Near Death Expriences (blood, choice, myth, experience, atheist)

[Lightkeeper]

Many people who have near death experiences have a tendency to report the same things. There is talk of tunnels, silence, heavenly light, seeing loved ones waiting. Does this mean there is an afterlife? Have you or do you know anyong who have had these experiences?

[SoulTYPE]

Actually LK, when I was younger, I nearly drowned at the beach. I was up to my waist in water, and before I knew it, I was holding up my hand above water in the case someone would come along. I must have taken in to much water, cos I blacked out.

In this, I saw a bright light, like the sun, only a very different color. I do not know where it was from, because it was not a very sunny day. The light was outstandingly bright. All that I remember is "awakening" to find myself being put on the side of a boat, by a nice young blonde lady. True stuff.

I have no idea what that light was, though.

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Many people who have near death experiences have a tendency to report the same things. There is talk of tunnels, silence, heavenly light, seeing loved ones waiting. Does this mean there is an afterlife? Have you or do you know anyong who have had these experiences?

In my experience is was a foggy T intersection - nobody there and no justification for thinking there was an afterlife. It was a simple choice I understood - one way back to life; the other, to death. December 24, 1983.

Bob

[painted wolf]

Near death experiences have been reported by astronauts and pilots training under heavy G-forces. Tunnels, lights and floating out of body are the result of lack of oxygen to the brain. The forces at work in the brain are so precice that they have been trigged by doctors in perfectly healthy people. One such way is with the anaesthetic Ketamine.
One group of reserchers has gone so far as to put a sign where, if a patient really was floating above thier body looking down they could read it, but not if they were just laying in the emergency surgery room. So far no one who has had a NDE has been able to say what the sign said.

wa:do

[Feathers in Hair]

I think it was Terry Pratchett who said "Life is a near death experience."

I've actually had many, though I wasn't too aware of them at the time. One, when I was very young, was when my mom worked at St. Luke's hospital in Chicago (Rush St. Lukes, maybe... I forget the exact name). One of her coworkers owned a nightshade plant, which she kept on a low table, to remind her of the medicinal qualities of something supposedly deadly. Well, apparently I was more interested in the edible properties of it, because, when this coworker and my mom turned around, I had eaten a good portion of its 'fruit.'

Luckily, I was already in the hospital at the time.

The second time was when I was a bit older, though this one ultimately involved the threat of danger rather than actual violence. I was wandering around the block with my father, who became distracted by some happenings at a neighbors'. Two dogs were fighting each other, and a number of men had gathered to try to get them to break it up. (I don't remember if one was wild, or if they were both wild.) They had tried pulling the dogs apart with chains, but no one was strong enough to pull them away from each other. They'd tried setting hoses on the dogs, but that simply infuriated them. When my dad wandered up to join the conversation, the menfolk began discussing having to possibly use a firearm on one of the dogs, although I didn't realize that was what they were discussing at the time.

It's interesting how no one can pay attention to a four-year old girl when she wanders away, but when someone looks up and sees her two feet from fighting dogs, everyone starts screaming.

I remember very clearly as the two dogs turned to me as I walked up to them, their backs tacky from where they'd bitten each other and their teeth stained with the men who'd tried to pry them apart's blood. Their eyes were mad with rage, and both were curling their lips at me. Time sort of... paused for a moment, there. I held up my hand to say 'stop fighting', and time resumed. The two dogs turned away from each other, and went to the opposite ends of the yard. My dad picked me up, and began scolding me for going so near the dogs. It might've been just chance, that they were tired, or that the sight of yummy little girl was too confusing for their addled brains to attack.

But I still think something odd happened that day.

[robtex]

Originally Posted by pah

In my experience is was a foggy T intersection - nobody there and no justification for thinking there was an afterlife. It was a simple choice I understood - one way back to life; the other, to death. December 24, 1983. Bob

Wow Pah many who have them convert but u didn't. Interesting. I don't think I ever met anyone, even online who has had one. I am glad u pulled through.

There is a huge database on it I have looked at only briefly but wanted to post it on this thread.

http://www.near-death.com

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Originally Posted by robtex

Wow Pah many who have them convert but u didn't. Interesting....

"There are no atheists in a foxhole" is a myth. It seemed to fit right in with my worldview. My journal has more details (or will have when I get it from another board).

Bob

[fromthe heart]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Many people who have near death experiences have a tendency to report the same things. There is talk of tunnels, silence, heavenly light, seeing loved ones waiting. Does this mean there is an afterlife? Have you or do you know anyong who have had these experiences?

I had an experience a a child that never made any sense to me but this is how it happened. My babysitter had taken me swimming and her brother and sister had joined us...I was floating around on an innertube and all of a sudden I slipped through the hole of the innertube and at first tried to hold my breathe but when I realized I couldn't hold it that long I started to breathe in water...it didn't hurt or anything as a matter of fact it was calming...next thing I know I'm up above the creek looking down at myself on the bottom and then I glance over at my babysitter who was playing with her sibblings with a beach ball. I remember thinking 'Hey, I'm drowning over here,are you gonna do something' And then just as quick as I thought it I was being yanked up out of the water and resusitated...it was really weird but trust me if there had been writing on the bottom of the creek I would have seen it. This is just one of many weird things that had happened to me over the first 18 years of my life.

Does that mean there is an afterlife? I think that's all in ones own perception...I believe in an afterlife but it had nothing to do with this expeirence of mine...It did help to confirm some things I learned later in life for me.