The After-Life and Near Death Experiences A2 Module 3 Mr Harding

What makes me ‘me’? Basic Elements? Appearance – my face? Thoughts? Feelings? Job – what I do? Relationships? My Soul/Spirit?

Basic Elements?

Appearance – my face?

Thoughts?

Feelings?

Job – what I do?

Relationships?

My Soul/Spirit?

Why is an After-Life Desirable? We will all die Life is short – it’s hard to accept Gives meaning to life on earth Morality – balancing the books Eternal reward or punishment A life without restriction Bible – God’s gift to believers Reincarnation – improving your varna

We will all die

Life is short – it’s hard to accept

Gives meaning to life on earth

Morality – balancing the books

Eternal reward or punishment

A life without restriction

Bible – God’s gift to believers

Reincarnation – improving your varna

Possible Evidence Reincarnation – soul gets a new body NDE’s Parapsychology – ghosts/spirits of the dead Immortality of the soul – Monotheism Resurrection of the Body – Christian Logic

Reincarnation – soul gets a new body

NDE’s

Parapsychology – ghosts/spirits of the dead

Immortality of the soul – Monotheism

Resurrection of the Body – Christian

Logic

Key Words Qualia: felt experiences, eg tasting chips Dualism: two-fold distinction eg body/mind Epiphenomenalism: mental events are caused by brain events Emergentism: humans are only physical Behaviourism: mental events are just physical behaviour Identity theory: mind and brain are same object, but with different functions Functionalism: expressing the mind and body relationship as descriptions of their casual roles

Qualia: felt experiences, eg tasting chips

Dualism: two-fold distinction eg body/mind

Epiphenomenalism: mental events are caused by brain events

Emergentism: humans are only physical

Behaviourism: mental events are just physical behaviour

Identity theory: mind and brain are same object, but with different functions

Functionalism: expressing the mind and body relationship as descriptions of their casual roles

The Soul – Religious Views Judaism – Genesis 1, Ruach Christianity - 1 Corinthians 15 the resurrection of the dead Hinduism – Atman, Samsara

Judaism – Genesis 1, Ruach

Christianity - 1 Corinthians 15 the resurrection of the dead

Hinduism – Atman, Samsara

Muscle Spirit/soul desires Organs Will Size, shape, weight Reason Consciousness Flesh Mind Nerves Emotions Personality Qualia Blood

BODY Flesh Muscle Nerves Organs Blood Size, shape, weight MIND Mind Spirit/soul Emotions desires Will Reason Personality Consciousness Qualia

BODY

Flesh

Muscle

Nerves

Organs

Blood

Size, shape, weight

MIND

Mind

Spirit/soul

Emotions

desires

Will

Reason

Personality

Consciousness

Qualia

Reincarnation ‘Samsara’ Eastern Religions eg Hinduism Vedas (Holy Books) Atman “Soul” Part of Brahman “Supreme Reality” Karma – good or bad actions Until ‘Moksha’ is achieved “ Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on new, so the disembodied atman casts off warn-out bodies and takes on new” Bhagavad Gita

Eastern Religions eg Hinduism

Vedas (Holy Books)

Atman “Soul”

Part of Brahman “Supreme Reality”

Karma – good or bad actions

Until ‘Moksha’ is achieved

“ Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on new, so the disembodied atman casts off warn-out bodies and takes on new”

Bhagavad Gita

MOKSHA Good Karma Good Karma Good Karma Good Karma Good Karma Bad Karma Bad Karma Bad Karma Bad Karma

Samsara Case Study

Evidence for Samsara Testimony, Memories Consensus Gentium Hypnotic Regression voice changes memories recalled Verification? Case study

Testimony, Memories

Consensus Gentium

Hypnotic Regression voice changes memories recalled Verification? Case study

Philosophical Problems with Samsara Human = body, memory, psychological patterns (personality) Can I be me without a body? Ice-cream Can I be me without a memory? Can I be me with different personality? Can so many be Queen Vic, King Arthur? Simply memories from this life

Human = body, memory, psychological patterns (personality)

Can I be me without a body? Ice-cream

Can I be me without a memory?

Can I be me with different personality?

Can so many be Queen Vic, King Arthur?

Simply memories from this life

Immortality of the Soul and Christianity OT – Heb al-mawet lit ‘not-death’ NT Gk athanasia eternal life Originally immortal, no sickness, pain, death Made in image of God, breath ( ruach ) of God – ex nihilo – no pre-existence. Corrupted / lost through sin All will die a bodily death, all will be judged. As sinners – death, hell Those who die ‘in Christ’ will be raised to life in the last days Resurrection bodies ‘spirited bodies’ Jesus died and was raised with a ‘resurrection body’ He ate, spoke, touched, had scars “touch me and see I am not a ghost” Luke 24:39 BUT appeared and disappeared Followers will too be raised to new life Like seeds sown into ground – new body Heaven – paradise restored, eternal bliss Hell (Gk Gehenna) Literal place or state of seperation from God?

OT – Heb al-mawet lit ‘not-death’

NT Gk athanasia eternal life

Originally immortal, no sickness, pain, death

Made in image of God, breath ( ruach ) of God – ex nihilo – no pre-existence. Corrupted / lost through sin

All will die a bodily death, all will be judged. As sinners – death, hell

Those who die ‘in Christ’ will be raised to life in the last days

Resurrection bodies ‘spirited bodies’

Jesus died and was raised with a ‘resurrection body’

He ate, spoke, touched, had scars “touch me and see I am not a ghost” Luke 24:39

BUT appeared and disappeared

Followers will too be raised to new life

Like seeds sown into ground – new body

Heaven – paradise restored, eternal bliss

Hell (Gk Gehenna) Literal place or state of seperation from God?

Outline the Christian View of the Soul In the beginning – immortal, perfect Image of God – ruach Immortality lost through sin All – bodily death Judged Heaven – through Jesus Or Hell End of world – bodily resurrection

In the beginning – immortal, perfect

Image of God – ruach

Immortality lost through sin

All – bodily death

Judged

Heaven – through Jesus

Or Hell

End of world – bodily resurrection

Evaluating Christian View Can we be really human, really ‘me’? Based on faith and scriptural authority Heaven’s inhabitant are perfect What about disabled, mentally ill? If these are cured am I really ‘me’? John Hick ‘Replica Theory’ God able to raise people with same memories, personality and physical features (replicas) to inhabit a new earth

Can we be really human, really ‘me’?

Based on faith and scriptural authority

Heaven’s inhabitant are perfect What about disabled, mentally ill? If these are cured am I really ‘me’?

John Hick ‘Replica Theory’ God able to raise people with same memories, personality and physical features (replicas) to inhabit a new earth

Materialism or Dualism ? Dualism – Plato - body/soul distinct Soul/mind makes the body a ‘person’ Greeks – good ‘soul’ released from bad ‘flesh’ Hinduism, Christianity Descartes – distinct – can interact eg nightmare Soul/mind immortal Is there anything my body can do without my mind? – breathe, heart beat – ROBOT/Machine Is there anything my mind can do without my body? Reason/think Plato – ‘reason’ was immortal

Dualism – Plato - body/soul distinct

Soul/mind makes the body a ‘person’

Greeks – good ‘soul’ released from bad ‘flesh’ Hinduism, Christianity

Descartes – distinct – can interact eg nightmare

Soul/mind immortal

Is there anything my body can do without my mind? – breathe, heart beat – ROBOT/Machine

Is there anything my mind can do without my body? Reason/think

Plato – ‘reason’ was immortal

Nihilism human existence is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth , or essential value. Nihilists generally believe all of the following: There is no reasonable proof of the existence of a higher ruler or creator, a "true morality" is unknown, and secular ethics are impossible; therefore, life has no truth, and no action is known to be preferable to any other

human existence is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth , or essential value. Nihilists generally believe all of the following: There is no reasonable proof of the existence of a higher ruler or creator, a "true morality" is unknown, and secular ethics are impossible; therefore, life has no truth, and no action is known to be preferable to any other

Mind and Body. Dualism = body + soul (mind) Humans – material/physical So are rocks, plants etc Humans – able to think – minds CARTESIAN DUALISM HOW DO WE KNOW THINGS? Brian (body) sends electrical impulses Sight – object converted in impulses Interpreted/recognised by the brain HOW DO I KNOW YOUR SEEING THE SAME AS ME? reality – could be illusion or dream Some P’s “we’re born as a tabla rasa” blank slate Others “basic data is hard wired” (body) eg redness Kant “only concepts of time and space are known” everything else is learned PROBLEM – all relative

Dualism = body + soul (mind)

Humans – material/physical So are rocks, plants etc

Humans – able to think – minds CARTESIAN DUALISM

HOW DO WE KNOW THINGS?

Brian (body) sends electrical impulses

Sight – object converted in impulses

Interpreted/recognised by the brain

HOW DO I KNOW YOUR SEEING THE SAME AS ME?

reality – could be illusion or dream

Some P’s “we’re born as a tabla rasa” blank slate

Others “basic data is hard wired” (body) eg redness

Kant “only concepts of time and space are known” everything else is learned PROBLEM – all relative

How is the mind and body linked? PROBLEM non-material influences material eg olives material influences non-material eg bereavement Epiphenomenalism: Brain is like a VCR. Physical events stored and played back by the mind Emergentism: World is physical, therefore the mind is physical – thoughts/feelings are outcomes of brain activity. Behaviourism: Skinner. Mind and brain linked through physical activity. Mr X is angry. How do I know? Wittgenstein – thoughts do not exist – express physical behaviour

PROBLEM non-material influences material eg olives

material influences non-material eg bereavement

Epiphenomenalism: Brain is like a VCR. Physical events stored and played back by the mind

Emergentism: World is physical, therefore the mind is physical – thoughts/feelings are outcomes of brain activity.

Behaviourism: Skinner. Mind and brain linked through physical activity. Mr X is angry. How do I know?

Wittgenstein – thoughts do not exist – express physical behaviour

How does this effect Immortality? Emergentism: Undermines immortality/NDE’s as there is only the physical. Behaviourism: undermines reincarnation and bodily resurrection. ‘Mind’ is language of certain brain activities. If the brain changes…

Emergentism: Undermines immortality/NDE’s as there is only the physical.

Behaviourism: undermines reincarnation and bodily resurrection. ‘Mind’ is language of certain brain activities. If the brain changes…

NDE: Definition Near Death Experiences NDE’s are out of body experiences which occur, by definition, when the patient comes close to death. In some cases the patient is deemed to be “clinically dead”, but is resuscitated. These experiences often include OBE’s, contain reports of accurate information and have striking similarities

Near Death Experiences NDE’s are out of body experiences which occur, by definition, when the patient comes close to death. In some cases the patient is deemed to be “clinically dead”, but is resuscitated. These experiences often include OBE’s, contain reports of accurate information and have striking similarities

Some Key Questions Is this a biological or spiritual issue? Is there a soul? When does death really occur? At which point in the dying process do NDE’s occur? Can we validate NDE’s using Religious Experience criteria?

Is this a biological or spiritual issue?

Is there a soul?

When does death really occur?

At which point in the dying process do NDE’s occur?

Can we validate NDE’s using Religious Experience criteria?

Death and Dying A well researched process – medical Previously – cardiac arrest David Lamb ( Death, Brain Death and Ethics , 1985) ‘the irreversible loss of function of the whole organism’ After 10-15 mins of no blood/oxygen supply most of the brain cells and brain stem cells will die. Brain-Stem Death .

A well researched process – medical

Previously – cardiac arrest

David Lamb ( Death, Brain Death and Ethics , 1985) ‘the irreversible loss of function of the whole organism’

After 10-15 mins of no blood/oxygen supply most of the brain cells and brain stem cells will die. Brain-Stem Death .

A Heart Stops Beating B Brain starts to lose function C Brain loses all function D Brain Stem begins to lose function E Brain Stem loses all function Rigor mortis sets in 15 mins NDE’s

NDE’s: Who Has them? 1 Kenneth Ring (Professor of Psychology at Connecticut Uni) Suicide survivors – experience the initial peaceful stages but did not ‘enter the light’ Illness survivors were much more likely to ‘enter the light’ Status, culture, religion, age, race had no influence on who has NDE’s Conclusion – NDE is a dissociation from painful reality, and an ‘embracing of another reality to feel safe’

Kenneth Ring (Professor of Psychology at Connecticut Uni)

Suicide survivors – experience the initial peaceful stages but did not ‘enter the light’

Illness survivors were much more likely to ‘enter the light’

Status, culture, religion, age, race had no influence on who has NDE’s

Conclusion – NDE is a dissociation from painful reality, and an ‘embracing of another reality to feel safe’

NDE’s Who Has them? 2 Raymond Moody ( The Light Beyond , 1988) 1 in 30 have experienced or know someone who has experienced a NDE or OBE Researched Characteristics

Raymond Moody ( The Light Beyond , 1988)

1 in 30 have experienced or know someone who has experienced a NDE or OBE

Researched Characteristics

Moody’s Research 9 Tunnel experience 14 Sensation of light 17 Audible voice/music 23 Encountering other beings 26 OBE 32 Being in another world 32 Review of Life 32 Feelings of peace FREQUENCIES ELEMENT

Characteristics Kenneth Ring Life after Death 1980 Peace 60% OBE 37% Entering Darkness 23% Seeing the Light 10%

Peace 60%

OBE 37%

Entering Darkness 23%

Seeing the Light 10%

Characteristics Raymond Moody Life after Life 1975 Ineffability Hearing the news Peace and quiet The Noise The dark tunnel OBE Meeting others A Being of Light Life Review The Border Coming Back Telling others Effects on lives New view of death Corroboration

Ineffability

Hearing the news

Peace and quiet

The Noise

The dark tunnel

OBE

Meeting others

A Being of Light

Life Review

The Border

Coming Back

Telling others

Effects on lives

New view of death

Corroboration

Case Studies 1 Content Context Connections Outcomes

Content

Context

Connections

Outcomes

Case Studies 2

Do the Case Studies work?

Authentication: Can we validate NDE’s? Science / Biology - Empirical Approaches Parapsychology Philosophy – logical positivism Archetypal Images Religious

Science / Biology - Empirical Approaches

Parapsychology

Philosophy – logical positivism

Archetypal Images

Religious

A biological approach Increase in NDE’s with increase in resuscitation technology Oxygen starvation to brain and release of pain-killing chemicals Comforting images – preparing for death All in the mind? How could we evolve this phenomenon? “ death of a person” – bodily death “ personal identity may survive death… and may be lost prior (biological) death

Increase in NDE’s with increase in resuscitation technology

Oxygen starvation to brain and release of pain-killing chemicals

Comforting images – preparing for death

All in the mind? How could we evolve this phenomenon?

“ death of a person” – bodily death

“ personal identity may survive death… and may be lost prior (biological) death

Biological Approaches 2 Karl Jansen (London Psychiatrist) Replicate NDE’s through chemicals like Glutamate Concludes that NDE’s are a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain Susan Blackmore (1993) Identified chemical responsible for feelings of peace and bliss

Karl Jansen (London Psychiatrist)

Replicate NDE’s through chemicals like Glutamate

Concludes that NDE’s are a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain

Susan Blackmore (1993)

Identified chemical responsible for feelings of peace and bliss

Hallucinations? Ronald Siegal (expert in hallucinations) NDE’s consistent with all other types of hallucinations Do you agree? Why? John Gibbs Drug induced hallucinations far more random, chaotic and scary

Ronald Siegal (expert in hallucinations)

NDE’s consistent with all other types of hallucinations

Do you agree? Why?

John Gibbs

Drug induced hallucinations far more random, chaotic and scary

Logical Positivism (AJ Ayre) Only verify through the senses if not – “non-sense” NDE’s personal – others can’t engage

Only verify through the senses if not – “non-sense” NDE’s personal – others can’t engage

NDE’s and Mystical Experiences Bosch’s Ascent into the Empyean After a ‘mystical experience’

Bosch’s Ascent into the Empyean

After a ‘mystical experience’

Authenticating NDE’s as Mystical Experiences NDE’s are mystical experiences Judith Cressy (NY minister & NDE) St Teresa of Avila (…carried up to heaven) James: Ineffability, Noetic quality, Transiency, Passivity Numinious/mystical Otto: awefulfulness, overpoweringness, energy/urgency, otherness, fascination

NDE’s are mystical experiences

Judith Cressy (NY minister & NDE)

St Teresa of Avila (…carried up to heaven)

James: Ineffability, Noetic quality, Transiency, Passivity

Numinious/mystical

Otto: awefulfulness, overpoweringness, energy/urgency, otherness, fascination

Principle of Credulity and Testimony Richard Swindburne What other ideas can you apply from your Religious Experience module?

Richard Swindburne

What other ideas can you apply from your Religious Experience module?