Are near-death experiences (NDEs) real?

Near-death experiences (NDEs) have fascinated both the public and scientific communities for decades. These experiences, often reported by individuals who have come close to death, include sensations such as moving through a tunnel, seeing a bright light, encountering deceased loved ones, and feelings of peace. While some interpret these expreiences as spiritual or glimpses of the afterlife, others argue they are purely physiological phenomena caused by factors such as anoxia (oxygen deprivation) in the brain.

Understanding Near-Death Experiences

Description and Common Features

NDEs typically include several recurring features:

• Out-of-body experiences: The sensation of leaving one’s body and observing events from above.
• Tunnel vision: Moving through a dark tunnel toward a light.
• Encounters with beings: Meeting deceased relatives, spiritual beings, or religious figures.
• Feelings of peace: A profound sense of calm and well-being.
• Life review: A panoramic review of one’s life events.

Scientific Explanations for NDEs

Many scientists and medical professionals propose physiological explanations for NDEs, suggesting they result from the brain’s response to extreme stress, anoxia, or other medical conditions.

Anoxia (Oxygen Deprivation)

Anoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is one of the leading explanations for NDEs. When the brain lacks sufficient oxygen, it can trigger a series of neurological events that produce sensations similar to those reported in NDEs.

Ketamine and NMDA Receptors

Research on the drug ketamine, which affects the NMDA receptors in the brain, shows that it can induce experiences remarkably similar to NDEs, including out-of-body sensations and euphoria. This suggests that chemical changes in the brain can produce NDE-like experiences without the individual being near death.

Temporal Lobe Seizures

The temporal lobe of the brain is involved in processing sensory input and emotions. Some scientists suggest that seizures or other disturbances in this area during extreme stress or trauma can produce vivid hallucinations and spiritual experiences, which might explain some aspects of NDEs.

Scientific Research

And according to an article at MedicalDaily.com, the researchers wrote that “the brain is much more active during the dying process than in the waking state.” Lead author Jimo Borjigin believes that elevated level of brain activity may happen during the human experience of ‘near death’ and it is this that gives rise to a heightened state of consciousness, including the visions experienced by survivors of cardiac arrest. Researcher Borjigin had conducted previous research with similar findings in 2013, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researcher Susan Blackmore, author of “Dying to Live: Near-Death Experiences” (Prometheus Books, 1993), notes that many NDEs (such as euphoria and the feeling of moving toward a tunnel of white light) are common symptoms of oxygen deprivation in the brain. Further, NDE’s can be chemically induced in patients.

Also, a 2001 article published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences states, “contrary to popular belief, research suggests that there is nothing paranormal about these experiences. Instead, near-death experiences are the manifestation of normal brain function gone awry, during a traumatic, and sometimes harmless, event.” – Neuroscientist Dean Mobbs, of the University of Cambridge’s Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, and Caroline Watt, of the University of Edinburgh.

A 2010 study in the journal Critical Care found that of 52 heart attack patients, 11 reported having NDEs. Between one in four and one in ten heart attack survivors report some form of near-death experience

Discernment and Caution

Christians are called to discern and test spiritual experiences with Scripture. While NDEs can be emotionally powerful, they should not be given authority over the clear teachings of the Bible regarding the state of the dead and the afterlife.

1 John 4:1 (NKJV):

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Believers must exercise discernment and align their understanding with biblical truth. Christians need to be very careful and not base their theology on such unreliable experiences especially when they often contradict each other and the clear teachings of the Bible. Such experience should be tested by the scriptures. The Lord says, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20, NKJV).

Conclusion

Near-death experiences continue to be a subject of intrigue and debate. While many interpret these experiences as spiritual or glimpses of the afterlife, scientific research provides plausible physiological explanations, particularly involving anoxia and brain chemistry.

From a theological standpoint, Christians are encouraged to exercise discernment and align their expereiences of NDEs with biblical teachings. While these experiences can be fascinating to those who experience them, they should not be regarded as definitive evidence of the afterlife or spiritual truth.

In summary, the preponderance of evidence supports the view that NDEs are primarily physiological phenomena rather than spiritual experiences. By grounding our understanding in both scientific insight and biblical revelation, we can approach the topic of NDEs with clarity and discernment.

In His service,
BibleAsk Team