MEETING DEATH WITH HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING

Transcription

1 MEETING DEATH WITH HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING A bookstudy Text ACTS St David s United Church Calgary Internet Page: death.stdavidscalgary.net

2 Session 4 - Science & Religion Opening Review Ch 6 - The Researchers video - Tom Harpur Science and NDE video - 14 cases Review Ch 7 - Explanations Break Discussion Closing Internet Page: death.stdavidscalgary.net

3 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers There is a steady growth in the study of the NDE. Increasingly NDE people are being listened to. It is not yet possible to define the NDE because NDE s are combinations of qualities found in other circumstances. (See handout ref to Dr GM Woerlee) Members of the International Association for ND Studies IANDS are making deeper statistical analysis of the NDE to better determine its definition.

4 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Dr. Melvin Morse A pediatrician in Seattle, Washington, Dr. Morse has led the way in the study of the NDEs of children. Studied all those under 18 who had cardiac arrest, coma, or life threatening disease. Control group were real sick but had a scary disease process. NDE s were everyone in 1st group and none in 2nd group. The kids simply accepted their experiences. Morse feels best to take NDE s at face value.

5 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Dr Michael Sabom, cardiologist and christian. An early skeptic. Never heard of it. But by asking his patients found many examples. Compared OBE reports to control group of patients guessing similar stories. Mistake rates very suggestive OBE is real. Divided his groups into OBE Experience Transcendental Experience Mixed Experience

6 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Dr. Michael Grosso. Philosopher. Concentrates on connecting NDE reports to experiences from history and other paranormal connections. An interesting comparison of real and symbolic experience. He came to understand the NDE as an influx of divine energy. The study of NDE continues to fascinate us. Its meaning is difficult to understand but we cannot dismiss it.

7 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Dr. Kenneth Ring, psychologist, developed standard interview questions that are often used with NDEers. NDEers gave him a good idea of what the separation of body and spirit looks like. Observed the increase of spirituality (not religion). Shared a quote: A religious person follows the teachings of his church, whereas the spiritual person follows the guidance of his soul.

8 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Dr. Ring was one of the first to do a statistical analysis of the NDE and determine the core elements : Peace, and a sense of well being. Separation from the body. Entering the darkness or tunnel. Seeing the Light. Entering the Light.

9 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Robert Sullivan. A citizen researcher especially interested in combat NDEs. Ex-army, a student of psychology, a hospital volunteer. Gathered combat cases for 3 years. Overall, their experiences were the same as those of people outside of the intense experience of combat, which is just more proof that these things are cross cultural in every sense of the word.

10 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers IANDS is a principle organization that NDE researchers join and share in. Most of the researchers participate in IANDS conferences. Website is

11 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Dr Bruce Greyson, an IANDS member, in 1983 did a deep statistical analysis of 74 and in NDE s. He found 33 elements described with only 16 common elements related to others in 3 clusters: cognitive, affective, and transcendental. For example he did not list tunnel in the 16 because although in 32% of NDE s it was not related to others. His analysis facilitates cross cultural analysis.

12 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 6 - NDE Researchers Tom Harpur, a Canadian theologian, journalist, writer and retired priest, has done work on the NDE experience and is also a member of IANDS. up to half of the ND have had NDE s. the highly personal and anecdotal nature of NDE makes it difficult to study. did a NDE survey of 200 readers of his column no two NDE s the same most said attitude to life changed

13 Video - Tom Harpur - 12 min Tom Harpur, Theologian. Author of Life after Death. Hosted a TV series on the subject. In this excerpt, he looks at how science contributes to and frames our understanding.

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15 Video - 14 NDEs - 12 min This is one of the better youtube collections of NDEers sharing their experiences. Here are 14 stories that show something more clearly than do the books, the essays, the studies, and all the written words. You ll notice their wonder and conviction. You ll hear their enthusiasm for a new way of thinking. You ll sense the deeply subjective and personal nature of the NDE.

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17 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations Tom Harpur wanted to know whether anaesthetics helped explain NDE s. From 3 anaesthestists he learned there are 3 components of anaesthesia: analgesics to prevent pain muscle relaxants to prevent body movement amnesics to ensure no memories of surgery. All the more remarkable then that NDE s are so clear.

18 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations Carol Zaleski s PhD is now a book Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of NDE in Medieval and Modern Times. She found NDE is very shaped by one s culture. Medieval times had very angry spiritual language compared to modern optimism. Defining death is a problem. Near is near. She included medieval instances of mystical journey stories.

19 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations Possible Explanations from Ch 7 Theory 1 - Carl Sagan - NDE s tunnel and light and trauma are a recollection of birth. but babies don t remember anything and can t distinguish shape and form yet. Theory 2 - CO2 - Various meditation techniques and direct inhalation are a bit similar. but some NDE cases have normal O2.

20 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations Theory 3 - If it s physical severe illness should cause it and not just nearly dying. but Moore did precisely this sorting through his research with zero NDE among the severely sick. Theory 4 - Hallucination - Most often cited by skeptics. but hallucinations are common and always show EEG activity. NDE s often are flat lined.

21 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations Theory 5 - Religious experience - but NDE happens with the non-religious too. Theory 6 - NDE s should all be the same. But they are not. Theory 7 - NDE s are our last Bedtime Story. The brain creates with endorphins because things are so serious. But endorphin excess with atheletes doesn t behave like NDE.

22 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations Theory 8 - Wish Fulfillment. But that s wanting things the same and NDE thrusts a new glory at you. Theory 9 - It s Jung s Collective Unconscious - this is a possibility - it explains the universality of NDE some. Theory 10 - An experience of Light - Moody says how unable he s been to find a physiological explanation. It is he says pure and simple, an experience of light.

23 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations I have talked to almost every NDE researcher in the world about his or her work. I know that most of them believe in their hearts that NDEs are a glimpse of life after life. But as scientists and people of medicine, they still haven t come up with scientific proof that a part of us goes on living after our physical being is dead. This lack of proof keeps them from going public with their true feelings.

24 Science, Religion and New Age - Moody Ch 7 Explanations Moody s Conclusion Moody thinks it is NOT psychological, medical or theological; and not a part of brain science. NDE research has shown that these experiences are just too detailed and real to be dismissed. I think NDEs are spiritual experiences. says Moody.

25 Video - Soweto Gospel Choir - 3 min Here is an enthusiastic reminder that heaven has pretty much always been at the centre of our religion. The Soweto Gospel Choir take Swing Down and add a full measure of hope and joy. You ll notice some familiar NDE images (like 2 white angels). Enjoy their singing of The Other Side

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27 BREAK

28 Discussion Questions Religion and Science seem again in dispute. How far can our understanding take NDE within the rational rules of modern science? How far can our spirituality take NDE within the familiar frame of our religious tradition?

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