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

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.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

• State of the evidence: Near-death experience ?Unclear

  Argues that eyewitness accounts of life after death are a common motif in world folklore and religion, with medieval Christian visionary narratives closely paralleling modern NDE stories.

  Synthesized October 19, 2026

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on near-death experience, most cited first.