Near-Death Experiences as Spiritual Transformations

Near-death experiences (NDEs) occur across cultures among people revived from clinical death, regardless of personal beliefs. The experiences of doctors Eben Alexander and Tony Cicoria are highlighted alongside thousands of cases researched by Pim Van Lommel and Jeffrey Long. Van Lommel argues that current medical, philosophical, and psychological views on the brain-consciousness relationship are too narrow for proper understanding, asserting that humans cannot be reduced to their constituent parts. Long studied 834 NDEs and concluded they lead to enhanced belief in divinity and the afterlife, decreased fear of death, and increased compassion.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs) occur in all cultures for many who are revived from clinical death. Anyone, from believers to atheists, can have one. The life-changing, spiritually transforming NDEs of medical doctors Eben Alexander and Tony Cicoria discussed in this article are amplified by the thousands of cases that doctors Pim Van Lommel and Jeffrey Long have researched. Van Lommel believes the current views on the relationship between the brain and consciousness held by most physicians, philosophers, and psychologists are too narrow for a proper understanding. Humans cannot be reduced to their constituent parts. Long studied 834 NDEs and colluded that they result in enhanced belief in divinity and the afterlife, decreased fear of death, and increased levels of compassion.