Near Death Experiences
There is a great deal of skepticism about near-death experiences. While there are many written accounts available in medical and scientific journals, which describe near-death experiences, the phenomenon still raises questions. Some think that they are merely dreams, while others believe that they are actual windows showing them of what is to come in the after life. In this essay, I will try to provide positive evidence to suggest that they are indeed real, through facts, polls, scientific studies and personal stories from near-death experiences.
To begin, I would like to define a near-death experience. It is a time when the body shuts down. The lungs stop breathing, the heart stops beating, and blood ceases to reach the brain and other parts of the body. It’s when your body is physically dead. This can occur from numerous things. It can occur during surgery, cardiac arrest, anaphylactic shock, coma, fever, anesthesia, seizures, unconsciousness, severe allergic reactions, suicide attempts or other physical trauma caused to the body (Morrissey, Journey into Consciousness). During this time of death, many people claim be passing through a tunnel toward a bright light and meeting people who have died earlier in time (Mosby, The Mosby Medical Encyclopedia 100). Upon awakening from the near-death experience, the subject may return with unusual abilities previously unknown to them. Some people find themselves seeing auras and other related paranormal abilities, awareness of science and other technologies regarding time and space, and transformations in spirit and personality (Morrissey, Journey into Consciousness).
Polls and scientific studies offer some support concerning the reality of near-death experi...
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...ated fifteen million who have encountered near-death experiences, have seen the light and felt the presence of the afterlife.
In conclusion, while research on the subject of near-death experiences is ongoing, I have tried to present a persuasive argument to show that they in fact do exist. The subject of life after death is one that should be viewed in the context of faith or religion, but the proof I have provided is primarily scientific in nature. Whether one believes in the concept of life after death or not, near-death experiences do occur, perhaps more often than any of us realize. There is simply too much research available to ignore this phenomenon, and there are too many personal accounts written to conclude it is mere coincidence. I truly believe that there are such things as near-death experiences, and I hope that I have shed some light on this subject.
In the United States and worldwide people have different culture, beliefs and attitude about death. Over the past years, death is an emotional and controversy topic that is not easy to talk about. Everyone have a different definition of what is death and when do you know that a person is really dead. In the book Death, Society, and Human Experiences by Robert J. Kastenbaum demonstrates that you are alive, even when doctors pronounce you dead.
felt at the alter or the hope of seeing a lost family member in the here after
If death is really real, based upon the animistic quality of our five physical senses, then how do we know that we are truly alive and breathing, not in a dream? It has been proposed that people aware the existence of surroundings majorly rely on their five senses, which may cause illusions. The ethereal, yet grounded, theory of existentialism provides the landscape for a more positively identified pathway which reaches across the separation exists among humans.
into the category of “private revelations.” Near death experiences are biblical, In Isaiah 6, Isaiah
The video Round Trip, The Near Death Experience is an interesting and informative documentary. Five people were interviewed about their near death experience. Catherine was sick for several years; John almost drown from scuba diving, Mary had complications during childbirth, Alena was in an accident and Allan’s heart flutter during surgery. These five people near dead experience were similar. It is remarkable to hear them speak about their experience and how they are not afraid of death. The near death experience changed their lives. Catherine stated that she sees the future, she will know about something before it happens; also her religious structure became stronger. They all saw a bright light and experience a divine feeling and the power
The conventional belief is that anyone facing imminent death uses his or her final moment to think about those who mean the most in his or her life. While this is nearly impossible confirm, it seems that the overwhelming finality of death would render any subsequent...
John L McIntosh. (2003) . Handbook of Death and Dying. Volume 1: The Presence of Death. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference.
In the light of this belief, it would be interesting to explore the process of reincarnation scientifically. Through the last century, as Buddhism gained more popularity in the West, various people have attempted to study reincarnation systematically. These studies range from in-depth case studies to hypnotic regression experiments and experiences of people who have been through near-death experiences. By conducting these studies researchers wish to see if there exists a scientific basis to Buddhist beliefs.
Cuskelly, Claudia. “PROOF of afterlife? Doctors unlock MYSTERY of the tunnel of light you see when you die.” Express.co.uk, Express.co.uk, 26 Mar. 2017. Accessed 6 Sept. 2017.www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/784095/afterlife-near-death-experience-brain.
“You will be with me today in paradise,” Jesus Christ told this to the thief on the cross while they were dying. However, can people believe that there is truly life after death? In many different religions there are different perceptions of life after death. For example in the Buddhist religion, the Buddhist people believe that life is practice for death. Professor Brown, of California State University of Northridge stated, “The Buddhist people cultivate positive, happy virtuous states of mind and abandoning non-virtuous, harmful, suffering states of mind.” This teaching is mirrored by Christianity teachings as well. Professor Brown also stated, “Death is an opportunity for great spiritual achievement if one is prepared and remembers one’s spiritual practices and beliefs and understandings during the death process.”
Although the meaning of a Near Death Experience is different to the individual, it is described to be a personal encounter with death, later being brought back to life. The man responsible for triggering the later studies of this perplexing subject is Dr. Raymond Moody. During the year of 1975, he published a book, Life After Life, explaining his newfound concept of a Near Death Experience. He heard about a specific case study that extremely intrigued him. “As a student, Raymond Moody heard about the experience of a psychiatrist who had ‘died’ from double pneumonia only recovering after his doctor had pronounced him dead to his family.'; This remarkable case stunned Raymond Moody, and after publishing his book, this case intrigued society. This particular psychiatrist went on to write about his Near Death Experience, but Dr. Moody was the first to research this unknown topic.
Life after death is a topic of controversy in which Bertrand Russell and John Hick discuss the idea of whether it is possible to have life after death. Russell addresses his argument against the idea through his brief essay titled “The Illusion of Immortality” (1957). In addition, Hick also discusses the topic through his work “In Defense of Life after Death” (1983) of why life after death is a plausible idea. In this paper, I will be discussing Russell’s argument against the belief of life after death. As well, I will also be addressing the opposing view by explaining Hick’s argument in defense of life after death.
Mystical or Spiritual experiences occur everyday in so many ways for so many different people. Some people tend to encounter these experiences through religious rituals or even just on thoughts of life itself. Whatever the thoughts or feelings may be, everybody has such an experience sometime during their life. Could the feelings that some may have be reactions in the brain or acts of God to help us realize our faith, and discover new mysteries that may lie ahead of us? Hearing many stories of different individuals can give us new insight into the beliefs of others and of ours as well.
I was very excited to take Death and Dying as a college level course. Firstly, because I have always had a huge interest in death, but it coincides with a fear surrounding it. I love the opportunity to write this paper because I can delve into my own experiences and beliefs around death and dying and perhaps really establish a clear personal perspective and how I can relate to others in a professional setting.
One thing that we often hear is that “death is just a part of life.” So often in our day and age do we hear people utter these words. However, death is far more significant and impactful than some would allege. True death is not merely a time when we cease to exist; it is an entombment, a mindset in which we are dead to this world. Throughout our lives, it is true that we can all be dead in one way or another, but it does not have to be that way. When we have our eyes opened to what death actually is, it is far easier to grasp what the true meaning of life is, and to embrace it. Often, we will come across individuals who are enveloped in death and others who are immersed in true life. The shadow of death and entombment lies upon some, encompassing