Dr. Moody writes a very interesting book looking at near-death experiences (NDE), how the experiences are similar and slightly different, regardless if the individual was involved in a major accident, going through some sort of medical procedure or nearing the end of their organic life cycle, or even some suicide type attempts/scenarios.
After going through multiple testimonials of different scenarios, the general consensus is that the individual going through the NDE commonly experiences some sort of out of body sensation along with an extreme sense of peace with heightened awareness of what was going on around them either at or during the accident, or in the hospital operating/emergency room, being able to recall intricate details or conversation between people at the scene of the accident or between doctors and nurses, when there was no possible way that they should have been able to know what was going on or what was said.
This can often be in combination or separately associated with maybe seeing or experiencing a bright light and/or a slide show of one’s life with specific references to times when they were more selfish versus times when they were more loving towards others. Individuals that were trying to commit suicide and end up having these experiences, usually experience some sort of darkness and they often see the cowardness of their decision, how it has affected others close to them and often are given a second chance or choice if they want to go back, as strange as that may seem.
The author then looks at how our view of life and death have any bearing on the NDE. First he looked at a Biblical view and how death physically occurs and how it is often equated to sleep in the scriptures and then the bright light reference to Jesus and then the whole phenomenon of resurrection is introduced, but it is not in this book’s capacity to properly address or the author’s desire. Next the author looks at Plato’s view that the physical body is the prison to the soul and death is the escape from that prison, and how then we need to face the good and the bad from our lives. Lastly, the Tibetan book of the Dead, which was written in the 8th Century AD had the goal of having people think positively of post-death experience and the understanding there is some sort of separation of the soul from the physical body upon death, which is again similar to Plato and the Bible.
Then to close the writer addresses common questions he receives as an MD especially speaking at medical conferences and where he has been able to expose people to this unknown phenomenon, that may even be ridiculed in some circles. In shedding light on this topic Dr. Moody has received more testimonials either from doctors (often recounting patient’s stories) or from actual members of the doctor’s family.
This is a book that I may not have normally read, but it was shared to me by a Chinese inmate who had taught me Qi Gong (an oriental technique or exercise to help increase one’s energy). There seems to be little known about these NDE’s and there still is a lot of mystery surrounding or associated with it. I do remember as a young boy having recurrent dreams that sound a lot like these experiences described in the contents of this book. Now as a Christian believer I trust the Trinity with my death, something that I don’t fear at all, and actually look forward to my soul going to heaven in sort of a new body for eternity, which is confirmed in this book that there definitely seems to be a life after death.
