The Promise of Presence and a Place – Reflections on Near Death Experiences and the Christian Faith – Part 1

Light abstract photo © 2011 Dennis Hendricksen

When I was a university student at Camrose Lutheran College I took a class in Thanatology – the study of Death and Dying.  This was the late 70’s when there was a surge of interest in this topic.  It was shortly after Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross published her book on Death and Dying which identified the 5 stages of dying and grieving – these are well known today but at the time it was a new understanding.  This was also shortly after Dr. Raymond Moody published his book Life After Life – the book that first introduced Near Death Experiences (N.D.E.s) to the general public. Since that time I have had an interest in this subject, reading articles and books about N.D.E.s when I come across them.

Recently, while reading the book “The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences” by Dr. Penny Sartori, I noticed that some of the common elements of NDEs are reflected by revelations in scripture. It should be noted that all Near Death-Experiences are not the same, however there are many elements that occur in many cases, and it is some of these common elements that I would like to comment on in these series of posts.

First let me explain briefly what an NDE is:  The International Association for Near Death Studies defines a near-death experience, or NDE as: 

“a profound psychological event with transcendental and mystical elements typically occurring to individuals close to death or in situations of intense physical or emotional danger.”

Not everyone who has been resuscitated after a cardiac arrest remembers having such an experience, it is estimated that anywhere from 1% to 10% of people who have been clinically dead, and then revived, will have an NDE. No two NDEs are exactly alike – but there are often common elements experienced. A NDE typically includes one or more of the following elements:

• Intense emotions: commonly of profound peace, well-being, love
• A perception of seeing one's body from above (called an out-of-body experience,  or OBE), sometimes watching medical resuscitation efforts or moving instantaneously to other places
• Rapid movement through darkness, often toward an indescribable light
• A sense of being "somewhere else," in a landscape that may seem like a spiritual realm or world
• Encounter with deceased loved ones, possibly sacred figures (Jesus, angels, saints) or unrecognized beings, with whom communication is mind-to-mind
• A life review, reliving actions and feeling their emotional impact on others
• In some cases, a flood of knowledge about life and the nature of the universe
• Being told it is not one’s time yet, or sometimes being given a choice to return to the body or stay in the spiritual realm
• Near-death experiencers commonly say their experience was unlike a dream, “more real than real,” the most powerful event in their lives. They struggle to find words to describe it, but insist they now know something new about reality, that “there's more than what's here” (in the physical world). Most feel deeply changed in their attitudes toward life, work, and relationships.

A 1992 Gallup poll projected around 5% of Americans have experienced a near-death experience in their life, yet this is still regarded as an unusual phenomena.  Perhaps this is because those who have had NDEs are reluctant to talk about them for fear of being called crazy, or having such a meaningful experience disregarded or minimized.  After I preached on this subject recently I had five different individuals come to me after the service and tell me about their own experience.

How are such experiences related to Christian faith?  To begin with, I believe there are accounts of NDEs in the Bible. I would like to note two of them here.

I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago.  I don’t know whether it was in the body or out of the body.  God knows.  I know that this man was caught up into paradise and that he heard unspeakable words that were things no one is allowed to repeat.  I don’t know whether it was in the body or apart from the body.  God knows.

  2 Corinthians 12:2-4  (Common English Bible)

In this passage, in which the apostle Paul is likely referring to himself, we have a possible reference to an OBE (out-of-body experience) and a vision of another realm (as it is referred to: the third heaven or paradise).  The phrase “caught up” suggests a sense of rapid movement towards somewhere else.  Thus three elements of the common elements of an NDE are present in this description – a possible out-of-body experience (whether it was in the body or out of the body), a sense of rapid movement into another realm (caught up into the third heaven / paradise), knowledge that is impossible to put into words (unspeakable words).

Some have suggested that this passage is referring to a vision resulting from a trance state, and that possibility is certainly viable as well.  We do know that Paul had many close calls with death, and my own speculations was that during one of these extreme circumstances Paul experienced a NDE.  Some scholars have indicated that 14 years prior to this letter to the Corinthians would coincide with the time Paul was stoned by a mob on the outskirts of Lystra and left for dead (Acts 14:19).

The second account is found in Acts 7:54-60 - the story of the martyrdom of the disciple Stephen, who sees heaven as he is facing imminent death. As Stephen is being executed: He exclaimed, “Look!  I can see heaven on display and the Human One standing at God’s right side!”  There are many people, including Dr. Raymond Moody himself, who believe this to be an account of a Near-death Experience (p.65-66 "Reflections on Life After Life").
 
Stephen looks up and sees a vision of heaven opened up to him, with God the Father and Jesus present.  This is a vision others do not see – thus it seems to be only related to what Stephen is experiencing.  Often those nearing death will see someone, or something that causes them to reach upwards.  Stephen’s vision is located in the sky – upwards as well.  Most significantly this vision seems to give him a deep sense of peace and love – so much so that he is able to forgive his executioners, just as Jesus did.  This profound peace is one of the most common elements of NDEs.

There may possibly be other accounts in the Bible that could be described as Near-death Experiences, but these are the two that I have come across this past year.  In Part 2 I will connect Near-death Experiences with the teachings of Jesus.