What is your take or opinion on near death experiences?

Question

Please feel free to be as detailed as you'd like.

While I've done limited research in this area, The material I have reviewed says that in most cases studied, brain function actually ceases. Can the mind still play tricks on us if brain activity is nil?

Answer 1

I find them credible mainly because they have been subjected to clinical sudies and there is such a large number of reported experiences. The fact that both atheists and believers have reported them adds to their credibility.

Answer 2

~~~ Phil ,,,,, As a young child I had a NDE when I was in a Major Car Accident(drunk driver), with major injuries. I had an OBE (out of body exper.) from the scene to the OR, accompanied by a Female Spirit Guide reassuring me the entire way. A few years later I fell off of a 20ft bridge onto some hard wet sand and big rocks by a river in Yosemite, while striking my head on one of the rocks. As I fell, the same lady's voice came and told me to "Just Relax,,,,relaaaax,,,". I did. When I hit I had absolutely no injuries or even a bump to my head when all the witnesses thought I had been killed on the rocks below. There are thousands of Case Histories written by a few choice authors who have dedicated their life to this research. I suggest you read some of these. My first book was by Raymond Moody called "Life After Life",,,,

Answer 3

Once I helped someone research a paper on NDE's, so I've studied many accounts from around the world. What was fascinating is that the NDE's from Western, Christianized cultures were very different from those of Eastern cultures... until you examined the rhetoric. Although their descriptions varied widely, if you looked at what they saw as symbols, they were remarkably similar. Nearly identical (along certain themes), hundreds of them, worldwide.

This led me to believe that deities and whatnot are all symbols and metaphors for something that's THERE but is abstract, something our minds can't quite grasp - they define the undefinable. And, that we create our own experience of the afterlife according to our beliefs.

That's when I really became an atheist... I believed still in a spiritual life energy, but I could no longer believe it was an actual deity. The gods are merely metaphors for something even larger and more abstract. (Later I decided I was a Taoist at heart.)

Answer 4

Before modern medicine nobody ever had Near Death experiences.

Now that formerly terminal illnesses can be treated, the religiously minded have to find some way to interject their religion into it.

And the effects of anesthesia. Even non-believers have had the floating, outside the body experience under certain types of anesthesia. It has nothing to do with the soul, but it can be induced by certain chemicals that place the brain in a state somewhere between waking and REM.

Answer 5

Near death experiences can be a life changing event. I once had one and I didn't see the tunnel of light or anything of that sort. There was complete darkness and this experience caused me to reevaluate my religious beliefs. Made me come to realize we don't know for sure what is on the other side of death so we better live our present life as happy as possible because the afterlife is not guarantee.

Answer 6

Your mind not functioning correctly. I know people say they claimed to see many things and felt like it was real, but let's face it, what's reality to us is what our mind makes it out to be. So if our mind isn't functioning correctly, we likely wouldn't know it and still think what's happening is reality. If you're nearly dead, how do you expect to think logically?

Answer 7

Maybe the experiences are valid, my mother and husband both had one. My mother is a Christian and my husband an atheist, so apparently the experiences are democratic. I don't doubt what they have told me...

Answer 8

They are real.

Two lifetime, close friends who would not lie to me have told me about their experiences and both of them never tell anyone about this for fear of ridicule.

These are not people who tell lies or make things up to impress people.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 9

I've never experience one but If I do I'll get back to you on the Q.

Answer 10

interesting question, i really don't know. this is a question i would have to ask my pastor.

i guess i do believe people have had nde, my sister said that she has a few.