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A personal near death experience
The conclusion near death experiences
The conclusion near death experiences
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Before I deal with Near-Death-Experiences (NDEs), I feel the need to change the term, NDE, as Actual-Death-Experience (ADE) as Parnia insists. That is because those who argue that they experienced the otherworld during receiving resuscitation actually experienced death in a physical sense. So, their experiences should be regarded not as NDEs but as ADEs.
In fact, ADEs are not crucial for me to form my theology regarding afterlife for two reasons. Firstly, I stand on the side of a Lutheran pastor’s assertion written in Zaleski’s book: “If life after death could be empirically verified …., then there would seem to be little need for faith” (263). As ADE can be truly happened to some people, I do not regard ADEs just as the results from hallucinations.
Yet, their experiences are not enough for showing what the afterlife really is. Even though they became to have strong faith in afterlife due to their ADEs, it cannot be applied to all people as the certain evidence of life after death. Secondly, I believe that the reason why God allows people to have ADEs is that God does not plan to summon them as the witnesses for the afterlife but make them live differently as the people of God. In this regard, even the Apostle Paul did not talk too much about his experiences of the third heaven not only because he thought that he heard inexpressible things which a human is not to permit to tell but also because people could estimate his words and behaviors too high (2 Cor.12:1-6). Based on this, I do not think highly of ADEs. However, during the reading, what caught my attention was the articulation about transformed lives of those people who have ADEs. To be specific, both medieval and modern narratives depicting the death and revival of individuals commonly show that the other world’s experiences function as a goad toward transformation (Zaleski, 264-265). There are also lots of surprising confessions of people who have ADEs. After surviving, they started to view life as an opportunity to be a source of goodness of others rather than seeking their own profits (Parnia, 128). So, they try to live each day not for themselves but for others (Parnia, 125). Another thing I noticed about ADEs was the main reason for this transformed life. Parnia points out the reason as the life review happened during the interaction with the being of light (131-132). That is, they met the absolute being in their ADEs, and then they looked back on their lives in a new way. As the result, their lives have been completely changed. In this sense, ADE is similar to a conversion experience. That is because the genuine encounter with God makes people not only realize their wickedness but also experience God’s steadfast love and grace toward them. So, the meeting God makes people understand their lives from the perspective of God. In this context, ADEs make people become converters/believers no matter what religion they have. In conclusion, it is very important whether we believe in afterlife because eschatological belief certainly makes us live more morally, ethically, and altruistically. Q. Zaleski explains that the proper task of theology is not to describe the truth but to promote the quest for truth. What does it exactly means?
As a nursing student, I have had some exposure to death during patient care. My first encounter with direct death was witnessing a patient after attempted resuscitation efforts die in the emergency department. As I observed others reactions, I noticed I was the only one who seemed fazed by the preceding events and the end result, although I didn’t show it outwardly. During my Aging and End of life clinical rotation, I have been exposed to a near death experience with a family and I had the rewarding experience of forming a relationship with the patient’s wife during the short hour I was in their home. From reading the accounts in this book, it confirmed to me the importance of catering to the needs of the family and the dying as an important issue to address as they are critical to overall care.
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.
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
Peoples’ personal life experiences usually affect the topic of their work. John Keats was a famous poet who grew up in an idyllic life until tragedy continuously stroked until his death at twenty-five years old. At eight years old, his father died in a tragic riding accident. Six years later, his mother died of tuberculosis (TB). In the midst of his troubles, his teacher strongly encouraged his reading and literacy ambitions. Living next to an insane asylum, Keats eventually started to develop physical and emotional problems. Diagnosed with TB, Keats helplessly watched his beloved brother die from the final stages of the same disease. Furthermore, he was unable to marry his fiancée, Fanny Brawne. Drawing from his individual experiences, Keats wrote very vividly about the pains and suffering he was going through. He expressed his unfulfillment as a writer, his love and struggles, the fleetingness of life and happiness, and his inner conflicts. Jack Stillinger writes, “It is this combined experience of suffering, death, and love all at once, against a background of serious conversation, reading, and thinking, that accounts for Keats's sudden rise to excellence in his poetry” (qtd. in Everett). All of Keats’s life experiences combined to make works of arts that could only be inspired by individual human experiences. John Keats’s background directly affects the topic of his works in order to realistically articulate his feelings in poetic form.
For some, coping with death is the end of a journey, but to others, it is the beginning of change. The novel, The Hero's Walk, explores the meaning of this statement through the death of Maya. Because of her death, the people who are close to her, such as her father, Sripathi, begin to suffer. However, he eventually experiences a positive change after coping with her death. In Anita Rau Badami's novel, The Hero's Walk, Maya's death is a major turning point which affects the life of Sripathi; ultimately, this loss contributes to his major character development.
My Journey After Death, by Alice Adamek OR The Wrong Jesus: Fact, Belief, Legend, Truth... Making Sense of What You've Heard, By Gregory Monette: Whom would you rather believe?
Considering the arguments from Plato’s Phaedo argue: “Death is not the end and we ought not fear it.” Souls are immortal and continue to live after the body has died. The theories of recollection and opposites are sensible and Socrates can justify them.
Near Death Experiences is a controversial phenomenon that has been debated among researchers, physicians, and the general public. The debate is whether or not what people think they experience is real or if it can to be explained by science. There are twelve characteristics of these experiences that are frequently experienced across the board including out of body experiences which lead to the questions: Does the conscious require the brain, or is it a separate entity that can exist and function on its own? Is there really life after death? Skeptics will answer in the negative and offer many possible explanations, but I can find no good explanation that can account for many of the experiences people have during an NDE.
Having a near death experience is life changing and can change your perspective on life by 180 degrees. A near death experience (NDE) defined by the International Association of Near Death studies Inc, or IANDS Inc is a profound psychological event that may occur to a person close to death.(). One day you could be preoccupied with all the work and stress building up that you do not realize that you need to slow down and take a breath until that breath is gone. There are some people who experience “death” and are fortunate enough to be brought back to life. NDEs transforms people into a whole new person psychologically and physiologically and although it seems it is for the better it usually backfires and affect them in harmful and negative ways.
As most nurses and doctors have noticed over the last few centuries, a very high amount of people experience some sort of vision before they die, often hours, days, and even weeks ahead. Most researchers have concluded that people commonly experience visions and it is not something out of the ordinary (Dong). The only issue is medical research has yet to fully agree on the cause of deathbed visions. At this time in age, most people will say that DVs are caused by an excess of painkillers such as morphine, often given to those about to pass away to help with pain from disease or illness (Barbato). The morphine and other associated drugs is possibly leading those who are taking it to hallucinate and experience these visions. One other reason for deathbed visions is when a person’s brain is unable to distinguish the real from imaginary and living from deceased. This is due to the brain not receiving enough oxygen or when a person is in a stressful environment before their foreseeable death, often found among those who are dying of illnesses at a younger age, as compared to those who are 80 or older (Fenwick). Regardless, each person experiencing DVs is in a state of mind where they either are incapable to produce rational thoughts or is under a large amount of stress, albeit appearing in many forms, and is not
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.
The subject of death and dying is a common occurrence in the health care field. There are many factors involved in the care of a dying patient and various phases the patient, loved ones and even the healthcare professional may go through. There are many controversies in health care related to death, however much of it roots from peoples’ attitudes towards it. Everyone handles death differently; each person has a right to their own opinions and coping mechanisms. Health care professionals are very important during death related situations; as they are a great source of support for a patient and their loved ones. It is essential that health care professionals give ethical, legal and honest care to their patients, regardless of the situation.
It had been reported that, “Numerous people have told of hearing their doctors or other spectators in effect pronounce them dead” (Moody Jr, MD, 2015, p. 17). This is an out of body experience. Each reported feelings of peace and quiet, which transitioned into a bad buzzing noise. After proceeding through a tunnel, they have an “encounter with a very bright light” (Moody Jr, MD, 2015, p. 51). Questions resound around a reflection of their life, what they had learned during it, and if it was worth it. Invariably, each of the subjects’ encounter a border at which they are told they need to go back. “Considering the skepticism and lack of understanding that greet the attempt of a person to discuss his near-death experience, it is not surprising that almost everyone in this situation comes to feel that he is unique, that no one else has ever undergone what he has” (Moody Jr, MD, 2015, p. 83). Naturally, the outcome of this experience has an effect on the lives of those experiencing it.
Personal Narrative It Was March 2017. It was like any other day. Morning dew and clouds. I had just walked out the door with my little brothers Cruz and Marky. Me and my little brothers were just 30 ft away from our house and disaster stuck….