Experiences Near Death

A person is seriously ill or involved in an accident and their heart stops beating; for a brief time they are clinically “dead.” Once revived, the victim has a remarkable tale to relate: typical narratives include feelings of great peace, out-of-body travel, tunnel sensations, life review, and bright lights. These phenomena, often referred to as “near-death experiences,” have spawned an entire pop industry dedicated to plumbing the depths of their mysteries, and they continue to inspire heated debate and raise fascinating questions about the nature of life and death. But most observers assume that there are only two ways to interpret the near-death experience: in the religious terms of life after death, or in the medical terms of the mechanics of the brain.