NDEs and ADCs: Their Evidential Value for Chrisian Apologetics

[MadHermit]

In my experience, NDEs (near-death experiences) and ADCs (after-death contacts) are one of the most effective tools for evangelism, especially for unbelievers who are not ready to take the Bible seriously. In this thread I will present and discuss some of the most evidentially impressive cases and will eventually ground them in Scripture.

(1) The hottest new top in NDE research focuses on a common but long neglected evidential type of NDE, Shared Death Experiences. An inspiring example of this is Scott Taylor's Shared Death Experience involving his girlfriend Mary Fran and, (as is later discovered) another member of Mary Fran's family. Here is Scott's report:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=yo ... &FORM=VIRE

For a general short report on this neglected phenomenon, watch Ray Moody and Paul Perry discuss its main characteristics. In a longer presentation elsewhere, Moody discusses his own Shared Death Experience involving his mother:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=yo ... &FORM=VIRE

 

[Dave M]

I often wonder how this scripture fits into NDE ???

2 Corinthians 12:4
that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

 

[MadHermit]

I often wonder how this scripture fits into NDE ???

2 Corinthians 12:4
that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

NDErs often claim to have received astounding revelations that are erased from their mind by the time they return to their body. They remember only the fact of the revelations, not their content.

 

[Curtis]

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

You do not need to come close to death as all believers have already died 2,000 years ago.

 

[MadHermit]

Curtis, the texts you cite could serve as a mandate to investigate NDEs and ADCs.

(2) A SHARED ADC: An agnostic friend, a former HUD executive, brought the he book, "Lighted Passage," to my attention and was kind enough to mail me a copy. Though my friend has little interest in the Bible or church, he is blown away by the evidential value of the ADC reported on p. 15. The author, Howell Vincent, was a Presbyterian minister and a relative of my friend's colleague at work. Vincent wrote this book about his daughter Rea and her death in a car accident on her honeymoon. His description of a shared ADC involving his late first wife Nellie and other family members is quoted from p. 25:

"On at least 2 occasions this radiant mother had come to Rea in visible tangible form and talked with her...I was privileged to be present at one of these heavenly visits by Mother Nellie. Together with Rea I talked with Nellie, fully recognizing her face and form and voice. I saw her place her hand on Rea's head in blessing, and I saw her give Rea a flower, a calendula, which we pressed and kept. At that time 3 other members of our family were present, including Rea's second mother, Agnes, and they all saw Nellie and talked with her, as Rea and I did. We were all wide awake and walked around the room with Nellie."
From an evidential perspective this testimony rivals the Gospel resurrection stories and, for that very reason, lends them added credibility. Rev. Vincent's testimony certainly opened my agnostic HUD executive friend's heart to the Gospel and the possibility that Jesus really did rise from the dead.

I wonder if the etheric calendula in the family album is available for scientific chemical examination. I heard an interview with a Dr. Lind, who witnessed a dying patient's face light up in response to a take-away family apparition. The patient cupped her hand to receive a 4-leaf clover which she gave to Dr. Lind, saying it was a gift for him from her deceased relative. Dr. Lind put it in a glass, but in a few days it had dematerialized! Similarly, a parishioner of a UMC church I pastored (Bob) was meditating on paranormal manifestations in our congregation, when he received his deceased mother's long lost wedding ring. It appeared in the center of his made bed, but then dematerialized not long thereafter. I wonder if the calendula remains pressed in that scrap book.

 

[Curtis]

Curtis, the texts you cite could serve as a mandate to investigate NDEs and ADCs.

(2) A SHARED ADC: An agnostic friend, a former HUD executive, brought the he book, "Lighted Passage," to my attention and was kind enough to mail me a copy. Though my friend has little interest in the Bible or church, he is blown away by the evidential value of the ADC reported on p. 15. The author, Howell Vincent, was a Presbyterian minister and a relative of my friend's colleague at work. Vincent wrote this book about his daughter Rea and her death in a car accident on her honeymoon. His description of a shared ADC involving his late first wife Nellie and other family members is quoted from p. 25:

"On at least 2 occasions this radiant mother had come to Rea in visible tangible form and talked with her...I was privileged to be present at one of these heavenly visits by Mother Nellie. Together with Rea I talked with Nellie, fully recognizing her face and form and voice. I saw her place her hand on Rea's head in blessing, and I saw her give Rea a flower, a calendula, which we pressed and kept. At that time 3 other members of our family were present, including Rea's second mother, Agnes, and they all saw Nellie and talked with her, as Rea and I did. We were all wide awake and walked around the room with Nellie."
From an evidential perspective this testimony rivals the Gospel resurrection stories and, for that very reason, lends them added credibility. Rev. Vincent's testimony certainly opened my agnostic HUD executive friend's heart to the Gospel and the possibility that Jesus really did rise from the dead.

I wonder if the etheric calendula in the family album is available for scientific chemical examination. I heard an interview with a Dr. Lind, who witnessed a dying patient's face light up in response to a take-away family apparition. The patient cupped her hand to receive a 4-leaf clover which she gave to Dr. Lind, saying it was a gift for him from her deceased relative. Dr. Lind put it in a glass, but in a few days it had dematerialized! Similarly, a parishioner of a UMC church I pastored (Bob) was meditating on paranormal manifestations in our congregation, when he received his deceased mother's long lost wedding ring. It appeared in the center of his made bed, but then dematerialized not long thereafter. I wonder if the calendula remains pressed in that scrap book.

I myself have had many visions, and visitation of the Lord in my 40+ years as a Christian. The mount of transfiguration is another example of this where Peter, James, and John were with Jesus, and as he prayed there appeared with them "in Glory" Moses, and Elijah. They talked about what Jesus was about to do in Jerusalem. NDE are not only spoken of those who have died momentarily and come back to life, but all Christians have that capabilities since we are translated into the kingdom of God at the new birth. The main stream Church thinks that the Kingdom people are go to at death is a different kingdom then the one we are already at the new birth!! The Kingdom of God is invisible, and so are its citizens, but it is only invisible to the human eyes, but not the eyes of the hidden man of the heart who has been "enlightened" by God's light that gives vision!!