The Real Heaven Tourism

The first two verses of this song are fine; you've heard these sentiments before. But the third? Who uses a pop song to teach you how to die?

There have been enough people all across the belief spectrum who have had near-death experiences that match what's being described here -- closely enough that Mindy Smith's deity-of-choice shouldn't be that off-putting.

Besides, the recent spate of debunked "heaven tourism" books from the Christian Industrial Complex is as opposite this song as a pink plastic Christmas tree is opposite a Douglas fir. As if to underscore the bald reality of the lyrics, the melody has some distinctly-modal elements that recall Ralph Stanley more than contemporary Christian music.

Here's Mindy Smith, with "Come To Jesus".