Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Heaven Is Real: A Doctor’s Experience With the Afterlife
Newsweek/Daily Beast ^ | Oct 8 2012 | Eban Alexander

Posted on 10/08/2012 3:01:21 PM PDT by WilliamIII

As a neurosurgeon, I did not believe in the phenomenon of near-death experiences. I grew up in a scientific world, the son of a neurosurgeon. I followed my father’s path and became an academic neurosurgeon, teaching at Harvard Medical School and other universities. I understand what happens to the brain when people are near death, and I had always believed there were good scientific explanations for the heavenly out-of-body journeys described by those who narrowly escaped death.

... In the fall of 2008, however, after seven days in a coma during which the human part of my brain, the neocortex, was inactivated, I experienced something so profound that it gave me a scientific reason to believe in consciousness after death.

(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: ebenalexander; heaven; neardeathexperience; neurosurgeon
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-135 next last
To: WilliamIII
Seems like there was more willingness to believe this guy's story on a thread back in March...

Atheist Professor’s Near-Death Experience in Hell Left Him Changed

41 posted on 10/08/2012 3:52:56 PM PDT by Ken H
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz
Heaven for me will be a whole bevy of hot cars, big firearms that don't run out of ammo, hot and wanton chicks>>>>You better hope that your heaven isn't hell for the chicks LOL.
42 posted on 10/08/2012 3:53:15 PM PDT by conservaterian (Sarah/DeMint '12-NOPE Cain?- Guess NOT. ABO & ABMR. I'm going Goode.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: WilliamIII

I’ve seen and read of many “near death experiences,” and have kept an open mind, neither accepting nor rejecting the reality of this. But, this one strikes an off note for some reason.

The Pixar cartoonishness for one, the very vague feel good nature of it in contradiction to the Christianity he professes for another, but above all, it’s the sheer self-centered me me me of it all. Loved ones? Nope. An identifiable God presence? Nope, just waves washing through ... him.


43 posted on 10/08/2012 3:54:28 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I want the USA back

How do you know? Have you been dead before?


44 posted on 10/08/2012 3:54:51 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: WilliamIII
Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
45 posted on 10/08/2012 3:56:47 PM PDT by Dallas59 (President Robert Gibbs 2009-2011)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: James C. Bennett

When the Chinese draw pictures of Jesus, he looks Chinese. I suppose when the Irish draw pictures of Jesus, He has red hair. Maybe Jesus appears to us as what we identify with. But I think Jesus is pure beauty like we have never seen. Time will tell.


46 posted on 10/08/2012 3:57:10 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: HerrBlucher

>>>There is nothing I can do wrong? Really? And I still go to Heaven no matter what? Cool!>>>

I believe the doctor was referring to when you ARE in Heaven.


47 posted on 10/08/2012 4:00:21 PM PDT by kitkat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: FredZarguna

I see a hand, Fred would you like to enlighten the class?


48 posted on 10/08/2012 4:00:21 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: conservaterian

Well played. :)


49 posted on 10/08/2012 4:01:07 PM PDT by Lazamataz (WAAAAAAAAAHHHhhhhh.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: WilliamIII

wow! what a description of heaven and I believe and know it is all true. I have not discussed much my visitor from heaven one night over my bed as it filled my body with warmth. It also told me in a wordless way similar to the doctor’s description, that I am well loved and safe now. It has changed my life in amazing ways.


50 posted on 10/08/2012 4:08:04 PM PDT by fabian (" And a new day will dawn for those who stand long, and the forests will echo with laughter"you min)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Excellence
Sub-particle physics is the stuff of dreams.

As is particle physics, but it's not a dream.

It's true.


The pain you feel today is the strength you'll have tomorrow.

51 posted on 10/08/2012 4:09:41 PM PDT by rdb3 (Democrats: Once a slave owner, ALWAYS a slave owner!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: CatherineofAragon

I remember when my grandmother was in the hospital and we knew she was dying. She was 100. I remember hearing her having a conversation with her two sisters who had died before her. It was like they were welcoming her to Heaven. She died within the hour.


52 posted on 10/08/2012 4:10:15 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: WilliamIII
Why do these "near death" experiences appear to be independent of religion?

I also note that none of these "near death" experiences involve someone being revived in a terror struck state describing torment and suffering?

53 posted on 10/08/2012 4:12:12 PM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Misterioso

You owe me a new laptop keyboard!! LOL!!


54 posted on 10/08/2012 4:12:38 PM PDT by Yollopoliuhqui
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Misterioso

“So heaven is unimaginable. For you, you should add.”

Not really. God Himself said that the human mind cannot encompass what He has prepared for us after this life.


55 posted on 10/08/2012 4:16:09 PM PDT by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: fso301

Oh, there are ones like that. But most people who see a hellish situation don’t publicize their visions or experiences.


56 posted on 10/08/2012 4:18:50 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: ilovesarah2012

Sam’s Club used to sell the most beautiful Manger sets at Christmas — incrdibly detailed and dressed in “silk” robes. (I have one from several years ago.) The sets were different evey year, but they always came in 2 versions — black figures or white figures. The “white” set had one of the kings who was black, but the black set was all black (I think). The faces were the same — just the skin a different tone and the hair diffeent. Actually I liked the black version better because the colors had a little more depth, but I thought that the grandchildren wouldn’t understand.

The set I have is in a desert scene with a stone manger that looks like a ruined building and palm trees. It’s beautiful.


57 posted on 10/08/2012 4:19:00 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

Very nice. :)


58 posted on 10/08/2012 4:19:26 PM PDT by Lazamataz (WAAAAAAAAAHHHhhhhh.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: WilliamIII

Fascinating story. It confirms a lot of things Christians have always suspected it was like. In a way, I’m glad he was such a skeptic beforehand.

It explains, as much as our earthly minds can fathom, some of the things we are told in Scripture about the joy and peace of Heaven that surpasses all understanding.


59 posted on 10/08/2012 4:19:37 PM PDT by OrangeHoof (Our economy won't heal until one particular black man is unemployed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr Ramsbotham

I can’t help but think that it will be on a completely different level.

****

I think so too. How else can we be reunited with our parents and our children - people who intersect our own lives at very different stages.

But I also believe in near death experiences. My nephew, about age 4, fell out of a window, was unconscious for a time and when he regained consciousness, related that he had “dreamed” of going up in the air to the sky with balloons holding him up. He said it was a wonderful feeling. Could this have been how a four-year-old human brain interpreted what was happening to him?


60 posted on 10/08/2012 4:21:49 PM PDT by maica
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-135 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson