Notes And Queries About The NDE

[poliphilo]

Here's the case of a group of friends who were struck by lightning and shared a NDE (which is rare). They were approached by a Being of Light. One saw it as a female Guardian Angel, one saw it as his father and the third (who was Indian) saw it as the Buddha.  

It appears that the imagery of the NDE is culturally determined- and tailored to the individual.

Most of the witnesses on the site are American- with a sprinkling of Europeans. Jesus appears a great deal- as do perfect gardens and meadows and cities made of jewels. The imagery can be sourced to the Bible, the western tradition of landscape painting and so on and so forth. There is nothing particularly surprising about any of it- and sometimes it feels rather kitsch. It would be interesting to have examples from non-western sources. I wonder what a Japanese NDE is like. Or an Australian aboriginal one. 

In almost every case the witnesses come back having learned that "God" is Love. Are we touching a universal here or is this also culturally specific?

Comments

[mrwaggish.livejournal.com]

This book might be of interest.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed.

Though it doesn't sound as though this particular experience has all that much in common with the NDE.

[ron-broxted.livejournal.com]

Biggest study was dome by the Red Army 1945. Christians saw Jesus, Muslims saw their paradise, Buddhists theirs. All culturally linked.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I wonder what Richard Dawkins would see?

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

Judging by this, probably not a lot

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

As someone who primarily relates to Christianity (albeit with hostility) he might well see Jesus.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose that research is available on the Net, is it?

[ron-broxted.livejournal.com]

See my latest blog post!

[ccord.livejournal.com]

In almost every case the witnesses come back having learned that "God" is Love. Are we touching a universal here or is this also culturally specific?

One should hope, then, that aren't any Wotan worshippers in the audience, lest they learn than God is pillaging monasteries and sacking the cities of the weak. 'Could cause a kerfuffle.