Near-Death Experience
A near-death experience (NDE) can be defined as an occurrence where one comes close to dying coupled with spiritual memories experience characterized by meeting dead members of the family, dead friends, or seeing a white light at that moment when death was close. Some of the essential characteristics of this experience include trauma to the body, complete pain cessation and profound peace, hearing of everyday earthly sound noises, floating above the dead body, traveling down and enclosure, meeting others possibly angelic bodies, guardian angels or Jesus and Mary (Thomas 3).
One most vital characteristic that seems familiar to all people experiencing NDE is meeting a being of light. The being of light appears to be loving, understanding, personal, non-judgmental, and caring. This brilliant light is highly associated with Christ, God, or an Angel. At the same time, people experiencing an NDE could have a life review, exceptional knowledge, and finally returning to the body to signify a return to the traumatized bodies.
The vision of life after death described by NDE cohere most with the western religions, especially Christianity. This is because people have a peaceful and painless experience coupled with a light that researchers associate with Jesus, God, or Angels. In some testimonies from people with near-death experiences, it is claimed that people meet with the Virgin Mary and Jesus. All these analogies point out the Christian views of the afterlife. The NDEs do not offer proof for life after death because not all people with the experience give the objective reality of genuine spiritual experiences. NDEs show variations from person to person and might therefore not offer satisfactory proof of life after death.
The fact that NDEs can be shown to be functions of dying brain alone would not disapprove of life after death. NDEs have significant spiritual values. This is because they give the person experiencing NDE moments a peaceful, painless, and non-judgmental experience. Besides, NDE also helps one to reconcile with his life through a life review. Moreover, this experience provides a glimpse of what life after death might look like, especially meeting the angels and brilliant light that is welcoming and calm.