Since we've discussed religion in a few contexts lately, I'm curious to see what your thoughts on this "phenomenon." My wife is reading God Does Exist, a non-fictional account of a young boy's near death experience where he experienced heaven, met God and Jesus met/learned off his sister whom died before his mom could give birth to her, his grandmother, etc. Of course, there are skeptics who are unsure of the accuracy of this account, and possibly other NDE events, but I'm actually intrigued by them (I've researched many of them in the past). What are your thoughts on these experiences? Do you believe they're factual? Can people truly experience a temporary sampling of what's after life? If so, are these people chosen, or is it simply a matter of circumstance? There are scientific explanations as to why some might experience these sensations in times of critical health, so with that in mind, do you truly think these are real?
MGH, I don't have a lot of thoughts on NDEs, but my best friend's father when I lived in Hawaii claimed he had one. He did not talk about it very much but he claimed he was walking on an inactive volcano crater when the harden magma broken below him. He fell a good distance and actually cracked his skull. He had a metal plate on one side of his skull. The rescue workers did not find him for some time. He claims he saw his own body lying in the hollowed out cavern and also hovered above his own body in the operating room while watching his family cry and pray for him. I am naturally a skeptical person but have no reason to believe what my friend's father said to be a lie. What he experienced I do not know...chemicals being released in his bloodstream causing some weird dream, his brain just acting out a sequence that was deeply rooted in his subconscious, or a truly near death religious experience. Not sure.
I've never been clinically or biologically dead. I've brought myself close, a few times, though . There are many accounts of people seeing "beyond" during clinically dead experiences. In fact, Preacher Jesse Duplantis, often speaks of his own experience, during just such an event. There is NO way to validate the truth of these claims, however, we're instructed by God to show FAITH, meaning, believing in the unseen. There have been enough "miraculous" events in my families history, including some of MY OWN, to sway my opinions regarding these experiences. A lot of people claim a lot of outrageous things. I've gotta see more than just the actual claim, to form my opinion, of these claims. Do I believe people have seen "beyond", yes !
I'm interested in this thread... I've heard stories also, a friend of my Grandfather told him of his NDE.... with similar to others, he seen himself... and told my Grandfather: "If I could learn one note from the music I heard, I'd never have to work again." (roughly quoted) I'm very intrigued by them. Do I believe them to be true... well, yes.
I certainly believe that the people relating these near death experiences are being honest. But it's important to keep in mind that if you are here relating a near death experience you were not dead. Your heart can stop for an extended period of time and your brain cells can continue to be active. Of course eventually, the brain cells will die if the heart does not start again. You will then be DEAD and will not be relating any experiences to anyone, even if they are able to start your heart beating again. After you die, that is, after your brain dies, it takes a while before your organs die, especially if they can keep your heart beating. Your organs can then be taken and transplanted into other folks to keep them alive. I believe that after you die, your spirit lives on and may even be able to communicate with loved ones and even influence their lives. But that's another thread.
The issue with this, is consistency. Many religious and near death experiences have a certain consistency, without influence from other, similar experiences. Throughout the World, people share stories of their experiences, and, there are consistencies present that were not influenced by life experience/teachings and the input from other peoples similar "beyond life" stories. I'm a Christian, albeit, not the best one, but, life after death is a belief held by nearly all religions. Do I allow my religious beliefs to bias my opinion ? I try not too, but, yes, they do. After all, the original teachings of life after death, stem from religion. It's all about faith, bro. All about faith. Let me share a little story, nothing over the top, but, a story. When I was more than a few years younger, I was attempting to make an advancement in my "career". I had sustained some serious knee injuries over the years, and, they were holding me back. My family and I prayed, and prayed; claiming scripture verses for a healing. I was watching Jack Hagee, a Preacher, on TV, one day; he was speaking of fasting. I made the decision to fast for a few days, while I continued to pray for my healing. About half way through my "fast", I was so hungry, it hurt. I was thirsty, tired; I was drained. I was just about to give up on fasting. I went outside and prayed for the strength to complete my goal. I've always achieved my goals, but, this one seemed to be very strong, even in its simplicity, there was just something about this fast that made it so powerful(my father says it was the workings of Satan, and, the Lord testing my dedication). I walked back inside, feeling weak and defeated, but, as I walk past a small TV in our kitchen, something forced me, literally, I felt like my arm was taken out of my control, to turn it on. I turned it on, and, no joke, Trinity Broadcasting Network, was the channel tuned in(a religious network). This alone, made no sense. My grandfather is an Army man, through and through. He pretty much ONLY watches the History or Military channels, and, he had JUST been watching this TV, when I walked outside to pray. No sooner did I turn it on, and, 2 Preachers were in prayer, praying for healing. One of the Preachers said "place your hand over the area you are seeking healing, so, I did. The other Preacher said something to the effect of, "There is a young man watching who sustained a serious knee injury to your LEFT knee during a motorcycle incident, when you were 17, receive your healing, this injury will no longer be an obstacle in achieving your goals". He also said something about the Lord and my struggles to "earn" this healing, but, honestly, I was is such shock, that I do not recall all of the specifics. My sister and grandfather were standing right there. My grandfather laughed, and, said, "that sounds like you"(he is not a religious man, at all). Simultaneously, my sisters face went blank with shock, and, I fell over.I literally lost all control of my body, and fell straight to the ground. There was no reason for me to turn on this TV. I was walking to my room. I did not want to turn on this TV. This experience was totally out of my control, and, out of my understanding. Many people would not believe this story, if it were not supported by 2 other people, who bared witness. So, do I believe that some of the near death experiences shared by others are true, you bet your butt I do. My little story, here, is true. It happened. I've since re injured my knee, haha, but, that was due to my own workings, haha. Either way, my point is that many people close their minds to the unseen...... My father always says that "the words out of your mouth are a prophecy of your future". I believe that. I also believe that our minds can limit the interaction with Divine intervention. If we think small and sheltered, we receive small and sheltered. Just my 0.2cents.
Have you ever had dreams? Aren't some of these dreams a little strange? Your brain can be pretty creative if you allow it to be.
Oh I totally agree. And I think this argument is plausible. I'm just asking what Hooker's position is on this. He just stated that the brain CAN be pretty creative. Does he believe in these NDE or not.
I think there is a lot of consistency with NDEs because you have read or heard many stories. This info is stored in the brain. I think NDEs are like dreams. Maybe being "near death" is like being a deep sleep. Many dreams are based on passed experiences, or things currently going on in your life. Imagine if people thought their dreams actually were real life? Wait, that already happens.
My father was gone for two min on the operating table and seen nothing, I think a lot has to do with the trama that happened to get you on that edge to begin with as the mind combined with adrenalin is a powerful drug and throw in shock and the anything could be possible. I myself has been on deaths door a few times one being thrown threw a cars window at high speed crash,second time tree stand fall and last time a racing atv crash all ended with intensive care emergency room visits,never did i feel i was going to die so my mind never went there i guess. Been at accident scenes were people died while i stood with them,one woman helped everyone else in her car head-on collision and she died on the spot after helping all her family, adrenalin and shock combined can take you to high places. Some beg to live and others even beg to die, some claim to be fine when they are dying while other claim to be dying with only minor injury's. Some maybe the power of suggestion and the unknown combined with the will to live since we all have been told about the powerful light we will see or that could be just a flashlight looking for pupil response from a medic..
love this quote! when i snapped my leg in half in HS begged anyone who had ears to kill me, and pleaded with my dad as they took me off the field to shoot me or just strangle me. man i am a wuss!!!! pain does strange things to ya. but moreso i was crushed that my "future" was doomed my buddy i've talked about a few times earlier on here.. Hunter Jeff, well his cousin was struck by lightning when he was about 13. blew his shoes of and left some pretty bad burns on him...anyway someone at the soccer game knew CPR and performed it on him for a little over 20mins refusing to give up until medics arrived, all the while not being able to find any real sign of life. he ended up living and leads a normal life, but mentions he felt like he was water floating, said there was a light but he was not getting closer or further from it.
I would be very curious to see if there is any correlation to those that believe in god to those that believe in NDE and vice versa. I'll be the first to say I believe in god and I believe NDE probably exist.
