Posted on 10/08/2012 3:01:21 PM PDT by WilliamIII
As a neurosurgeon, I did not believe in the phenomenon of near-death experiences. I grew up in a scientific world, the son of a neurosurgeon. I followed my father’s path and became an academic neurosurgeon, teaching at Harvard Medical School and other universities. I understand what happens to the brain when people are near death, and I had always believed there were good scientific explanations for the heavenly out-of-body journeys described by those who narrowly escaped death.
... In the fall of 2008, however, after seven days in a coma during which the human part of my brain, the neocortex, was inactivated, I experienced something so profound that it gave me a scientific reason to believe in consciousness after death.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
See you there! I am completely okay with all of that.
I have heard of several “hell” stories. You could probably google (or bing) them.
I’ve thought of that before. Eternity to read every book ever written.
My father was friends with his father. They were both neurosurgeons.
I've heard from those who actually seem to have had a geniune 'peek behind the curtain' that, for example, the 'white light' they 'saw' was much too bright to really call it 'seeing the light' because with earthly eyes, they say it would have immediately blinded them. That's but one example of what you state, being probably true.
There is a little kid’s story, the little kid is now in his early teens, but he tells about being in Heaven at the age of 3 and that he saw his great-grandfather and his older sister. There is a book about his experience. I read the beautiful pictures children’s edition.
We got cynical.
I blame Obama.
Heaven is a may fly hatch on the West Madison River.
Me, I'm going to explore the rest of the universe. I imagine there's an infinite number of life forms on an infinite number of planets. How cool would it be to look them all over?
Does sleep apnea reduce the flow of oxygen to the brain?
bfl
bfl
When I had surgery twice in my life, I had what looked like a “vision” of being with the Good Sheperd.
The Apostle Paul was allowed to see portions of heaven as was John. We also know the account of at least two persons Jesus himself brought back from the dead not counting the busted open graves upon His death. We have documentation of persons being brought back from the dead in the Old Testament as well. Elijah is associated with that event IIRC. Then we have Acts Ch 2
18‘In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
Many person who have worked with persons in the process of leaving this world can tell you of their patients visions and descriptions. Then again some persons have no visions that they speak of. My wife had a NDE & I was with her when it happened. She never lost consciousness in the process and was aware of what was happening. She was describing it to me on the way to the ER. We understand so little of our spirit being which lives eternal.
I've read the of post in this thread and one stuck out. How could a person who has seen heaven at what ever level describe that which is not of this world? What was Paul seeing? John? Or go back to the Old Testament prophets. How could they describe what they saw. It would be like a person who lived 100 years ago seeing the world now.
I believe these things happen to strengthen us or help us understand to trust in faith something else is there. They are massages in some cases too help us come to Christ seeking salvation because of what we see or hear, or it is for the benefit of the ones witnessing the event. We likely won't know this side of heaven. My wife's grandmother was a music teacher. As she was dieing in her final last couple of hours her hands were moving in motions of directing a piano student or a choir. What was she hearing?
Look at Thomas. A Disciple of Christ who was taught by Christ and traveled with him. Thomas had problems when he was told Christ had arisen and had been seen by others.
John ch 24 24One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin£), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”
What will Christ do & to what lengths will He go to find and save His lost sheep? I don't think we anywhere near see & understand but a small portion of what goes on that is unknown to us but happens for our sakes.
Lazarus came back from death.
Yes, that was not “near-death”.
It was resurrection.
I wish I could have one gentle word from God whispered in my ear,
Everybody knows that the answer to that one is Virginia!
That was as lame as the Celestine Prophecy that I read as a New Age & Buddhism dabbler, and every bit as unbiblical.
Everybody knows that the answer to that one is Virginia!
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