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Mystical 10

Scientific Investigation of the “Dark Side”
Continued

It would seem from modern NDE accounts like some of those mentioned above; Jesus is still rescuing people from hell (Vincent, 2003). There is also an interesting 18th Century autobiographical NDE account by Dr. George deBenneville who died of a “consumption-like” illness and revived at his wake 42 hours later Vincent & Morgan, 2006).  He told of seeing angels rescuing people from hell, after they had repented.

As in the Buddhist DBV above, the Amida Buddha stands ready to save any human who finds him or herself in hell if they call out to him as few as ten times (Nigosian, 2000, p.89). It should be noted that in all of the Eastern religions, hell is not permanent but is a method for instruction.  In the West, this was the view of the Christian church for its first 500 years but has become a minority view since that time (Hanson, 1899/2007, p. 139-141).  In Islam, there are a few references in the Hadith to the view that hell is not permanent, but this view is held by only a few of the Sufis (Vincent, 2005, p. 12).  

CONCLUSION

Only 150 years ago, scientific research into STEs began.  The scientific methods used to do this research are the same as those used to research any other social or biomedical phenomena.  We now know that, like positive STEs, negative STEs are widespread, that they occur in people who are normal and not mentally ill, and that they change people’s lives for the better.  While it may be too early to reach any final  theological conclusions from this data, it would appear that there is a universal underpinning to the religions of the world, that humans are accountable for their actions, and that nothing good is ever lost.

References:

Baym, N. (Ed.) (1998) Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 1. New York: W. W. Norton.

Budge, E, A, W, (1967/1895) The Egyptian Book of the Dead. New York: Dover Publications.

Bush, N. E. (2002) Afterward: making meaning after a frightening near-death experience. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 21 (2), 99-133.

Bush, N. E. (2006) Distressing Western NDEs: Research Summary. Paper presented at the IANDS Conference, M.D. Anderson Hospital, Houston (DVD available from: iands.com).

Evans-Wentz, W. Y. (Ed.) (1957/11th century) The Tibetan Book of the Dead. London: Oxford University Press.

Greyson, V. & Bush, N.E. (1992) Distressing near-death experiences. Psychiatry, 55, 95-109.

Hanson, J. W. (2007/1899) Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Church for its First 500 Years. San Diego: St Alban Press.

Hardy, A. (1997/1979) The Spiritual Nature of Man. Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre.

Jakobsen, M. D. (1999) Negative Spiritual Experiences. Lampeter, Wales: Religious Experience Research Centre.

Masumian, F.C. (1995) Life After Death: A Study of the Afterlife in World Religions. Oxford:One World.

McClenon, J. (1991) Near-Death folklore in medieval China and Japan: a comparative analysis. Asian Folklore Society, 50, 319-342.

McClenon, J. (1994) Wondrous Events: Foundations of Religious Belief. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylavania Press.

Nigosian, S.A. (2000) World Religion: A Historical Approach, 3ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s

Richie, G.G. (1998) Ordered to Return, My Life After Dying. Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing Co.

Rommer, B.R. (2000) Blessing In Disguise.  St.Paul, MN:  Llewellyn.

Segal, A. F. (2004) Life After Death: A History of the Afterlife in the Religions of the West. New York: Doubleday.

Smith, H. (2000) Cleansing the Doors of Perception. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.

Vincent, K. R. (1994) Visions of God from the Near Death Experience. Burdett, New York: Larson Publications.

Vincent, K.R. (1999) THE MAGI: From Zoroaster to the “Three Wise Men”.  North Richland Hills, TX:  Bibal Press.

Vincent, K.R. (2003) The near-death experience and Christian universalism. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 22 (1), 57-71.

Vincent, K. R. (2005) Magic, deeds, and universalism, afterlife in the world’s religions. Universalist Herald, 156 (4), 5-8,12).

Vincent, K. R. (2006) The Search for God and Afterlife in the Age of Science. Paper presented at the IANDS Conference, M.D. Anderson Hospital, Houston (CD available from: iands.com).

Vincent, K. R. & Morgan, J. (2006) An 18th century near-death experience: the case of George de Benneville. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 25 (1), 35-48.

Yao, X & Badham, P. (2007) Religious Experience in Contemporary China. Cardiff: University of Wales.

Dr. Ken R. Vincent is the author of The Golden Thread: God’s Promise of Universal Salvation.

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