[Brief Report] The Interpreted Meaning of “It is Not Your Time” in Near-Death Experiences
R. King
Journal of Near-Death Studies 2024 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-2024-42-1-p54-69 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative and quantitative analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 106 |
| Population | Individuals who have never had a near-death experience |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Key findings | Most people interpret a vague statement from a supreme being during a near-death experience as indicating they were sent back to Earth to fulfill a purpose. |
Abstract
The typical near-death experience (NDE) is generally understood as an altered state of consciousness that occurs during real or presumed life- threatening and/or near-death circumstances, often including the experiencer’s (NDEr’s) perception of existing as an extrapersonal self out of and/or away from their physical body. The ego, while in this presumed disembodied state, some- times has the impression of encountering personages such as deceased people. otherworldly spirits, and/or supreme beings who may tell and/or persuade the NDEr that they need to return to life, which may or may not include a choice to return. Although sometimes the NDEr is given a reason why they need to return—such as for the sake of other family members, to help others, or to per- form some task for God or humanity. at other times they are simply given an ambiguous and isolated message that it is not yet their time. without any further explanation as to why. In this study, I focus on how individuals who have never had an NDE might personally interpret this type of vague isolated statement if they received it from an authoritative supreme being of some sort under those conditions. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of 106 survey respondents suggests that most people would interpret such a statement under those conditions as indicating that they were sent back to Earth to fulfill a purpose.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences Cardiac arrest survivors | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 34 |
| Do Suicide Survivors Report Near-Death Experiences? Persons who had been close to death as a result of a suicide attempt | 1982 | Qualitative study | n = 36 |
| The evolving self: finding meaning in near-death experiences using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Female participants who had near-death experiences | 2008 | Qualitative study | n = 3 |
| Investigation of the phenomenology, physiology and impact of spiritually transformative experiences - kundalini awakening. Persons having a spiritually transformative experience (e.g., spontaneous energetic... | 2021 | Qualitative study | |
| Near-death experiences and religion: A further investigation Near-death experiencers | 1984 | Qualitative study | n = 40 |