Kongo near-death experiences: Cross-cultural patterns.
Journal of Near-Death Studies 2006 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-2006-25-1-p21-34. (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Kongo individuals from Central Africa who reported near-death experiences |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | The authors argue that eight Kongo NDEs share universal features with other NDEs, such as out-of-body experiences and encounters with spiritual beings, while also containing culturally specific elements. They propose that NDEs have a shamanic basis, with evolutionary implications for genes related to dissociation and religiosity. |
Abstract
Analysis of eight Kongo near-death experiences (NDEs) from Central Africa supports the argument that universal features exist within this experiential form. Respondents described leaving their bodies and journeying to afterlife realms, encountering boundaries, and communicating with spiritual beings. Some accounts reveal culturally specific elements, implying that expectations shape perceptions. NDEs seem related to shamanism, humankind's first religious form, since NDEs contain the same elements as waking visions unrelated to the threat of death. Comparisons of Kongo accounts with two Basuto narratives from Southern Africa extend this argument. The theory that NDEs have a shamanic basis has evolutionary implications since shamanism provides greater survival advantages to those with genes allowing dissociation, hypnotic capacity, and religiosity. Shamanic healing, practiced over many millennia, would have increased the frequency of those genes.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Psychophysiological and cultural correlates undermining a survivalist interpretation of near-death experiences. Journal of Near-Death Studies 2007
- The Tibetan book of the dead: Its history and controversial aspects of its contents. Journal of Near-Death Studies 2011
- Stories (Bylichki and Byvalschiny) about Fainting (Obmiraniya) as a Form of Fixation of the Near-Death Experiences Model Вестник Московского Университета. Серия 20: Педагогическое образование June 16, 2026
- [Brief report].Near-death experiences among a sample of Iranian Muslims. Journal of Near-Death Studies 2010
Cites 7
- Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion December 1, 1987
- Near-death experiences. American Psychological Association eBooks October 27, 2004
- Religion, Spirituality and the Near-Death Experience December 16, 2003
- Wondrous Events: Foundations of Religious Belief Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion December 1, 1995
- The centrality of near-death experiences in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. Journal of Near-Death Studies 1981
and 2 more in the library