Human beings have always been fascinated by what happens after death. Many people across the globe find immense comfort in believing that there is an existence beyond this physical plane. The phenomena of Near-Death Experiences, events where individuals on the brink of death claim to perceive supernatural visions, is sometimes held to be irrefutable proof that an aspect of our being persists even after the demise of the physical body. But is this actually the case? Let us investigate.
Near-death, experiences are profound recollections of conscious events that people experience when their bodily operations temporarily shut down during life-threatening situations, say a heart attack. What makes NDEs intriguing is their vivid visual and auditory content. Numerous individuals, from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, describe strikingly similar experiences. These include, but are not limited to, the complete erasure of pain, observing a brilliant light at the end of a dark tunnel, separating from one's body and floating above it (otherwise known as an out-of-body experience), and extreme euphoria. People also recount meeting supernatural entities like angels or God. The earliest description of this phenomenon dates back to ancient Greece.
While the exact causes of near-death experiences are yet to be ascertained, scientists have suggested certain physiological factors that might be at play. The insufficient oxygen supplied to the brain (anoxia) during heart failure could account for the vivid imagery that is characteristic of NDEs. There is also a hypothesis that suggests that excess CO2 in the brain could cause the ‘tunnel of light’ which is common to many NDE accounts.
Nevertheless, certain features of NDEs cannot be explained by scientific reasoning. Researchers are still puzzled as to how people who experience out-of-body experiences can precisely recall what happened after they lost consciousness. For centuries, philosophers had distinguished the mind from the body, understanding it to be an abstract and immaterial entity that could theoretically exist on its own. Such a position was called dualism. Modern-day proponents of dualism (mostly religious apologists) assert that the failure of our materialistic sciences in attempting to locate NDEs in neurological causes points to the existence of a mind which is independent of the body.
Whether or not NDEs are rooted in the physical or transcendental realms, there is no denying the transformative effect they have had on individuals. While a few persons report having frightening NDEs, for the overwhelming majority, they are positive experiences. Survivors report having a sense of fulfillment and gratitude, knowing that they are part of something more profound. They feel that they have been endowed with purpose, which leads to improvement in their overall well-being.
References:
1. Higgins, N., & Koch, C. (2020, June 1). What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about the Brain. Scientific American. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-near-death-experiences-reveal-about-the-brain/
2. Khanna, S., & Greyson, B. (2014). Near-Death Experiences and Spiritual Well-Being. Journal of Religion and Health, 53(6), 1605–1615. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24485267
3. Near-Death Experiences. (n.d.). Psychology Today. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/near-death-experiences
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