"Nigh unto Death": NDE Research and the Book of Mormon
Kevin Christensen
Journal of Book of Mormon Studies April 1, 1993 DOI: 10.2307/44758635 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | Argues that near-death experience research parallels Book of Mormon accounts: Alma's conversion fits an NDE pattern, Alma and the resurrected Christ show commonly reported aftereffects, Lehi's dream resembles otherworld journey literature, and the testable aspects of the Book of Mormon are said to give Joseph Smith a significance apart from other visionaries. |
Abstract
Abstract This article suggests that contemporary near-death research casts light on several episodes in the Book of Mormon. Alma’s conversion while "nigh unto death" fits a common pattern of experience. Modern researchers have noticed distinctive aftereffects among NDErs. In the Book of Mormon, both Alma and the resurrected Christ demonstrate these aftereffects. Lehi’s dream invites comparison with the otherworld journey literature of many nations. Nephi’s interpretation of Lehi’s dream casts light on the tension between the literal and the symbolic elements of visionary experience. Finally, just as accurate out-of-body observations made by NDErs argued for the reality of their experiences, so the testable aspects of the Book of Mormon give Joseph Smith a significance apart from others who may have experienced similar visions.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times | 1987 | Historical analysis | |
| Neuroscience and the Near-Death Experience: Roles for the NMSA-PCP receptor, the sigma receptor and the endopsychosins | 1990 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Implications of near-death experiences for a postmaterialist psychology. | 2010 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Near-Death Experience as a Probe to Explore (Disconnected) Consciousness | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Near-death experiences between science and prejudice | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |