Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times

Near-death experiences that describe life after death are a recurring motif in global folklore and religious literature, with medieval Christian visionary narratives offering surprisingly close parallels to modern accounts. The book surveys evidence for life after death from near-death experiences, comparing medieval and modern 'otherworld journey' narratives to illuminate contemporary cultural attitudes toward death and religion.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This book represents the first objective, comprehensive survey of the evidence for life after death provided by 'near-death' experiences. Carol Zalewski demonstrates that the eyewitness account of life after death is a common motif in the folklore and religious literature of the world, and shows that medieval Christian visionary narratives in particular offer surprisingly close parallels to the modern stories. In her discussion of the similarities and differences between the medieval and modern 'otherworld journey' narratives, she sheds light on modern cultural attitudes toward death and religion.