Much research is being done on the subject of Near Death Experiences (NDE) . Many prominent scientists and philosopher are arguing that the visions and experiences of persons who where at death’s door indicates that there is a spiritual existence, which separates from one’s material body and thus there is awareness and life after death.
Interpretation in these cases as proof of an afterlife is not 100% convincing to some. This sparks furious debates between qualified educated people. Each side accusing the other side of cognitive dissonance. This tendency of hearing or seeing only what one wants is well known. The same observations are then interpreted to strengthen their position. We all indulge in wishful thinking. This creates a situation were nobody wins. People get upset that the opposite side cannot “see” the “obvious” and often leads to name calling and questioning the other side’s mental abilities. This result is unavoidable where the participants are convinced at the outset that their position is correct.
I don’t think this is the case in some NDE debates. Many people, including myself, start out with the wish that there is an afterlife and would like to see proof emerge from all the research that is going on. They wish that the research will eventually prove, without a doubt, that there is an awareness not depending on a material brain. There are people who have decided that the research so far, has proven this already and will defend their conclusions fiercely and because of cognitive dissonance see every NDE as more proof of their position. Others. Like myself are not 100% convinced yet and dispute that, although they wish it, the current research results are not convincing enough. An awareness after death requires a spiritual disconnection of the material body, The many anecdotal experiences will be accepted by many people but also rejected immediately by people who do not believe in an afterlife, this stalemate cannot be resolved , There is however a 3rd group of people, who wish an afterlife exists, who want to live forever, but see flaws in the current conclusions because their cognitive dissonance is not as strong and need a better rational proof of the matter. Since NDE could only be valid if the person is actual dead (not clinical dead) and there is some reason to believe that a person “returning” had somehow a part, even an tiniest sliver of life, not measurable with our current techniques, surviving. If that is the case, then NDEs can be classified as dreams, hallucination etc. cause by that tiny spark starting the brain activity up again. The purpose of this blog is not to start an argument whether the evidence is conclusive or not but rather to point out that we are not there yet. I have still many questions and hope to address them in the future. The research is going on and hopefully becomes mor convincing in the future. So far it is not.
Another question I struggle with, why do we even have to do this kind of research. Why did the Almighty not make it absolutely clear in a manner that is unquestionable to all of us, instead of only to a few people who claim to have ESP.
Interpretation in these cases as proof of an afterlife is not 100% convincing to some. This sparks furious debates between qualified educated people. Each side accusing the other side of cognitive dissonance. This tendency of hearing or seeing only what one wants is well known. The same observations are then interpreted to strengthen their position. We all indulge in wishful thinking. This creates a situation were nobody wins. People get upset that the opposite side cannot “see” the “obvious” and often leads to name calling and questioning the other side’s mental abilities. This result is unavoidable where the participants are convinced at the outset that their position is correct.
I don’t think this is the case in some NDE debates. Many people, including myself, start out with the wish that there is an afterlife and would like to see proof emerge from all the research that is going on. They wish that the research will eventually prove, without a doubt, that there is an awareness not depending on a material brain. There are people who have decided that the research so far, has proven this already and will defend their conclusions fiercely and because of cognitive dissonance see every NDE as more proof of their position. Others. Like myself are not 100% convinced yet and dispute that, although they wish it, the current research results are not convincing enough. An awareness after death requires a spiritual disconnection of the material body, The many anecdotal experiences will be accepted by many people but also rejected immediately by people who do not believe in an afterlife, this stalemate cannot be resolved , There is however a 3rd group of people, who wish an afterlife exists, who want to live forever, but see flaws in the current conclusions because their cognitive dissonance is not as strong and need a better rational proof of the matter. Since NDE could only be valid if the person is actual dead (not clinical dead) and there is some reason to believe that a person “returning” had somehow a part, even an tiniest sliver of life, not measurable with our current techniques, surviving. If that is the case, then NDEs can be classified as dreams, hallucination etc. cause by that tiny spark starting the brain activity up again. The purpose of this blog is not to start an argument whether the evidence is conclusive or not but rather to point out that we are not there yet. I have still many questions and hope to address them in the future. The research is going on and hopefully becomes mor convincing in the future. So far it is not.
Another question I struggle with, why do we even have to do this kind of research. Why did the Almighty not make it absolutely clear in a manner that is unquestionable to all of us, instead of only to a few people who claim to have ESP.
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