Hi everyone,
In today's Sunday Times colour supplement there was an interesting article by Brian Appleyard that is worth reading:
From The Sunday Times
December 14, 2008
The living dead
The afterlife has long been an article of religious faith. And now scientists are finally putting the idea to the test
When I had an out-of-body experience (not a near-death) following a physical healing through prayer, when I was 17, it was life-changing. I had a clear glimpse that life is spiritual here and now, not material. It was so profound that I was unable to talk about it for a few years, but then one day I read a near-death experience and realised that I had had a very similar experience through spiritual transportation (if that's the right word) that happens after death. There was no tunnel or meeting of departed loved ones though, but a brilliant shining light all around, with no shadows and the most awesome and indescribable feeling of peace, joy, exulatation. For about two hours after I came back into my body, I had no sensation at all, no weight, and up to about two days later, still felt as if I was floating on air.
Since that time, I've been very interested in NDEs and am glad that they are finally being taken seriously.
Judy
Interesting reading Would like to know what the outcome of this investigation would bring.
SHO
Near Death Experiences
Near Death Experiences: ''Many of the patients have spoken of the peace they experienced, beautiful, indescribable peace - no pain, no anxiety. They tell us that all that matters is how much you have loved, how much you have cared and if you know these things then you cannot possibly be afraid of death.'' - Dr. Elisabeth Kubler- Ross
Thanks for posting that, it was very interesting. I like the idea of skeptics always going to wriggle.com, but the size and range of hospitals in the study is good compared to most studies.
I like the idea that there might be a seperation between brain and mind and that maybe your mind would float off around the universe when you are dead. But does that then apply to animal's minds as well?
Not so sure about this either:
"[NEDs may] be an evolved mechanism to console the psyche by distracting it from the unimaginable and intolerable prospect of its own extinction"
What evolutionary advantage would there be in developing a distraction at the moment of death? The person who is about to die has already had their chance to add to the population, they're unlikely to have any more kids after they die. Also, surely then someone who is about to have their throat torn out by a wild animal should experience the same calming feelings.
I'm not sure, but I have also heard this (OBEs) being put down to large amounts of the chemical DMT being released by the brain when we are dying, which can cause hallucinations etc.
I did have a OBE when I was small though, or it could have been some kind of lucid dream... as I was alseep but I sort of 'woke up' before i was back in my body, so I had this sensation of being fully aware and awake but I could still see myself lying on the bed sleeping... freaked me out a lot when that happened!
Would be very interesting to see the results of this research. These things are so, so hard to test scientifically, so I find any research into these things interesting, as even the critics will give good food for thought as to how to improve scientific enquiry in these areas.
So people who were clinically dead and could tell you exactly what they saw and heard in place miles away while they were "dead," did it through chemicals? Let scientists explain that one!
Can chemicals explain this?