Ex-atheist describes near-death experience

Standard-Times ^ | 1/31/2004 | LINDA ANDRADE RODRIGUES

[yonif]

DARTMOUTH -- A native son and newspaper carrier for The Standard-Times in Falmouth, Howard Storm went on to earn a master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and for 20 years was an arts professor at Northern Kentucky University. An avowed atheist, he believed that there was no such thing as life after death -- until the day in 1985 when he died and went to hell.

Speaking to about 125 people at Smith Mills Church last week, Mr. Storm became very emotional, often stopping to compose himself, as he described his near-death experience, which transformed his life.

In 1985, Mr. Storm, 38, and his wife, Beverly, were in Paris on the last day of an art tour. Buckled over by searing pain in the middle of his stomach, he was rushed to the hospital. Awaiting emergency surgery, he knew he was dying. He said good-bye to his wife and drifted into darkness.

Standing up, he realized he was between two hospital beds. He looked at Beverly, who was motionless, staring at the floor, sitting in the chair next to his bed. He spoke to her, but she didn't seem to hear.

As he bent over to look at the face of the body in the bed, he was horrified to see the resemblance that it had to his own face. But he knew that was impossible because he was standing over the person and looking at him.

Off in the distance, outside the room in the hall, he heard voices calling him. They were pleasant voices, male and female, young and old, calling to him in English.

"Come out here," they said. "Don't you want to get better?"

He stepped out into the hall, full of anxiety. The area seemed to be light but very hazy, and he couldn't make out any details.

He followed them shuffling along in his bare feet with the memory of pain in his belly, yet feeling very much alive. The fog thickened as they went on, and it became gradually darker.

Overwhelmed with hopelessness, he told them he would go no farther and that they were liars. He could feel their breath on him as they shouted and snarled insults.

Then they began to push and shove him about, and he began to fight back. A wild frenzy of taunting, screaming and hitting ensued. As he swung and kicked at them, they bit him.

Even though he couldn't see anything in the darkness, he was aware there were dozens or hundreds of them all around and over him and that his attempts to fight back only provoked greater merriment.

They began to tear off pieces of his flesh, and he realized that he was being taken apart and eaten alive, methodically, slowly, so that their entertainment would last as long as possible. In that wretched state he lay there in the darkness.

Suddenly remembering a prayer from childhood Sunday School class, he said, "Yea though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."

To his amazement, the cruel merciless beings were incited to rage by his prayer. They screamed at him, 'There is no God! Nobody can hear you!" But at the same time they were backing away. He realized that saying things about God was actually driving them away, and he became more forceful. They became more rabid, cursing and screaming against God, but in time, they retreated back into the distant gloom beyond his hearing.

Alone, destroyed, and yet painfully alive in this horrible place, he yelled out into the darkness, "Jesus, save me."

Far off in the darkness, he saw a pinpoint of light like the faintest star in the sky. The star became brighter and brighter. As it came closer, he realized that he was right in its path, and he might be consumed by its brilliance.

This was a living being approximately 8 feet tall and surrounded by an oval of radiance. The brilliant intensity of the light penetrated his body. Ecstasy swept away the agony. Tangible hands and arms gently embraced him and lifted him up. He slowly rose up into the presence of the light, and the torn pieces of his body miraculously healed before his eyes.

After his words of personal witness, Mr. Storm answered questions for an additional two hours.

"He told me that he has given this talk hundreds of times, but whenever he describes these creatures, he just comes apart," said the Rev. Michael Robinson, pastor of Smith Mills Church.

After Mr. Storm's near-death experience, he entered United Theological Seminary and was ordained as a minister of the United Church of Christ. Since 1991 he has been pastor of Zion United Church of Christ in Cincinnati. He documented his near-death experience in the book "My Descent into Death and the Message of Love which Brought Me Back," published in 2000.

Earlier in the day, the Rev. Storm spoke to about 30 area faith leaders at Smiths Mills Church on the topic "Bringing Passion of the Gospel into City Ministry."

"Jesus weeps for New Bedford," he said. "He can heal addictions, broken relationships and poverty. I broke every one of the Ten Commandments. Jesus can fix what's wrong with us."

[MattAMiller]

When brain cells die they release glutamate which can stimulate other cells. When large numbers of cells die (as in cases where blood or oxygen can't reach the brain the volume of glutamate can cause other cells to die from over stimulation. In order to prevent this the brain will begin releaseing glutamate blockers which prevents more cells from dieing but also interferes with the normal functioning of the brain.

Ketamine, which is used as a vetranary anesthetic, is also a glutamate blocker and has been shown to produce near death experiences when administered to humans.

Here are a few links:

Using Ketamine to Induce the Near-Death Experience

Near-Death Experiences The Skeptic's Dictionary: Near Death Experiences

[missyme]

Just based it on your worthiness in mentioning Howard Stern

[adam_az]

Good thing that Howard Storm is the real McCoy, since it wouldn't be hard for a huckster to invent a tale tale in order to milk people hungry for faith affirmations, eh?

I wonder how many gullible reverent freepers send money to Benny Hinn or various other televangelist hucksters.

[adam_az]

"Just based it on your worthiness in mentioning Howard Stern"

Howard STORM, IE, the fool this article is about.

You DID read the article.... right?

[BobS]

"I don't believe gravity shows up on instruments either, but that is real."

Gravity is very measureable. Put a weight on a spring. A change in gravity changes the length of the spring.

[gcruse]

So how do you vision your death for eternity...?

It's exactly the same passing of eternity as before I was born.
No different at all.

[Ichneumon]

Just based it on your worthiness in mentioning Howard Stern

Time to get your eyeglass prescription checked, Missy. Read my post again. And read the original article, if you're unclear why I'm talking about Howard STORM.

[CyberCowboy777]

but I'm sure a smart guy like you can find more. That's assuming you are more interested in a scientific answer than trolling people who don't have your religious beliefs.

A little passive aggressive are we? I asked if there were studies. period.

Is there any study that shows at what levels of oxygen deprivation one might "see" things?

You were matter of fact about it so I figure you have some medical study under your hat. Anecdotal evidence of a hallucination or a "spiritual" experience really have no value.

[fightu4it]

"Amazing what oxygen deprivation will do to the mind, isn't it?"

It sure is.

[CyberCowboy777]

Thanks.

That was what I was looking for, an actual medical study.

[adam_az]

"You were matter of fact about it so I figure you have some medical study under your hat. Anecdotal evidence of a hallucination or a "spiritual" experience really have no value."

Oh, you mean like the fool this article is about?

You mean like ALL religious or spiritual writing?

Mmm hmm.

Google is your friend. Might want to try using it some time.

[CyberCowboy777]

Post 101 gave me an actual study, that is helpful, an actual medical study - not anecdotal "hallucination" stories.

[adam_az]

hypoxia hallucinations are widely reported among mountain climbers.

i guess you think they must be hallucinating their hallucinations?

ketamine is a drug btw that has nothing to do with hypoxia.

You are a Christian, if I recall, so can you quote scientific studies proving the existence of your messiah?

As you said,

"You were matter of fact about it so I figure you have some medical study under your hat. Anecdotal evidence of a hallucination or a "spiritual" experience really have no value."

Sounds sort of like the all religious books, doesn't it? Yet you chose one and "believe" it. A little cognitive dissonance?

[kaiser80]

I saw hell too, as I had consumed 1 liter of Siwucha (polish vodka) ;-)

[lavrenti]

Here is my story. I know full well what the reaction is going to be.

I had two rather strange (actually three--but the third is too long a story, and not germaine to this thread) dream events.

The first regarded my mother. One morning I dreamed of talking on the telephone with my estranged brother. Speaking about our mother. I was awakened suddenly by my daughter, to tell me my sister was on the telephone.

This was to inform me our mother had died minutes before.

The second occurred last year. A woman I was once rather close to since she was 12, but hadn't spoken to in years appeared in a dream. Standing in front of the 7th Avenue entrance of Penn Station, wearing a black raincoat, Raybans, black pants. Smiling, holding a Coach shoulder bag and a carry-on in one hand. In her other hand she held up a set of car keys or a piece of chalk. Waving.

I woke up going "How the *&^%$ did she show up?" I hadn't heard from her in years.

Twelve days later her brother called to tell me she died. Was in a coma, brain-dead the night I had that dream.

Go figure. That's my story.

[GETMAIN]

Eternity means a looong time. Not being a risk taker, I think I'll play it safe.
So your Faith is the result of a cost-benefit analysis? I doubt that it is, but wonder why you are portraying it as such.

[missyme]

Alright I deserved to be flamed..I apologize...

[CyberCowboy777]

Yes I mean like this article.

One can infer what one likes. You stated a matter of fact and just as you seek evidence or explanation, so do I.

As to my lack of googling ability - I can preform the task I assure you. Somehow though - I thought that your post screamed factual data, a opinion of knowledge. It is so much easier for me to ask you (who lily had a specific case study) than to scroll through google hits.

And I mean like a lot of "scientific" writings as well.

[SkyRat]

I've also heard that NDE's of people who attempt suicide (and fail, obviously) are often very different that the normal NDE's (not nearly as positive)

Really? A friend of mine, tired to kill himself during his teen years. He was death for some minutes and suffered some damage to his hearth. Anyway, he had an NDE and it wasn't unpleaseant. He saud for him everything made sense then. All problems solving each other out. I don't remeber correctly, it's been a while.

[lucidloony]

I had a NDE forty-six years ago at the age of seven.My appendix had burst and it was eight hours till I was taken to the hospitial.A priest was called and I was given last rites.The doctors told my parents the didn't expect me too make it.As the priest was giving the last rites I was suddenly outside the hospital, seventeen stories up on a ledge with my guardian angel. We lived in New York City.As a child I expected my angel too have wings but he didn't. I asked him why not. He said that was only in pictures.He told me not too be afraid I was going too live a long time and besides there was something I had too do in this life. He didn;t tell what this thing was but after I would die and go too heaven. He also said an other child in the hospital had the same condition as mine and would die.It wasn't till years later my mother told me she had spoken too an Italian woman at the hospital that cursed her because her son died and I had lived.Her sons appendix had burst also.After I had recovered and returned home my brothers and sisters all remember me telling them about my guardian angel and what he had told me.My parents said that for about six months I'd walk into their room at night and say I couldn't sleep because a light keep coming on in my head.

A weird little side note.
Two years ago my brother and I were watching the movie,City of Angels,a movie were angels are in operating rooms in hospitals,I told my brother that I hadn't heard from my guardian angel in forty-six years and I wondered what he was up too. A minute later my work pager went off. I was unfamiliar with the number but answered it anyway.It was an operating room in a hospital in Santa cruz California. They said no one had called. By the way, I dont work for a hospital. I do construction work