Confed wrote:LDS NDEs reflect LDS beliefs, which are to be expected, but do Hindus have similar experiences where they're greeted by a bunch of holy cows? (Sorry, couldn't resist...).
All NDEs have basic similarities, but people from different cultures/religions have differences. I believe it is the Japanese, or Orientals, who record caves, or going through caves, rather than a "tunnel" of light. Kevin Williams, who I consider to be the most informed non-academic expert on NDEs, has recorded on his site that people from religions other than Christianity "understand" the "Being of Light" in terms of their religious figures, for example a Buddhist would understand the Being of light to be Buddha. Reincarnation is also figured more prominently in Eastern NDEs, but also to a lesser extent in "Western" NDEs.
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research35.htmlThis is Kevin's site:
http://www.near-death.com/Mellen-Thomas Benedict, who was dead for over an hour, recorded:
"There was this light shining. I turned toward the light. The light was very similar to what many other people have described in their near-death experiences. It was so magnificent. It is tangible; you can feel it. It is alluring; you want to go to it like you would want to go to your ideal mother's or father's arms.
"As I began to move toward the light, I knew intuitively that if I went to the light, I would be dead.
"So as I was moving toward the light I said, "Please wait a minute, just hold on a second here. I want to think about this; I would like to talk to you before I go."
"To my surprise, the entire experience halted at that point. You are indeed in control of your near-death experience. You are not on a roller coaster ride. So my request was honored and I had some conversations with the light. The light kept changing into different figures, like Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, mandalas, archetypal images and signs.
"I asked the light, "What is going on here? Please, light, clarify yourself for me. I really want to know the reality of the situation."
"I cannot really say the exact words, because it was sort of telepathy. The light responded. The information transferred to me was that your beliefs shape the kind of feedback you are getting before the light. If you were a Buddhist or Catholic or Fundamentalist, you get a feedback loop of your own stuff. You have a chance to look at it and examine it, but most people do not."
Comment: Mr. Benedict's near-death revelation suggests that not only are the Higher Selves of Jesus, Buddha and Krishna, one and the same, but all of humanity's Higher Selves are one and the same. Perhaps we are different aspects of the same Higher Spirit.
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen045.html]But you get my drift. Are these delusions?
Despite what you may hear from both the pro and con "hardliners", scientists are still seriously investigating the phenomenon and to date there is NO conclusion about whether they are real or brain induced. These are just opinions so far, but "fundamentalists" of both ilk like to portray a picture of certainty, one way or the other. My jury is still out too, but I feel 90% certain they are real. The main reason for this is because it is recorded in black and white, proof, that many of these people were clinically dead, that is had NO brain function while they had these experiences. There are even records of people being dead several days and coming back to life with vivid memories which they often say was "more real than life itself". For them experiencing is believing.
Do folks who call Mormons "cultists" have NDEs where their religious beliefs are reinforced? Where Mormons might see Joseph Smith or Brigham Young running around in Paradise, others might see them in the other place. It's always been fascinating to read about such things.
I have only read a very few NDEs which included Joseph Smith, and he is never figured prominently. One experiencer wanted to talk to Joseph Smith but was told he was "unavailable". Surprisingly, perhaps, even Mormon NDEs focus on Christ or the Being of Light (not Joseph Smith) and Betty Eadie, who is a Mormon, was criticised by Boyd K. Packer for "liberalising" the afterlife. Eadie's experiences are very similar to all NDErs, portraying an afterlife free of "ecclesiastical rule", or judgement according to which religion you belong to and religious beliefs. Surveys show that having an NDE makes no difference in religious participation, in fact most tend to shy away from churches though many attend because of the good lifestyle and focus on spirituality, rather than on dogma. "Guides" whom NDErs meet always say that religion is unimportant, but there is an emphasis on Christ (sometimes prophetic figures) and the moral teachings of the Bible. The message is "do unto others...." etc. Which religion you belong to will have NO effect in your afterlife standing, but religions like Mormonism do help people to stay on track in living more moral lives, and that is what counts. Your tithing will mean nothing (except where it helps others, such as the poor), but how you treat others will have a MAJOR effect in your afterlife experience. Every hurt or distress you caused others (not yourself) will be vividly recalled and you will feel the exact pain you inflicted on them, as if you were actually them. This however, is not met with "eternal judgement", it is for your own future progression through learning firsthand where you went wrong, and to improve your behaviour in subsequent progression, which sometimes, but not always, includes "going back" to keep learning (reincarnation). Those who live more worldly lives will continue to reincarnate (not necessarily on this planet either) until they learn to rise above worldly things (which is basically the Buddhist message) and attain "God status", or what is called "Nirvana", a state where we are God, or one with God. Many NDErs say that we are in fact God, one with the Cosmos, but we come here to learn and experience (and we become separated from that original state) which are the two things ALL NDErs say. This life is a learning experience, and learning to love is the most important lesson we have to learn. (Go back to Paul's sermon on charity in 1st Corinthians, without love "we are nothing".) All your selfish ritualistic religious works done "for salvation" which do not focus on others (people) are useless. George Ritchie, who had one of the most powerful NDEs, said in fact that he felt very guilty for being self-righteous because he went to church (before the NDE) and looked down on others who were not as religious. He felt self-condemned for thinking this, and we judge ourselves by the way, there is no God with a big stick waiting to send us permanently to some kingdom forever and ever. That's nonsense. In fact the Mormon idea of a human exalted God living near Kolob is WAY out of the picture of NDEs, and it's even
more ridiculous if polygamy is included.
by the way, has anyone else on this board ever have one of these experiences?
I have never had one, but I have talked to people who have, and read hundreds of NDE experiences. I don't see "organised religion" fitting into the pattern except where it helps people to improve their lives, particularly how they treat other people. The Bible and other scriptures are only guidebooks not to be taken literally, but as a "moral compass", which means reading them selectively and extracting the ethical and moral teachings. Which church you are baptised into will be irrelevant. HOW you live will be.