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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
"I wonder, are NDE's not a sort of "sign seeking?" I hasten to add I don't know? Perhaps someone educated in theology could express an opinion. We are told we have to have faith in things unseen(St. Paul)."

Similarly, Christ Himself told Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and still believe." I don't think that was a condemnation of Thomas. I don't think those who claim to have experienced NDEs had necessarily set out to experience them. I think I can assert with a fair degree of confidence that God reveals the true nature of reality (temporal and otherwise) to each of us uniquely, individually and personally. I don't think there's anything wrong with us sharing our individual experiences with one another, and in fact, many of the great Christian Mystics are reknowned for having done so.

I think the danger potentially comes from those who purport to have some special, esoteric knowledge who do not, and/or those who grasp onto the individual revelations to another as a comprehensive, holistic view.

It's kind of like the tale of the five blind men and the elephant. God may reveal the "tail" to one person, who, for where he is at, and what he is holding, is a totally adequate revelation...yet when he tells others that an elephant is like a rope, and others take that as "gospel" (so to speak) one individual's experience becomes a distortion of the overall reality.

I look at NDEs much like that. Certainly, I believe these people have had some type of profound experience, and for the most part, they tend to corroborate my faith-based beliefs and understandings of the afterlife. Yet, I never lose sight of the fact that they remain highly personal and unique experiences to each individual.

43 posted on 09/17/2011 5:45:06 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Jesus healed blind men in different ways. I always think of that. We are all individuals and I think God treats us as individuals.


53 posted on 09/17/2011 6:44:54 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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