This monkey's (not) gone to heaven
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:05 am
After a near-fatal car accident in 2004 Alex Malarkey was in a coma for two months, a period in which he claimed he visited heaven and met Jesus.
Alex, who was six at the time of the accident, penned a US bestselling book about his alleged experience in heaven, with the help of his father, Kevin, who was also in the accident.
The injuries sustained in the accident left Alex paralysed.
Now 10 years on, Alex has published an open letter declaring the entire book was false. It has reportedly sold more than one milllion copies.
"I did not die," the teenager wrote in the letter, which was published on the website pulpitandpen.org.
"I did not go to heaven. I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible."
Alex asks for forgiveness in the letter and points people to the Bible as "the only source of truth".
"Please forgive the brevity, but because of my limitations I have to keep this short. … I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible."
Since 2012 Alex's mother, Beth, has refuted the claims in the book and has used her personal blog to publish on the issue.
Her blog reads "I am NOT involved with, or desire to be connected with, the book titled The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven. Yes, I am the mom of Alex Malarkey who is NOT an author, nor does he have or has he ever had an agent!
In a December 2012 post Ms Malarkey expressed her frustration at the book and what she said were false claims.
"Please...he is just a boy not a statue to be worshipped or person with some supernatural gifts," she said.
"He does not go to heaven, have conversations with supernatural beings, and whatever visions/experiences he has had or had not had, is up to him as to what he will do with those."
Beth is no longer married to Alex's father, Kevin. It is reported that the book contract with publisher Tyndale House was with Kevin alone and not with Alex or his mother.
Tyndale House, describes the book as "the true story of an ordinary boy's most extraordinary journey".
"But two months later, Alex awoke from a coma with an incredible story to share," it says.
"Of events at the accident scene and in the hospital while he was unconscious. Of the angels that took him through the gates of heaven itself. Of the unearthly music that sounded just 'terrible' to a six-year-old. And, most amazing of all . . . Of meeting and talking to Jesus."
Alex's recent confession prompted Tyndale House to annouce they would no longer sell the book.
"Tyndale has decided to take the book and related ancillary products out of print," Todd Starowitz, the firm's public relations director, told The Washington Post.
