Near-Death Experiences ─ Understanding Visions of the Afterlife

Near-Death Experiences makes a unique contribution to the growing and popular literature on this fascinating topic. The book includes careful discussion of prominent cases, such as the near-death experiences of Pam Reynolds, Eben Alexander and Colton Burpo, together with critiques of their analysis by those who take them to show that our minds are immaterial and heaven is for real. In contrast, the authors provide a general blueprint for providing naturalistic explanations of near-death experiences.

Many people point to the deep and profound transformations undergone by most who have had near-death experiences. Such individuals report greater spirituality, more concern for others, and significantly less death anxiety. The proponents of the supernaturalist interpretation of near-death experiences argue that the best way to explain these deep changes is by supposing that individuals who have near-death experiences are in contact with a higher and benevolent power. In contrast, the authors give a naturalistic account of the profound meaning and striking transformative effects that these experiences engender in many.

This book takes seriously the reality of near-death experiences. They are beautiful and even awesome experiences. But it also shows that understanding these experiences through the tools of science is completely compatible with acknowledging their profound meaning and beauty. We seek to understand the world through science, and we attempt to feel at home in the world through stories. Near-death experiences are part of the way we tell-and even live-stories, and thus they are part of the way we come to make sense of the world. Our scientific inquiry and our storytelling are two complementary aspects of a more basic project of coming to terms with the world.

John Martin Fischer is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Riverside, where he has held a University of California President's Chair (2006-10). He was President of the American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division (2013-4). He was Project Leader of The Immortality Project (2012-15), sponsored by The John Templeton Foundation.

Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Sam Houston State University. Previously, he was the Postdoctoral Fellow for the Immortality Project (2012-2015), sponsored by The John Templeton Foundation.