Continued from previous article...
In my last article, the scientific “criteria” of having a near death experience were listed.
Let’s now put aside Dr. Raymond Moody's and other researchers’ scientific “criteria” for a near death experience. Science is only one scratch to what I call the gold coin, a near death experience. Science and research have tried to take another side of this coin. We understand that this is a necessary part of trying to explain the how’s and why’s in a medical explanation. However, whatever research may reveal is just one physical measurement of these experiences – not another side to this gold coin. Many of us who have had a journey to the other side may have only one of the “scientific criteria” while some had many of those listed.
Now, let’s take focus on the spiritual aspect of a near death experience. This spiritual nature of a near death experience is something that Dr. Moody and I definitely agree upon. Throughout his many years of research and a library of his published books, his research has always taken a different view from the very first “known scientific criteria.”
I have researched and reported on all fronts of near death experiences. The scientific research is of course, interesting and has proven the near death experience can come from many non-spiritual causes. I see why they would want to disprove the “God” aspect, but when they do, they disprove the many spiritual journeys that we, as near death experience survivors, know to be true. And, no one and no research can change our mind. The reason? We have faith in an afterlife and cling to that even tighter, because we know . . . and we remember.
We are open to the fact that many NDE's don't always follow these strict criteria. I spoke with someone who is not quite remembering her NDE - it may come back in bits and pieces to her. But as I have found throughout all my stories and my own NDE, memories seem to come back all at once and sometimes in just little flashes of the out-of-body experience. At the very least, in my experience and stories shared, one will return with a spiritual change and what I call “gifts.”
These changes in your life can be subtle or dramatic. That memory of a very real, warm, all-encompassing and unconditional love experienced during the journey stays with you forever and brings one’s faith to even higher levels than ever before. We begin to seek a semblance of that beautiful, loving embrace through church, humanitarianism and a need to lovingly pay-it-forward. Many near death survivors experience a deeper love and understanding for humanity (especially family and those in your life.) We see the spiritual realm more clearly and vibrantly, as we return with a new sense of understanding and loving them – no matter what they’ve done to you in the past.
Before my own near death experience at 17 years old, as a younger child, I always found such beauty in even a blade of grass or a cloud. It seemed to help me escape from a not so calm childhood. Many traumatic things occurred in the past and with my 5 younger siblings. But, we all know that we learned very valuable lessons from the past. And we see the past has all but disappeared in our rear view mirrors as we move forward in life and in our faith in God. I find this early childhood theme of wonderment often in many of the stories from my near death experienced friends. With that love for childhood’s wonders, a near death experience appears to infuse and verify that beauty and love even more. Gifts like this from our journey follow us back into this earthly life.
Continued in next article
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