Digging Up Death

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Raymondmoody

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- Coined the term “Near Death Experiences”

- “The scientific proof of finding life after death isunthinkable”Life AfterLife

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10 Components of Typical NDE

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1. Heightened awareness

2. No longer bound to body

3. Disconnectedness

4. Look down at suffering body

5. Pervasive sense of calm

6. Serenity

7. Enter darkness

8. Whole Life is experienced in flashbacks

9. Enter a special light

10. someone greeting you

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Typical Core Elements

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1. Hears news ofhis or her death

2. Departs from the body (33%)– Dark tunnel (23%)– Bright light (16%)

3. Encounters significant other

4. Returns to body

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Resultsof NDE

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1. Greater appreciation of life

2. Determination to make better use of theopportunities given to them

3. More self-confidence

4. More able to cope with difficulties

5. Relationships become more important

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Theoriesof near death experiences

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1. Neuropsychological: physiological,drug-related, sensory deprivation, endorphins, temporal lobe, (structures inthe brain leading to false sight)

2. Psychological: depersonalization,motivated fantasy, mythological archetypes (hard-wired) 3.Metaphysical: soul travel, spirit journey, psychicvision

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5 Components of Hellish NDE

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1. Imagery& sounds of torment

2. Demonicbeings

3. Emptiness

4. May bepurification

5. or may endwith peaceful resolution, with a guide

Hellish NDEsmay be truncated version of typically radiant NDE i.e incomplete

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Depersonalization

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When the self is confronted by mortal danger,defensive reactions may result in a sense of depersonalization.

3 stages in typical near-death experience:

– 1 Resistance

– 2 Life Review

– 3 Transcendence

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Albert Hiem

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• Early 20thC interviewed 30+ skiers & climbers whohad been involved in accidents resulting in paranormal experiences.

– Detached from their bodies & panoramic memory orlife reviews

• When a person’s life is threatened, psychological defence mechanisms may come into play

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Beliefs about death:a wall or a door?

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• Dying is more than a biological occurrence; it is ahuman, social & spiritual event

• Each person’s spiritual beliefs & preferencesshould be respected

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Traditional theories about death

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• Life continues in some form after physical death

• Rebirth has been characterized as the “mostpersistent image of afterlife in the history of religion”

• Judgment determines eternal destiny

• Guardianship of ancestor-gods important for soul’sjourney to afterlife

• Group identity more important than personal identity

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Limbo

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• Limbo- Unbaptized babies spent eternity in a place ofnatural happiness

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Purgatory

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• Purgatory- Temporary state of purification

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Traditional Concepts (Jewish)

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- lives measuredby deeds and whether one has lived up to his-her full potential

- In Judaism, the customary mourning rituals help thebereaved face the reality of death, give honor to the deceased and engage in areaffirmation of life

- Minyan, Kaddish, Shivah, She’ol (like Hades)

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Traditional Concepts (Greek)

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Concepts ofimmortality Hades (shadowy place with bloodless inhabitants)

2. Conductduring life determined destiny of soul

3. Survivalof POLIS important – Athenian Democracy

4. Life& death viewed as aspects of an ever-changing, eternal flux – soul mergedwith the universe (eventual union with the Divine or Universal Absolute)

5. Othersbelieved that immortality could be obtained by participation in one of themystery religions

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Traditional Concepts (Christian)

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- The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the modelof ultimate reality for Christians

- Intermediate state = period of purification is purgatory

- “sleeping but will someday meet her maker” vs “gone tohis eternal reward”

• Heaven or Hell

• Go Down, Death – *A Funeral Sermon*

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Traditional Concepts (Islam)

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- A Muslim is a person who has submitted to and is apeace with God.

- Islam means “peace or submission”- Qur’an (Koran) readings

- God determines the span of a person’s life- Moment of death is a call to prayer

- The Book of Deeds, good and bad actions have beenrecorded, opened & each person will be consigned to either everlastingbliss or everlasting torment

- conduct on earth = “seedbed of eternal future”

- No one should precede the corpse in the funeralprocession because the angels of death go before it.

- Community is supportive

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Traditional Concepts (Asian)

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- I Ching; (book of changes)

- reincarnation/transmigration of the soul

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Traditional Concepts (Hindu)

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- Belief in transmigration of the soul

- Samsara, wandering journeying or passing through a series ofincarnational experiences

- Karma = moral law of cause & effect

- Death called “Personification of time (mahakala)& foundation of the cosmo-moral order (dharma)”

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Traditional Concepts (Buddhist)

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- Rebirth: unconditional state beyond birth & death that is reached after all ignorance &craving have been extinguished& all karma has been dissolved

• In the Buddhist view,

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Traditional Concepts (Tibetan)

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– Bardo

– Book of the Dead

– last thought at moment of death determines thecharacter of the next incarnation