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Did St Jerome Have a Near-death Experience?

Michael Fuller

The Expository Times August 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1177/0014524609106839 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Historical analysis Peer reviewed
Topics Near-death experience
Key points Argues that St Jerome's vision, which resembles near-death experiences, was neglected by commentators and likely influenced subsequent Christian reflections on judgment and the afterlife.

Abstract

This article is concerned with a remarkable experience recounted by St Jerome, which has a number of features associated with reports of `near-death experiences' (NDEs). Curiously, commentators who have explored patristic and mediaeval accounts of NDEs have hitherto neglected this account. The aetiology and significance of NDEs is disputed; however, it is likely that the negative aspects of St Jerome's vision were influential on subsequent Christian reflections on judgement and the afterlife.

Comparable studies

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