Are near death experiences evidence of an after-life?

Question

Do Non-CHristians automatically dismiss all near death expereinces. I myself, as a Christian used to, however I have done a little more research and talked with some people recently and beleive there is some validity to some of the people's near death experiences.

In fact most Medical proffesionals are usually baffled by such experiences and out of body experiences.

Medicial Professionals are not baffled? They can not explain many of the things that out of body events prove true. For example, a patient can wake up and then tell them all who were surrounding them who was doing what and etc, because they saw themselves being worked on.

Answer 1

Yes.

Answer 2

First, near-death and out-of-body experiences are two completely different things. The first is a phenomenon that we cannot yet fully explain, and the second is just crap.

In any event, NDEs do not prove anything and just because they are not fully understood, does not mean that the only explanation is a supernatural one.

As his final experiment, Lavoisier had his assistant stand in the crowd and watch as he was beheaded. Lavoisier told him that he would blink his eyes, if possible, for a long as possible after the guillotine had whacked off his head. According to the story, Lavoisier severed head blinked its eyes 11 or 12 times. Therefore, there is residual electrical/biochemical energy in the brain that does not expire exactly when the body does.

As we learn more about brain biochemistry, we will no doubt come to understand NDEs as a natural phenomenon explainable in terms of the structure and function of the physical brain.

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A blind person can describe what is going on in a room as well. Just because a patient’s eyes are closed does mean they are unaware of their surroundings. There is also the fact that we all have a fairly good idea of what goes on in an operating room during those situations, so that is not an unusual picture for the human mind to put together.

Answer 3

Be careful before you use near-death experiences and out-of-body experiences as proof of Christianity. I'm not going to go into whether I think they're real or not, because that's a whole different subject entirely; but regardless, they vary widely. People have had NDE's and experienced the Muslim version of heaven and hell. People have had NDE's and experienced elements from Hindu religions. People have even had NDE's and experienced the Native American version of heaven and hell. What about them? You have to take those experiences into account if you're going to try to use NDE's and OBE's to prove one religion over the other. The number of pro-Christian NDE's is relatively small in actuality.

Generally speaking, a person will see whatever they expect to see. A Christian will see Jesus, a Muslim will see Allah, a Hindu will see their god, a Buddhist will see elements from their religion, an atheist might see Jesus if they were a Christian earlier in life or someone else entirely... you get the idea.

And the number of pro-Christian OBE's is even less than pro-Christian NDE's. I'd wager that it's less than 10%. If every single person had an experience that corresponded perfectly to the Bible, I'd feel differently, but that's not how it is. I've done a lot of research on out-of-body experiences and from what I've seen, people who claim to have OBE's on a regular basis generally are not Christians and don't have pro-Christian experiences. Like I said, you have to take those other experiences into account as well.

Answer 4

Nope. Medical professionals are not baffled, actually. It's a sensation created due to cut off of blood supply to the brain, creating the same feelings, experiences and emotions as being high on a drug.

Leads some to a state they believe to be the after-life, where their expectations of it brings them to places such as Heaven, or at least the gates to it..

Before being brought back to reality.

Answer 5

No. I used to think so, but now that I'm older and wiser, the evidence just doesn't support it. When you say "most of the medical professionals" you're actually talking about a small minority who are both Christians and WANT to believe in life after death.

Answer 6

There are near death experiences worldwide. And Christians see things that fit into their expectations of an afterlife.

But Hindus see things that fit into their expectations. And Muslims visions are of Muslim heaven. Etc., etc., etc.

This suggests that it is a moment that is entirely culturally influenced, and that what you are seeing is generated by your own neurology, not by a glimmer of an afterlife.

Dr. Susan Blackmore had an out-of-body experience, and began research to prove them true. However, she discovered that she had been hallucinating. Which is what medical professionals agree is happening. They are not baffled. It's perfectly understandable.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 7

Several years ago I had an unusual experience concerning an uncle, a distant relative who lived over a thousand miles away.

While driving my car I suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of this relative that I hardly even knew. He was more like someone I had heard about than someone I knew. It was very strange; it felt as though I was momentarily lifted right out of my physical body. I seemed to be suspended somehow beyond space and time, bathed in a love so intense It felt like I could have just disappear into it at any moment if It would have let me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever at the same time. I realize how crazy this must sound. The experience was so strong that at first I was afraid I was loosing my grip on reality. I finally managed to chalk it up to an over active imagination.

Three days later I got a call from my aunt telling me that this uncle we are talking about had gone into a coma and died the day I had the experience. It felt like ice water had been poured down my back when she told me this. I had lost any real ideas of God or faith and had become somewhat of an atheist. Needless to say this experience caused me to rethink some of the conclusions I had come to.

I feel blessed to now understand that even in our darkest confusion something loves us so much that it went out of its way to assist me and bring me back to a state of absolute certainty about Gods love for us.
During the experience it seemed like there was a vast amount of information that I was somehow allowed access to. One thing that I came away from this experience understanding beyond any shadow of a doubt was that any Idea that God is unhappy with us or would judge or allow us to be punished for any reason is simply impossible.

I can’t explain the love I felt with words. They simply don’t make words big enough or complete enough to do this. The only way I can begin to convey this love to you is to say that there was simply nothing else there. Nothing but love. No hint of judgment, no displeasure of any sort. It is as though God sees us as being as perfect as we were the day we were created. It is only in our confused idea of ourselves that we seem to have changed.

I hope this is of some help to you. Good luck.

Love and blessings.

Your brother don

Answer 8

I don't believe in death. The body dies but the soul lives on. And if that is too much for you, people live on in your memory.

Answer 9

NH Baritone is 100% correct. I'm afraid your research is flawed.

Answer 10

No, I don't think so. I suspect that they have much more to do with neurology than the infinite.