just horrifyingly bleak and unrelentingly denominational.
That said, for members of the Orthodox Church who need a serious wake-up call for their spiritual life, I think this book may be very valuable. And if you are completely immune to all things spiritual and read it for some scholarly purpose, I suppose it may also be good. It seems quite well researched and authoritative. Just horrifyingly bleak and unrelentingly denominational.
March 23, 2019
No book of Fr. Seraphim's has attracted more controversy and condemnation than this book, and I would say this is easily his best work. Everything his critics say of it is untrue.
Most of the teaching that has attracted controversy (the teaching on the toll-houses) is simply a presentation of quotes from St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, who in turn was not inventing anything of his own: all the Patristic tradition witnesses to it. You find it in all the fathers, you find it in all the liturgical tradition of the church, from the Horologion to the Menaion, from the Triodion to the Octoechos. Fr. Seraphim quotes St. Ignatius only because he has given the subject the most thorough treatment.
All the preceding is all the more unfortunate since the toll-house teaching is not the focus of the book. Far more interesting is the investigation of the phenomenon of near-death experiences as published in non-Orthodox litterature. These experiences are taken seriously and carefully considered, and the book as a whole is a very sobering warning against demonic deception which is more rampant today than at any other time in the past.
This book is a must-read.
Most of the teaching that has attracted controversy (the teaching on the toll-houses) is simply a presentation of quotes from St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, who in turn was not inventing anything of his own: all the Patristic tradition witnesses to it. You find it in all the fathers, you find it in all the liturgical tradition of the church, from the Horologion to the Menaion, from the Triodion to the Octoechos. Fr. Seraphim quotes St. Ignatius only because he has given the subject the most thorough treatment.
All the preceding is all the more unfortunate since the toll-house teaching is not the focus of the book. Far more interesting is the investigation of the phenomenon of near-death experiences as published in non-Orthodox litterature. These experiences are taken seriously and carefully considered, and the book as a whole is a very sobering warning against demonic deception which is more rampant today than at any other time in the past.
This book is a must-read.
December 25, 2018
Get serious about the life after death.
March 3, 2024
Talk about a page turner. Fr Seraphim answers many of life’s toughest questions from the Orthodox perspective. While this book was uncomfortable to read at times and incredibly sobering, it is a book that every Orthodox person should read.
Fr Seraphim compares and contrasts the near death experiences and out of body accounts from mainstream narratives, psychologists, occultists, and then finally the saints.
It is truly prophetic for him to have seen back in the 80s just how normalized occult practices such as astral projection would be today and how eagerly every day people would seek experience with the dead and evil spirits.
The subject of this book, is a subject that deserves much meditation and prayers as we come to terms with our own immortal souls. I couldn’t help but feel the extreme weight and gravity of raising immortal souls and playing such a prominent role in what is hopefully their salvation (Lord have mercy). I also felt this overwhelming burden for the dead and to pray for their souls as it brings them relief and can even save them. “Let us take care for those who have departed into the other world before as, in order to do for them all that we can, remembering that "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."”
I will be sitting with this book for a long time and praying that I don’t waste the precious time I have on this earth with vanity and distractions, but with prayer and repentance and faithfulness to Christ.
Fr Seraphim compares and contrasts the near death experiences and out of body accounts from mainstream narratives, psychologists, occultists, and then finally the saints.
It is truly prophetic for him to have seen back in the 80s just how normalized occult practices such as astral projection would be today and how eagerly every day people would seek experience with the dead and evil spirits.
The subject of this book, is a subject that deserves much meditation and prayers as we come to terms with our own immortal souls. I couldn’t help but feel the extreme weight and gravity of raising immortal souls and playing such a prominent role in what is hopefully their salvation (Lord have mercy). I also felt this overwhelming burden for the dead and to pray for their souls as it brings them relief and can even save them. “Let us take care for those who have departed into the other world before as, in order to do for them all that we can, remembering that "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."”
I will be sitting with this book for a long time and praying that I don’t waste the precious time I have on this earth with vanity and distractions, but with prayer and repentance and faithfulness to Christ.
October 16, 2013
I have not read this in over 20 years. Time to return and give it a second look.
February 26, 2021
Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the journey the soul will take after death. As St Theophan said “No matter how absurd the idea of the toll-houses may seem to our ‘wise men’ they will not escape passing through them.”
February 6, 2023
Not for me
Well, there is, undoubtedly a lot of research in this book, and there is much to learn from it, it is certainly not a view that I share as a Christian about the afterlife in many ways. This book is rooted in Russian orthodox theology, and tends to emphasize the platonic soul more than the Christian view of the afterlife. It is well written, but it is not a book I enjoyed, or that I necessarily subscribe to as one who considers himself orthodox in my faith.
Well, there is, undoubtedly a lot of research in this book, and there is much to learn from it, it is certainly not a view that I share as a Christian about the afterlife in many ways. This book is rooted in Russian orthodox theology, and tends to emphasize the platonic soul more than the Christian view of the afterlife. It is well written, but it is not a book I enjoyed, or that I necessarily subscribe to as one who considers himself orthodox in my faith.
Read
July 8, 2023If this doesn't inspire the fear of God, something is very wrong. Many accounts of after-death experiences. Rose distinguishes the occult from the true spiritual ones, showing how the spirits of the air are deceiving people even here, just like supposed aliens and unidentified flying objects are deceptions tailored by demons to fool specifically Modern agnostic atheist types. This part links this work to his other work Religion of the Future. A good part of this book is about toll-houses, and Rose with his sources shows it to be *obviously* Orthodox, while previously I was under the impression that it was somewhat speculative and simply not ruled out (theologoumenon). No, when you put ancient quotes together side by side, you get exactly the view depicted by the Ikon depicted on the cover of this very book, i.e. the requisite post-death pre-final-judgment journey of each soul through the toll houses. True, it is not dogma, but considering it pertains to a very difficult to access /other world/ the subject does not admit of the clarity or precision needed for dogma. The category it falls under is "the tradition of Orthodox piety" says Rose (pg 244). And tradition is very important, as Christ Jesus Himself affirms in the gospels (affirming the institution and even teachings of Pharisees just not their behavior and use of these, denying only "traditions of men," where the ultimate /source/ is man, e.g. heresy, e.g. Sadducee doctrine that there is no resurrection).
Rose offers some guidelines for any unfortunate demonic encounters you may have.
He shows the Orthodox doctrine about the body and the soul, and how it's a Modern idea that after death we have no bodies, supposedly like the angels. No. Angels and even souls are spatial, and have a material aspect to them, just matter and space of a different kind he describes here.
Lots of good info here. Lots of fearsome accounts.
Rose offers some guidelines for any unfortunate demonic encounters you may have.
He shows the Orthodox doctrine about the body and the soul, and how it's a Modern idea that after death we have no bodies, supposedly like the angels. No. Angels and even souls are spatial, and have a material aspect to them, just matter and space of a different kind he describes here.
Lots of good info here. Lots of fearsome accounts.
November 4, 2019
Cartea Părintelui Serafim Rose aduce o mare claritate în problema vieții sufletului după moarte. Lumea aceasta este umbră și vis. Scopul vieții omului este mântuirea sufletului. Ce folos de toate dacă, Doamne ferește, nu ne mântuim? Autorul a primit un mare har de la Dumnezeu de a înfățișa limpede chestiuni foarte controversate pentru înțelepciunea omenească. (vezi și Ortodoxia și religia viitorului). Am fost uimit să aflu că sufletul după moarte parcurge exact drumul pe care Biserica noastră îl arată de veacuri. Învățătura aceasta nu e o alegorie, cum am fost tentat să cred. Noi ne numim creștini, dar deseori dăm dovadă de puțină credință și multă ignoranță, când vine vorba de chestiuni proprii creștinismului, cum ar fi și problema vieții de după moarte.
April 21, 2015
Эту книгу прочитать всем, кто все ещё сомневается в существовании ада! А также тем, кто хочет стать лучше и добрее! Чрезвычайно вдохновляет делать добрые дела и рассказывает о самом главном - о процессе перехода в вечную жизнь с Богом! Это самое настоящее руководство по перерождению в новую Жизнь!
February 8, 2022
Blessed Seraphim Rose writes on the proper Apostolic Christian understanding of the age old question.
"What happens when we die?"
"What happens when we die?"
Read
April 23, 2024“It is later than you think! Hasten, therefore, to do the work of God.”
+Fr. Seraphim Rose
+Fr. Seraphim Rose
December 30, 2024
This book is about near death experiences, out of body experiences, and the orthodox Christian tradition on the soul after death.
There is some discussion of occult practises and some of the content is extremely disturbing so take care reading. I found the first person accounts from Robert Munroe and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross some of the most horrific stories I've ever read because they are so spiritually deluded.
It's even worse, because from my vantage point, these people are now passed away, without any renunciation of the occult (I hope they had a change of heart before they died). In fact, in Kubler-Ross's case, she called herself a Christian and wondered why God was taking so long to let her die, as she had no fear of death.
For example, Munroe has out of body encounters with a being he takes as "God" in the astral plane. He weeps because he is heartbroken that this God is so cold and impersonal and not the God of his "childhood and the churches". This poor man has somehow never heard about Satan. The description is chilling and recognisable - but not to Munroe - we see music and a being of light.
On the other hand, I have seen people warning against reading this because the reader might be scandalised or incredulous due to the tollhouses stuff.
Some of the same people represented tollhouses as more a "mediaeval" development. And they represented it as some literal belief of simple-minded people.
Now that I have read the book, this seems unfair. It's clearly not mediaeval, because there are all these earlier references. And it's talking about a spiritual thing:
"And therefore one must firmly remember the instruction which the angel made to St. Macarius of Alexandria when he had just begun telling him of the toll-houses: ‘Accept earthly things here as the weakest kind of depiction of heavenly things.’ One must picture the toll-houses not in a sense that is crude and sensuous, but — as far as possible for us — in a spiritual sense, and not be tied down to details which, in the various writers and various accounts of the Church herself, are presented in various ways, even though the basic idea of the toll-houses is one and the same."
The book makes the case that there is a transition period of dying. Where the soul has left the body, but it has not yet had the particular judgement and gone to paradise/Hades to wait for the final judgement. This takes place in the aerial realm of spirits where the fallen angels reside. Near death & out of body experiences also take place in this realm (although some part of them may be natural). The particular judgement is carried out by angels with fallen angels trying to claim the soul as their own due to the sins and passions of the soul (the tollhouses). I hope I have remembered this right.
If people are deceived by the enemy when the soul is with the body, why would that change when the soul has left the body but not yet reached its destination?
If Christians have to struggle with the principalities and powers while the soul is with the body, why would that change when the soul has left the body?
Miscellany:
- you can still get fake demonic angels of "light" even when dying. Like the story of St. Maura having to deal with torture AND liars.
- "Death, the Judgment, heaven, and hell. We must have a remembrance of these things all the time"
- "Keep your mind in hell and despair not"
- need to think about these things
There is some discussion of occult practises and some of the content is extremely disturbing so take care reading. I found the first person accounts from Robert Munroe and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross some of the most horrific stories I've ever read because they are so spiritually deluded.
It's even worse, because from my vantage point, these people are now passed away, without any renunciation of the occult (I hope they had a change of heart before they died). In fact, in Kubler-Ross's case, she called herself a Christian and wondered why God was taking so long to let her die, as she had no fear of death.
For example, Munroe has out of body encounters with a being he takes as "God" in the astral plane. He weeps because he is heartbroken that this God is so cold and impersonal and not the God of his "childhood and the churches". This poor man has somehow never heard about Satan. The description is chilling and recognisable - but not to Munroe - we see music and a being of light.
On the other hand, I have seen people warning against reading this because the reader might be scandalised or incredulous due to the tollhouses stuff.
Some of the same people represented tollhouses as more a "mediaeval" development. And they represented it as some literal belief of simple-minded people.
Now that I have read the book, this seems unfair. It's clearly not mediaeval, because there are all these earlier references. And it's talking about a spiritual thing:
"And therefore one must firmly remember the instruction which the angel made to St. Macarius of Alexandria when he had just begun telling him of the toll-houses: ‘Accept earthly things here as the weakest kind of depiction of heavenly things.’ One must picture the toll-houses not in a sense that is crude and sensuous, but — as far as possible for us — in a spiritual sense, and not be tied down to details which, in the various writers and various accounts of the Church herself, are presented in various ways, even though the basic idea of the toll-houses is one and the same."
The book makes the case that there is a transition period of dying. Where the soul has left the body, but it has not yet had the particular judgement and gone to paradise/Hades to wait for the final judgement. This takes place in the aerial realm of spirits where the fallen angels reside. Near death & out of body experiences also take place in this realm (although some part of them may be natural). The particular judgement is carried out by angels with fallen angels trying to claim the soul as their own due to the sins and passions of the soul (the tollhouses). I hope I have remembered this right.
If people are deceived by the enemy when the soul is with the body, why would that change when the soul has left the body but not yet reached its destination?
If Christians have to struggle with the principalities and powers while the soul is with the body, why would that change when the soul has left the body?
Miscellany:
- you can still get fake demonic angels of "light" even when dying. Like the story of St. Maura having to deal with torture AND liars.
- "Death, the Judgment, heaven, and hell. We must have a remembrance of these things all the time"
- "Keep your mind in hell and despair not"
- need to think about these things
March 11, 2023
Первая часть книги в большей степени затрагивает спиритуализм в части посмертного духовхого опыта. Эта часть является и самой интересной. Автор ссылается на книги и опыт Ричарда Моуди, Роберта Монро, Эммануила Сведенборга, Элизабет Кублер-Росс и др. Имеется много мирских описаний того что происходит с душой после смерти. Они представлены без христианской интерпретации того что "в действительности" происходит с душой после смерти. Обычные люди говорят что в момент клинической смерти они видят в первую очередь своих родственников. Верующие люди видят ангелов ведущих их на небо. Индусы, соответственно, видят индийские божества. Но как душа может всё это видеть? Автор заверяет нас, что душа после того как покидает тело способна видеть, чувствовать и думать на гораздо высших уровнях, чем когда она скована телесной оболочкой и не отрицает, что все эти видения во время клинической имеют место быть. И даже не допускает возможности, что это всего лишь физиологическое явление в могзе. Но к тому, что видит душе у автора есть авторитетное мнение. Автор, ссылаясь на труды Игнатия Брянчанинова, утверждает, что все что душа видит после смерти, это точно не ангелы и не родственники, и даже не индийские божества. Это все бесы, намеревающиеся на последнем пути совратить душу с пути на небо и подвергают душу испытанию перед последним судом. Это так называемые воздушниые мытарства, которые постигают любую душу после телесной смерти. После того как на спиритуализм натягивается такое объяснение, все мистерия и шарм спиритуализма испаряются, а христианская теория снова подставляет себя не в лучшем свете, основываясь только на том, что в агиографических описаниях представленно множество одинаковых взглядов на концепцию души после смерти ну и как обычно "вера наша в воздушные мытарства - сильна" поэтому это так и есть в действительности. В заключении автор говорит о важности молитв, так как душе умершего в аду будет легче если за него кто-то молится. В приложении представлено довольно здравое письмо критика который с сомнением смотрит на все христианские концепции души после смерти. Автор опровергает все критические положения ссылками на труды дяденек, которые "истинно веруют" ка�� и автор книги.
July 29, 2020
okok so there is a lot to unpack her. starting off this was my first time reading fr. Seraphim Rose, and this was probably the worse book to start with (it being his most controversial and all) but i was introduced to his rather academic writing style and i found his ability to break down metaphysical concepts very easy to understand. i started this book off wanting to take my time with it but near the end i was lightly skimming through pages to get through it. to start off with first things first: this is not a good book for someone outside of the Orthodoxy faith or for someone new to it. THE VIEWS DISCUSSED IN THIS BOOK ARE NOT THE DOGMATIC VIEWS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OR THE VIEWS OF THE MAJORITY OF ITS FOLLOWERS. i need to clear this up because this book is basically a discussion of contemporary after death experiences compared to the "Orthodoxy" view of after death. in this fr. Seraphim Rose teaches the belief of the 20 aerial toll houses. a big portion of the book talks about these toll houses (which is why i got it because i was interested in the topic). there are many flaws in the toll house teachings and i honestly believe it is an anti Christian teaching and a perversion within the church (to simply put it there is no way demons would have a say in our judgement, and the idea of the toll house puts man's soul into a brownie points system where they measure his good and bad deeds which of course is contrary to Orthodox teachings of faith). but dispite this i will have to give this book three stars simply because of fr. Seraphim Rose's amazing way of explaining the Orthodox teachings of the aerial realm which absolutely captured my interest and attention. there is so much to learn about such aerial realms and my reading list definitely grew as a result of reading this book.
April 12, 2022
Fascinating and important. This helped me to pull back from earthly desires and reassess my own Christianity, which I found to be lacking and I am not at all prepared for what Orthodox Christianity has in store for the soul after death, namely the toll-houses. I've read this book as someone who is drawn to Orthodoxy, and in that spirit did I read it and was open to it. For a long time I have been open to near-death-experiences and out-of-body-experiences and more and more people report such things. There is a large community on reddit of people who practice astral travel. I believe a spirit realm exists but I am not yet fully sure if it is something that is external to man or internal via the subconscious. This book was fairly adamant that the experiences people have had are external, especially given the ability people have of reporting things said and done outside of the room in which they departed. Either way, one must accept on faith that there is an afterlife, and one must equally accept on faith that there is no afterlife. Read this and wager your soul at your own peril.
April 22, 2024
I don't know what is up with the Eastern Orthodox and dragging the Catholics. All throughout this work, Fr. Rose quotes St. Gregory the Great at length, painting a picture that he (Fr. Rose) believes is absolutely at odds with the RCC understanding of the afterlife. Particularly, our understanding of the in-between state, which we call purgatory. He says we're wrong for believing this. Well, after reading this, and the amount of church fathers he quoted, I was pretty convinced that purgatory just might be an invention by the Vatican, but hey, what's the problem? If we -invented it- and it functions ALMOS THE EXACT SAME as how the Eastern Orthodox understand it, then so what?
Well, it's worse. If you open up the Roman Catholic Catechism, and go to Purgatory, who is quoted? St. Gregory the Great, speaking in no uncertain terms about a state of purgation after life. How did Fr. Rose leave this out? I don't understand it. Now men of honest heart will read this and believe Fr. Rose and take issue with us where there is none.
Well, it's worse. If you open up the Roman Catholic Catechism, and go to Purgatory, who is quoted? St. Gregory the Great, speaking in no uncertain terms about a state of purgation after life. How did Fr. Rose leave this out? I don't understand it. Now men of honest heart will read this and believe Fr. Rose and take issue with us where there is none.
July 8, 2024
What happens to the human soul after death? Is there a nothingness or bodiless spirits floating around, is there a hell and a heaven?
This is a very important book which goes into modern out of body, near death and after death experiences and puts them up against the scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers and the saints.
What is “the light” described by most? Who is the figure that appears? Is it Christ or could it be someone sinister? What happens to the soul on day 3, 9 and 40? Is there a purgatory?
Father Seraphim Rose answers those and many more questions in a simple, non-intimidating way.
But bottom line: remembrance of death is extremely important. Our life on Earth is temporary, but the afterlife is forever.
In the sobering words of St Seraphim of Sarov: “Oh, if only you could know what joy, what sweetness awaits the souls of the righteous in heaven, then you would be determined in this temporal life to endure any sorrow, persecution, and calumny with gratitude.”
This is a very important book which goes into modern out of body, near death and after death experiences and puts them up against the scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers and the saints.
What is “the light” described by most? Who is the figure that appears? Is it Christ or could it be someone sinister? What happens to the soul on day 3, 9 and 40? Is there a purgatory?
Father Seraphim Rose answers those and many more questions in a simple, non-intimidating way.
But bottom line: remembrance of death is extremely important. Our life on Earth is temporary, but the afterlife is forever.
In the sobering words of St Seraphim of Sarov: “Oh, if only you could know what joy, what sweetness awaits the souls of the righteous in heaven, then you would be determined in this temporal life to endure any sorrow, persecution, and calumny with gratitude.”
November 24, 2024
Some may call this work discouraging. I found it spiritually invigorating. What happens when our soul is separated from our body is a sobering reality, that we pass over into realms and realities we cannot fully comprehend. The principalities and powers of darkness that war against our soul wait to accuse us of all sins, and it is only through genuine Christian struggle and repentance in this life that we can truly ascend to Heaven.
This book will challenge your presuppositions about Heaven and Hell, and what a true out of body experience is like, as recorded by the church by many teachers and Saints. It will stir you to a deeper sense of reverence and fear for the death that awaits us all. May the Lord have mercy on us.
This book will challenge your presuppositions about Heaven and Hell, and what a true out of body experience is like, as recorded by the church by many teachers and Saints. It will stir you to a deeper sense of reverence and fear for the death that awaits us all. May the Lord have mercy on us.
April 14, 2022
An extremely sobering and edifying account of the Orthodox teaching of what happens at the moment of death and subsequently, and how Orthodoxy relates to "out-of-body experiences" and other increasingly common, hard-to-explain phenomena. This book is famous for its patristic defense of the "aerial tollhouses," a tradition much maligned by modernists, but extremely difficult to deny when presented with the evidence of its historical acceptance by numerous Saints and Holy Fathers.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to take their life and struggle more seriously. This book may cause you to feel a certain fear and discomfort, use this to propel your repentance.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to take their life and struggle more seriously. This book may cause you to feel a certain fear and discomfort, use this to propel your repentance.
June 24, 2023
A good summation of the patristic teachings about life after death, with a focus on how the soul departs from the body. The book can be seen as a response to the 1900s trend of post-mortem experiences and their descriptions by people who came back to life by medicine. Fr. Seraphim tries to explain these experiences through an Orthodox lense, simultaneously criticizing extra-ecclesiastical ideas or analyses by the 'spiritualists'. It also has a great number of references in scripture, the Church fathers, theologians and experiences from the faithful and unfaithful alike and it is a great read for whomever is interested in this topic and Orthodoxy in general.
July 16, 2023
Modern Christianity has been demystified, watered down, and stripped of all its roots, making it unattractive to the modern spiritual seeker. This isn’t a problem for a believer, but someone not of Christ will not even bat an eye at the claims of modern Christianity
After finding Christ and Truth through a personal revelation, I knew the modern Protestant ways were out touch with the true spiritual world.
This book only confirms what I have learned on my journey from being in the new age to coming to Christ.
A must read for people who have been deceived by Satan and his fallen angels on a personal level in the astral realms.
After finding Christ and Truth through a personal revelation, I knew the modern Protestant ways were out touch with the true spiritual world.
This book only confirms what I have learned on my journey from being in the new age to coming to Christ.
A must read for people who have been deceived by Satan and his fallen angels on a personal level in the astral realms.
July 3, 2024
Ever Christian needs to read this.
I grew up in the Protestant faith, and I thank God He showed me the apostolic church that has its richness and ancient teaching that comforts me in such a full way that Protestantism just could never do. It's because the Protestant churches have stripped away all the holy traditions and more.
Reading this book is such a big example of the confusion that is taught. It showed me that the the Protestant churches do not prepare one for death. And the explanations given is not clear. Thank God for the holy Orthodox Church ☦️. May God continue to bless it and keep it🙏
I grew up in the Protestant faith, and I thank God He showed me the apostolic church that has its richness and ancient teaching that comforts me in such a full way that Protestantism just could never do. It's because the Protestant churches have stripped away all the holy traditions and more.
Reading this book is such a big example of the confusion that is taught. It showed me that the the Protestant churches do not prepare one for death. And the explanations given is not clear. Thank God for the holy Orthodox Church ☦️. May God continue to bless it and keep it🙏
May 24, 2019
Great book about an seemingly obscure believe in Orthodoxy.
I am a new convert to Orthodoxy and this is my first major exposure to the belief in toll houses. It is very compelling and makes a lot of sense to me especially give in the scriptural and patristic backing Father Rose provides. Some have criticized him for leaning too hard on Russian fathers, but that's not something that bothered me particularly. The book has made me more of a believer, So to that end I would argue it's a good success.
I am a new convert to Orthodoxy and this is my first major exposure to the belief in toll houses. It is very compelling and makes a lot of sense to me especially give in the scriptural and patristic backing Father Rose provides. Some have criticized him for leaning too hard on Russian fathers, but that's not something that bothered me particularly. The book has made me more of a believer, So to that end I would argue it's a good success.
March 7, 2024
It's hard to figure out how to rate this book. I disagree with the author and think he takes an absurdly hardline stance against anything that is even remotely outside of he strict Orthodox Christian worldview, which makes me want to give it a low rating. But, I think he otherwise present as accurate picture of a very traditional (to a fault) Orthodox teaching on the subject. If you're a true believer, you'll have your beliefs confirmed. If you're not, you may be shocked by just how fundamentalist one person can be.
September 9, 2020
Easy to understand, not too long, not too short. This book is a must for anyone who is interested in the truth of what happens, when we die. Interestingly enough, there is nothing particularly new, in fact, Seraphim Rose just shows us the well forgotten wisdom and experience of Orthodox Saints.
There are many "new" books which are not teaching anything new, but they pretend to. This book is nothing like that. Being said that, I've learned a lot, probably more than any other book on this subject could ever teach me.
What I have really enjoyed is the way the author writes. Even for someone who is not deep enough in this subject, it is well understandable what he means.
On the side note, I will definitely read his other books.
There are many "new" books which are not teaching anything new, but they pretend to. This book is nothing like that. Being said that, I've learned a lot, probably more than any other book on this subject could ever teach me.
What I have really enjoyed is the way the author writes. Even for someone who is not deep enough in this subject, it is well understandable what he means.
On the side note, I will definitely read his other books.
September 4, 2024
Sobering. My first exposure to the historic teachings of the apostolic church on what life after death entails.
While certainly a book like this is fear inducing it is likewise all the much more motivating to live this life with far more reverance and gratitude knowing that with each passing day we have opportunities for repentance preparing our souls for death yet life in Christ.
While certainly a book like this is fear inducing it is likewise all the much more motivating to live this life with far more reverance and gratitude knowing that with each passing day we have opportunities for repentance preparing our souls for death yet life in Christ.
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