Considering Anomalous Events During Bereavement as Evidence for Survival
Callum E Cooper
November 27, 2017 DOI: 10.4324/9781315202396-20 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that spontaneous anomalous experiences following bereavement, reported by roughly 50–60% of bereaved individuals in surveys, are relevant to debates about consciousness surviving bodily death and may offer evidence beyond conventional understanding. The chapter also defines these experiences and describes their common features. |
Abstract
It has been noted that experiences of perceived interaction with the dead are common for the bereaved. Surveys have reported that around 50–60% of individuals report that they have had such an experience following a significant death. This chapter focuses on spontaneous anomalous experiences occurring following loss. Anomalous experiences can be defined as experiences in which the abilities a person claims to have, or experiences they have, may appear to be non-ordinary to the person having the experience or any witnesses present – or to the culture in which they operate. The chapter considers the place of anomalous bereavement experiences in the debate of "consciousness and its survival beyond bodily death", and what evidence exists from such events which may add weight to the debate and goes beyond current conventional understanding. It briefly defines the commonality and general features of spontaneous anomalous experiences during a time of bereavement.