What happens after we die? This question is still being debated by scientists, theologians, philosophers, and ordinary people. Yet for all our sophisticated knowledge and reasoning powers, we still don’t have concrete answers. As medical and scientific data reveals the inner workings of our universe and our bodies, new information may shed more light on near-death experiences.
What Is a Near-Death Experience?
You’ve probably heard about near-death experiences, also known as NDEs. Some who’ve undergone them report seeing a tunnel with bright lights at the end. Others watched as doctors attempted to revive their lifeless bodies and heard their families discussing their deaths. Many people encountered a deceased loved one, angels, or deities. These accounts usually include feelings of levitation, warmth, bliss, peace, and joy, but a few people experienced terror and dread during their ordeals. Finally, an NDE may feature a review of the person’s life either through panoramic visual images or verbal readings from a “book of life” or an Akashic record.
Individuals experiencing these sensations explain that they occurred either near their impending deaths or after they had been declared clinically dead. The International Association for Near Death Studies adds that some undergo this phenomenon even when they aren’t really close to dying. Rather, life-threatening situations can trigger powerful emotions that may lead to an NDE.
How Does Religion Influence NDEs?
We frequently hear about near-death experiences in a Christian context. Yet a wide range of NDEs have been documented by Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Neopagans. Dr. Gregory Shusan, a historian and research fellow at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, documents NDEs found in African cultures as well as Indigenous American and Australian civilizations. Shusan discusses these at length in his book Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions.
Regardless of one’s faith or creed, NDEs contain familiar religious or cultural imagery. One example comes from a 1986 study discussed by a Sanskriti Magazine article. Several Hindus with near-death experiences reported meeting entities who resembled Yamraj, a Hindu god of the dead. Meanwhile, Thai Buddhists in another study saw the same figure but called him Lord Yama. Muslims encountered clerics or dead relatives, with some finding themselves in lush green gardens resembling Paradise. Chabad educator Nomi Freeman shared Jewish NDE experiences from her research, commenting that they usually met beings of love and light and met with a spiritual tribunal.
A Scientific Explanation for Near-Death Experiences?
In July 2019, the Hindustan Times shared the results of a recent NDE study. Researchers interviewed over 1,000 people from 35 countries, then discussed their findings at a recent European Academy of Neurology meeting. Dr. Daniel Kondziella and his team found possible connections between near-death experiences and rapid eye movement sleep intrusions into wakefulness. Those who had NDEs were more likely to exhibit this blending of REM sleep and waking, which can produce visual and auditory hallucinations. A July 2019 LiveScience article further elaborates that this may occur during times of extreme emotional crises or when the body is approaching death.
Even with this data, scientists are still trying to figure out what triggers an NDE. LiveScience mentions studies that point to possible spikes of electrical activity in dying people’s brains. Others suggest that oxygen deprivation could be a factor. MSN writer Chris Kitching mentions accounts of people with cardiac arrest who remained conscious even after their hearts stopped. Doctors have observed delta waves, associated with a deep sleep state, occurring in people who have been dead for up to 10 minutes.
What NDEs Can Tell Us
As humans, we want to understand how our bodies, minds, and universe work. Science has given us a small peek at the mechanics behind near-death experiences, but it’s still unclear what causes them. One thing is for certain: These visions are universal, transcending boundaries of culture and belief.