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Near-Death News

In one modern view, he said, God does not interfere in the affairs of his creation. Disasters like the tsunami occur for the natural reasons scientists say they do. "This is not something that God has done. God hasn't picked out a certain group of people in a certain area of the world and said: 'I am going to punish them,"' he said. "The world has certain imperfections built into the natural order, and we have to live with them. The issue isn't 'Why did God do this to us?' but 'How do we human beings care for one another?"' ... [Read more]

The depictions on the cave walls and the content of modern human trance-like states are strikingly similar and reproducible. Vision-questers, by whatever route, feel they leave their bodies, pass through a hole or aperture and along a tunnel or vortex. Early on, they see geometric shapes, lines and zig-zags. Later they encounter scary animals which must be overcome before meeting a spiritual supreme being. Other features common to multiple cultures are emerging from water; flight; a bright and blinding light; and, curiously, bleeding from the nose or mouth. In some cultures, aspiring shamans were obliged to go through painful and dangerous ordeals which really did bring them to the brink of death. ... [Read more]

The common perception that terminally ill people try to hang on until after a major event like their birthday or a big holiday isn't true, according to a study. Records for more than 300,000 cancer victims who died in the state of Ohio between 1989 and 2000 showed they had no special capability or willingness to keep going until after Christmas, Thanksgiving, or their birthdays, the report said. "Analysis of thousands of cancer deaths shows no pattern to support the concept that 'death takes a holiday' ..."  [Read more]

This is an interesting article on how some scientists believe that by reducing the near-death experience to its physical components in the brain, they are somehow refuting any spiritual components which may be associated with it. Such researchers often dismiss the near-death experience as being caused by brain anomalies despite the fact that the cause of near-death experiences is not relevant to whether they are actual transcendental experiences or not. Such reductionism only shows that near-death experiences have a physical component. However, to disprove the tremendous amount of existing scientific evidence supporting the reality of a non-physical component to near-death experiences is the "ball" in the skeptic's court which they have yet to even notice ... [Read more]

"I can cite the massive scientific data collected by Dr. J. B. Rhine of Duke University to prove the existence of telepathy and clairvoyance, the 20-year experiments conducted by physicists Dr. Russell Targ and Dr. Puthoff of the Stanford Research Institute on remote viewing, and the highly controlled studies of Dr. Robert Jahn of Princeton University proving the existence of telekinesis beyond reasonable doubt. But most critics have never really bothered to look at these scientific proofs and evidence ..."  [Read more]

What if I told you the finest minds of our generation now think that our universe is probably only one of many universes? In other words, everything that is, as you and I have always understood it, is only one of many -- possibly infinite -- separate everythings that are? I'm not talking about separate planets or even separate galaxies. I mean separate universes. ... [Read more]

Hopkins was loading a truck in 1980 when he fell on his back. Looking up, he saw a brilliant rainbow and thought, “I'd really like to have something that beautiful in my life,” he recalled. Hopkins quit his job. He said he had realized his life was empty because it consisted only of working and making money. A lifetime spent chasing the dollar, he said, can destroy a person's humanity ... [Read more]

According to Dr. Weiss, he understands what really happens after death and how souls keep coming back till they reach immortality. Shanti Devi was born (or perhaps more accurately stated, reborn) in Delhi in 1926. When she was four years old she made a startling declaration to her family: "This is not my real home! I have a husband and a son in Mathura! I must return to them!" The young girl was able to provide many details of her past life, including descriptions of her previous home and family in Mathura. At the prompting of Mahatma Gandhi, a team of researchers was put together to examine her claims. According to reincarnation expert Dr. Ian Stevenson, Shanti Devi's past life memories matched the facts uncovered by the panel's investigation. ... [Read more]

One of the most comforting things she shared was her near-death experience. She had been in a coma for many days. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and asked all of her kids to get together so she could say how much she loved them and to tell them goodbye. Then she went back into a coma. She saw a brilliant light, Grandpa Blomme and the Lord. They asked her if she were ready, and she said, "No." So Grandma came out of the coma and lived a few more years. As we talked, I knew the experience was helping her to accept her death with a little less fear and it was easing my acceptance of her leaving. ... [Read more]

"People who have near-death experiences have caught a glimpse of heaven and not wanted to come back to earth," Manning says. "They talk of a blinding light, a sense of peace and the overwhelming desire to get back there." ... One of my most precious gifts was a picture from a child who knew they were going to die. This child drew a sun with big spikes for rays and underneath was written: 'Death is like being in the sunshine every day.' ... [Read more]

Crain says she had just made it to the hospital, where she was being prepped for an angioplasty, when her heart stopped. She says a cardiology team used a defibrillator 17 times to revive her, but she was "down" for 33 minutes ... [Read more]

A man who drank himself into a coma and lay near death in a hospital bed suddenly woke up after hearing that his boss had commanded, "Get your ass back to work!" ... DiPasquale's friend Ralph Nash figured there was nothing to lose, and decided to deliver the message, whispering into his pal's ear, "Charlie says to get out of bed and get your ass back to work." Five minutes later, DiPasquale suddenly awoke and uttered, "I've got to get to work." And he began a quick recovery.  ... [Read more]

The finding that the brain compartmentalizes dreams into two separate sleep periods may also put to rest the theory that dreams are no more than a meaningless rehash of random images, according to the researchers... McNamara's next series of experiments will look at just that possibility, comparing sleepers' dream patterns with the socializing they conduct during the following day. If those experiments show a real correlation, he said, "it may mean that if you want to understand why people do the things they do in the day -- in terms of their social interactions -- one place to look is dreams." ... [Read more]

Almost everyone goes out of his body while asleep and travels. Most of the time however this happens without "awakening" in the astral world so we may not realize what has really happened when we wake up. That's when the trouble begins. We become frightened because we can't move. We try to return to our body but we cannot because, the more we struggle, the more there will be a misalignment in the vibrations between the astral and physical body. When a person feels like he is flying or being smashed, it is because his astral body is really flying while his physical body remains in bed. That's why doctors call this "hallucination." Actually it is not. ... [Read more]

In summary, the neurological evidence shows that out of body experiences are related to a disintegration within personal space (multisensory dysfunction) and a disintegration between personal space (vestibular) and extrapersonal space (visual) due to interference with the temporo-parietal junction. In science the most challenging phenomena are often the ones we take for granted in our everyday lives. Excellent examples are the perception of the self and the experienced spatial unity between self and body. As argued by others, both folk psychological notions are challenged by out of body experiences. The reviewed evidence from neurological patients experiencing this striking dissociation between self and body shows that out of body experiences are culturally invariant phenomena that can be investigated scientifically ... [Read more]

The small four-month study is expected to begin early next spring. It will test the drug's effects on 12 cancer patients from the Lahey Clinic Medical Centre in the Boston area. The research is being sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a non-profit group that plans to raise 250,000 (-184,816) to fund it. MAPS, on its web site, touted the study's approval, saying ”the longest day of winter has passed, and maybe so has the decades-long era of resistance to psychedelic research.” ... [Read more]

This week, a Michigan man publicized his struggle to access the Yahoo e-mail account belonging to his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth, 20, who was killed Nov. 13 in Iraq. Though Yahoo's policies state that accounts "terminate upon your death," John Ellsworth said his son would have wanted to give him access ... To release those messages in such circumstances, Yahoo said, would violate the privacy rights of the deceased and those with whom they've corresponded ... The easiest approach, Internet scholars say, is simply to leave behind a password ... "When one family member tells another where the important paperwork is, the will, safe deposit box key, etc., the list of passwords is going to be added to that ..."  [Read more]

Thomas Edison, inventor of the phonograph, wrote: "If we can evolve an instrument so delicate as to be affected by our personality as it survives in the next life, such an instrument, when made available, ought to record something." Tom and Lisa Butler, co-directors of the AA-EVP, have no doubt these "messages" are more than stray electromagnetic radiation or random noise. "We have a high degree of confidence that the voices and other forms of these phenomena are not able to be explained using currently understood physical principles," says Tom, an electronic engineer based in Reno, Nevada (his wife, Lisa, is a psychologist). "The one hypothesis that answers all of the evidence coming from EVP is the Survival Hypothesis - that is, that the personality of a person survives the death of the physical body."  ... [Read more]

Remote viewing is nothing new in Tibetan monasteries. For thousands of years remote viewing in the middle of other spiritual activities have dominated Tibetan culture. What some Indian tourists came to learn from a few Tibetan monasteries under the current Chinese rule is extremely alarming and fascinating ... [Read more]

Glaciologist Lonnie Thompson worries that he may have found clues that show history repeating itself, and if he is right, the result could have important implications to modern society. "The climate system is remarkably sensitive to natural variability," he said. "It's likely that it is equally sensitive to effects brought on by human activity, changes like increased greenhouse gases, altered land-use policies and fossil-fuel dependence. Any prudent person would agree that we don't yet understand the complexities with the climate system and, since we don't, we should be extremely cautious in how much we ‘tweak' the system," he said. "The evidence is clear that a major climate change is underway." ... [Read more]

An asteroid that has a small chance of hitting Earth in the year 2029 was upgraded to an unprecedented level of risk Friday, Dec. 24. Scientists still stress, however, that odds are further observations will show the space rock won't be on a collision course with the planet. The risk rating for asteroid 2004 MN4 was raised Friday by NASA and a separate group of researchers in Italy. The asteroid's chance for hitting Earth on April 13, 2029 has now been categorized as a 4 on the Torino Scale. The level 4 rating -- never before issued -- is reserved for "events meriting concern" versus the vast majority of potentially threatening asteroids that merely merit "careful monitoring." ... [Read more]

The shopping is almost behind you, but have you crossed the ultimate last-minute gift off your list? Are you an organ donor? ... More than 87,000 people are waiting for transplants, and 15 of them die every day, when they can't wait any longer. Though there were 6,000 deceased organ donors in 2000, there were another 9,000 who suffered brain death and could have donated organs and tissue but didn't ... "This is why we really encourage people to tell their families that they want to be organ donors, so they know their wishes will be honored," Larson says. "These conversations may be very hard, but they're very important. (Note: You may have to register to view this article.) ... [Read more]

In this section of the newsletter, P.M.H. Atwater will answer questions submitted to her from subscribers to this newsletter. Atwater's contribution to near-death studies is considered to be one of the most important as her first two books, Beyond the Light and Coming Back to Life, are considered to be the "Bibles" of the NDE by researchers and enthusiasts. Her latest books are entitled We Live Forever: The Real Truth About Death and The New Children and Near-Death Experiences. If you have a question which you would like her to answer for this column, just email your question to Kevin Williams at http://www.near-death.com/contact.html for consideration. For more information about P.M.H. Atwater's contribution to near-death studies, download her press kit here.

QUESTION:  "I'm very interested in NDEs and have read your Q & As with great interest. I have a question that Kevin Williams was not able to answer: I've heard that it's possible souls leave bodies just before imminent death. I remember reading about the woman who witnessed the terrorist plane crash at the Pentagon on 9-11, and just one second before impact, she saw 'glowing orbs' exiting the top of the plane. I've read that the reason for this is not only to spare the pain, but that after a body is damaged, the actual soul will arrive in heaven malformed, and must be tended to (this is according to the book, "Destiny of Souls"). If this is true, my question regards the poor civilian in Iraq who had his head cut off with a knife, which took an agonizing one minute. Do you think the soul exited early, knowing that there was no chance for survival? And if it did, would the 'body' that's left continue screaming while the cutting is still going on? Or would all consciousness and bodily functions cease as soon as the spirit departs? These are difficult questions, I know, and we can't be certain. But I would appreciate any comments you might have." -- Fred.

P.M.H. Atwater'S REPLY: "In esoteric traditions dating back several hundred years (written) and much further back in oral histories, it is said that the soul usually leaves the body before death occurs. We are also told that the way to tell if the soul is gone, is that the body will ..." [Read more here]

| PMH Atwater's website | Marketplace (a public service) | Her research on this website |

  At the NDE Online Store you can find NDE products such as books, documentaries, movies, music, magazines, and journals. More NDE media products are coming.

The author takes you on an out-of-body journey into the worlds of the galactic heavens -- the worlds beyond death. Traveling the road of terminal illness, you'll follow the footsteps of a soul preparing for death, learn from those who have already crossed over, and witness the after-death experience of a soul as she leaves this world. Opening the door to the ancestors, you will meet those who have gone before, hear their stories, be amazed at their watchful care over the current generation, and see how they live in the world beyond.

A collection of essays focusing on the future of the psychical research field. One essay speculates about a future where psychic phenomena are studied in every university. Another essay identifies 10 areas of potential difficulties facing parapsychology. Other essays deal with areas where conclusions may need re-examination and refinement while presenting possibilities for innovative approaches to the future study of parapsychology. Some of the areas of study covered include altered states of consciousness, telepathy, meta-analysis, the theory of psychopraxia, and sociological and phenomenological issues.

At 18 months of age, Sue Storm had her first encounter with angels. A near-death experience allowed her to learn firsthand that the angels are always with us. Since that time, she has been able to hear, see, and feel the presence of angels. In 1985, she was given a divine directive to "help people." Following the divine plan, the angels have kept Sue very busy doing interviews, lectures, seminars, writing and counseling. After answering thousands of questions, Sue realized that people need a simple way to help themselves collaborate with the angels to make their lives easier and more enjoyable. From this, "Angel First Aid was born."

The famous NDE skeptic brings together all the major theories of consciousness studies -- from those rooted in traditional Western philosophy to those coming out of neuroscience, quantum theory, and Eastern philosophy. This book is divided into 9 sections that examine such topics as how subjective experiences arise from objective brain processes, the basic neuroscience and neuropathology of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, mystical experiences and dreams, and the effects of drugs and meditation. It also discusses the nature of self, the possibility of artificial consciousness in robots, and the question of whether or not animals are conscious. Enhanced by numerous illustrations and profiles of important researchers, the book also includes self-assessment questions, further reading suggestions, and practical exercises that help bring the subject to life.

This book contains essentially no math and is perfect for anyone who wants a concise, easy-to-read guide to one of the great quests of human civilization: the search for the ultimate laws of physics. Beginning with the speculations of the Greek philosophers, the author takes you through relativity, quantum mechanics and the latest developments in string theory. The book is well illustrated with photos and diagrams and begins with the quote: "My ambition is to live to see all of physics reduced to a formula so elegant and simple that it will fit easily on the front of a T-shirt." This is the "holy grail" of contemporary physics and it is called the "Theory of Everything".

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IANDS in the Spotlight

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Odds and Ends

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Last modified on July 10, 2006

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