Near-Death experiences are very common today and have been throughout history. We hear of common phrases like “my life flashed before my eyes”, and “don’t enter the light”, in movies, books, and tales. Hollywood movies such as the 1990’s film Flatliners and the 1983’s film Brainstorm, bring to light in an entertaining fashion certain truths behind near death experiences. What are near-death experiences? Near-death experiences are phenomena that one experiences in a state of death or near-death. These experiences baffle the minds of scientists, even in today’s society. This has to be credited to the fact that, it isn’t fully understood even by our medical advances. It is also a complicated topic that brings the unending battle between science and religion. This paper, purposely written to bring to light the effect of near-death experiences on individuals, also looks into the history, fields of study, theories, and all associated controversies.
Understanding near-death experiences normally leads to the debate between science and religion. Science gives many theories as to how near-death experiences occur. On the other side of the coin, religious people believe near-death experiences are the proof of the afterlife and proof that the human mind, also known as the soul, can exist without the functioning of the human body. Both present remarkable arguments as to why one is correct, but both are, to put it plainly, hypotheses. Until further studies of near-death experiences and technological advances are made in the field of study, it will be reasonable to say that this debate would most likely have no winner. Rather than take the easy way out and present both sides of the story, and declare a stalemate, I decided to look at another si...
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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
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.
This investigation into the paranormal eventually evolved into the field of parapsychology. Current research in parapsychology has three focuses: psychokinesis (PK), extrasensory perception (ESP), and survival-after-bodily-death experiences. Psychokenisis is direct mental interaction with objects animate or inanimate. Extrasensory perception is a general term for obtaining information about events beyond the reach of the normal senses ("Parapsychology FAQ"). Survival-after-bodily-death is the investigation into events and phenomena dealing with life after death.
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.
The mind is a very powerful tool when it is exploited to think about situations out of the ordinary. Describing in vivid detail the conditions of one after his, her, or its death associates the mind to a world that is filled with horrific elements of a dark nature.
John L McIntosh. (2003) . Handbook of Death and Dying. Volume 1: The Presence of Death. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference.
Have you ever had a near death experience? A near death experience is a profound psychological event that may occur to a person close to death in a physical or emotional crisis. Everyday normal people go through near death experiences the NDERF reports that 774 near death experiences occur in the United States. That is not all of the people who do not report their near death experience or die in there near death experience. In near death experience many people experience the following: time past slowly, change in priorities, a feeling of death and experiencing it as a dream.
Greater levels of unfolding will be revealed in retrospect to life and death and how the two cannot share the same space, or simultaneously exist as one. Furthermore, in relation to the principle of dying the death, a revelation is found by sharing the mind of God unto you. As we know, life and death ca...
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.
Renner, T., Feldman, R., Majors, M., Morrissey, J., & Mae, L. (2011). States of Consciousness. Psychsmart (pp. 99-107). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Death occurs when living stops. From the event of death, we have created religious and cultural traditions. It has become the core of literature and entertainment. As a society we are somewhat fascinated by it. Healthcare practitioners fight everyday to prevent it from happening. Can this event, which is absolute, change its meaning over time?
Whereas the prevalence of unanticipated and premature deaths led to pre-industrial cultures to focus death fears on individuals' postmortem fates, the death fears of modern cultures are more likely to focus on the processes of dying. Thus contemporary fears of dying involve the anxieties of dying within institutional settings, where often life is structured for the convenience of staff and where residents suffer both physical and psychological pain in their depersonalization. They also involve fears of being victims of advanced Alzheimer's Disease: being socially dead and yet biologically alive. In sum, the dreaded liminality between the worlds of the living and the dead have historically shifted from the period after death to the period pre...
wrote of death and life after death; yet it is apparent that many have tried to explore
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
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.