This doctor is not a theologian or a pastor. To expect him to be is missing the whole point.
His point is that he died while he was in the hospital and hooked up to equipment that measured his brain waves. He had an NDE when his brain activity was zero - total zero - and he should know because his life’s work was studying neurosurgery. His brain was completely flatlined and yet he is experiencing this vision or dream or experience or whatever it was.
I’m sure God didn’t choose him for this revelation because He was impressed with his theology. Quite the opposite. God chose him because he was a doctor who understood that if you experience death and can prove that the brain was not at work while this was happening then how can you explain his experience other than being God’s miracle?
Like most new or mostly unchurched believers, this man isn’t fit to be preaching a theological message but he is fit to explain that there is an afterlife and, to many unbelievers, THAT is an important message.
Yes, by all means carefully examine all NDE claims and do not have an uncritical belief in what the man says based on what he says happened to him but do not overlook that he can offer scientific proof that he was experiencing an event while his brain had totally ceased activity and if his brain was not, in any way, participating in his experience then how can this be explained other than the hand of God?
It’s an important discovery and confirms what many of us hope in. Just don’t buy the whole package of theology that comes with it because he probably hasn’t even had time to sort all that out or for the Holy Spirit to impress upon him God’s revelations.
I’m guessing the Apostle Paul didn’t have it all figured out by the time he got to Damascus either. Despite his personal revelation, it probably took years of intense prayer and meditation for Paul to understand the gospel of salvation that he was called to preach. If God allowed time for Paul to understand the theology, I’m willing to allow this doctor to sort it out too. It doesn’t negate the experience he had.
His expertise is certainly valuable in adding to the discussion of what happens to our soul and spirit after death. That something DOES happen is inescapable. Unfortunately, most people don't come back so it is really rare when it happens.
Actually Paul did understand it. He didn’t understand it, though, by academics, but by what God provided.
Paul had been given the spiritual gift of Apostleship. This means he knew from God providing him that knowledge, exactly what God’s Plan of salvation provided.
You are correct that it might not have occurred instantly, as our soul is scarred by the old sin nature, and God the Holy Spirit slowly sanctifies us. On the other hand, I also can testify that He is able to teach us directly and instantly. I have seen words in Hebrew in spiritual dreams, which I didn’t even know the Hebrew alphabet, but immediately understood the word’s meaning imparted to me. Upon waking, I confirmed the definition with the word from the dream by academic search.
I then find it more veritable to study His Word, for proper understanding of the dream, but still give all glory to God.