During the surgery, Pam’s eyes were taped shut, plugs were placed in her ears, and her body temperature was held at 50 degrees. She was clinically dead while undergoing a hypothermic cardiac arrest procedure to remove a life-threatening aneurysm. The whole operation was life-threatening, yet she survived. Later, Pam described in great detail everything that happened in her operating room: the personnel she had never met before, the specific instruments she had never seen before, how they were being used, the sounds they made, things people said…all from a viewpoint floating above her body. She was dead. But then she was revived.
A neurosurgeon was placed in a medically induced coma due to brain and spinal cord swelling. The coma made him essentially brain dead, supported only by machines, but he was revived. He later recounted leaving his body, entering a realm of bright light and great peace, and meeting a young woman he did not know. Adopted as a child, and long after his near-death experience, the neurosurgeon finally met his birth parents and was shown a photo of his previously unknown biological sister who died years earlier. He immediately recognized her as the young woman he met within the bright light of his death coma. His career in neuroscience previously told him that such a conscious experience while clinically brain dead was not possible. But it happened.
Millions of people across history and cultures describe very similar near-death experiences of bright light, peace, and spiritual calm. These spiritual experiences share many similarities and resonate so strongly with those who have them that nothing can shake them from publicly asserting what they know to be true. Others prefer to only whisper about their mysterious spiritual experiences that impacted their perspective, life direction, or view of God. Their descriptions offer equally profound insights, but they opt to avoid the often misguided criticisms and irrational aspersions that so easily follow. Unlike with science and data, personal spiritual encounters cannot be measured, duplicated in a lab, or placed under a microscope. Nevertheless, such moments remain so real to so many people that their descriptions cannot be swept aside with a dismissive wave of the hand.
The immediate followers of Jesus of Nazareth claimed to have met and touched their crucified and risen Lord. So certain of their experiences, their previous fears of arrest and their own crucifixions disappeared as they risked death to proclaim this life-giving truth. Most, as history records, were tortured and executed for their enduring message of Jesus’ resurrection. Paul of Tarsus, an early persecutor of the first Christians, also encountered the resurrected Christ and became a Christian, a spiritual encounter so profound that it completely changed the direction of his life. He, too, suffered afflictions for proclaiming the truth of his experiences. Why would all these followers of Christ abandon their previous fears and unbelief to risk death? They did so because they were unshakably certain of their spiritual experiences.
Consider also that we all accept things as true that cannot be absolutely proven. To prove something is true means that it cannot possibly be another way. For example, we cannot prove that our existence did not begin five minutes ago with a built-in appearance of age, or that our brain is not just in a vat of chemicals being stimulated by a laboratory scientist. Yet, we all still hold certain properly basic beliefs (our foundation of knowledge) based on our experiences such as sight, sound, and touch. We agree there is a physical world around us because of what we experience. We may not be able to prove we possess an actual history longer than five minutes, but we all rationally accept this to be true based on our shared experiences. Similarly, it can be entirely rational to believe that our personal spiritual experiences are true in the absence of any provably more rational explanation.
A young child hears the voice of Jesus telling her, “Paint what you see.” At age four, she begins to create. Having never been to a church and not raised in a religious home, she nevertheless paints Christian images with extraordinary skill, including the painting on the banner of this page completed when she was only eight years old. Should we discount the impact of Akiane’s spiritual experiences on her astonishingly brilliant artistic skills? She asserts that spiritual experiences guided her. In the absence of a more provably rational explanation, it is, in fact, equally or more rational to believe her sincere and fervent accounts of her spiritual experiences that so impacted her life and the world.
Despite the fact that some people lie about their experiences, are simply mistaken, or can be explained scientifically, countless other personal spiritual experiences impact scores of people for reasons that are often difficult to comprehend or explain. Neurologists still cannot scientifically explain near-death experiences or instances of consciousness separate from our physical body. Visions, healings, even prayerful guidance or insight astound and captivate us while insisting on deep spiritual discernment and consideration of God as Creator.
Aside from theologians, scientists, and philosophers, perhaps pop musician Justin Timberlake put it most clearly:
“I can honestly say I am a Christian, but my spirituality has been developed on the road and is based on my experiences with God.”
Pam, the neurosurgeon, Akiane, and Jesus' apostles all proclaim the truth and the mystery of spiritual encounters. Although there are many others across history who also recount profound spiritual experiences, if only ONE person actually experienced spiritual consciousness apart from their physical body, then there must be more to each of us than mere physical matter. Pam floated above her physical body seeing and hearing all that took place in the operating room. The neurosurgeon was spiritually visited by someone he did not know but would know later. We are all, in fact, both soul and body, spirit and matter, created in the image of a spirit God (Gen. 1) and given a physical body within this material world.
Want to know more about God? Consider reaching out to people who’ve had personal experiences with God and ask them. Chances are, they’d love to tell you.
A neurosurgeon was placed in a medically induced coma due to brain and spinal cord swelling. The coma made him essentially brain dead, supported only by machines, but he was revived. He later recounted leaving his body, entering a realm of bright light and great peace, and meeting a young woman he did not know. Adopted as a child, and long after his near-death experience, the neurosurgeon finally met his birth parents and was shown a photo of his previously unknown biological sister who died years earlier. He immediately recognized her as the young woman he met within the bright light of his death coma. His career in neuroscience previously told him that such a conscious experience while clinically brain dead was not possible. But it happened.
Millions of people across history and cultures describe very similar near-death experiences of bright light, peace, and spiritual calm. These spiritual experiences share many similarities and resonate so strongly with those who have them that nothing can shake them from publicly asserting what they know to be true. Others prefer to only whisper about their mysterious spiritual experiences that impacted their perspective, life direction, or view of God. Their descriptions offer equally profound insights, but they opt to avoid the often misguided criticisms and irrational aspersions that so easily follow. Unlike with science and data, personal spiritual encounters cannot be measured, duplicated in a lab, or placed under a microscope. Nevertheless, such moments remain so real to so many people that their descriptions cannot be swept aside with a dismissive wave of the hand.
The immediate followers of Jesus of Nazareth claimed to have met and touched their crucified and risen Lord. So certain of their experiences, their previous fears of arrest and their own crucifixions disappeared as they risked death to proclaim this life-giving truth. Most, as history records, were tortured and executed for their enduring message of Jesus’ resurrection. Paul of Tarsus, an early persecutor of the first Christians, also encountered the resurrected Christ and became a Christian, a spiritual encounter so profound that it completely changed the direction of his life. He, too, suffered afflictions for proclaiming the truth of his experiences. Why would all these followers of Christ abandon their previous fears and unbelief to risk death? They did so because they were unshakably certain of their spiritual experiences.
Consider also that we all accept things as true that cannot be absolutely proven. To prove something is true means that it cannot possibly be another way. For example, we cannot prove that our existence did not begin five minutes ago with a built-in appearance of age, or that our brain is not just in a vat of chemicals being stimulated by a laboratory scientist. Yet, we all still hold certain properly basic beliefs (our foundation of knowledge) based on our experiences such as sight, sound, and touch. We agree there is a physical world around us because of what we experience. We may not be able to prove we possess an actual history longer than five minutes, but we all rationally accept this to be true based on our shared experiences. Similarly, it can be entirely rational to believe that our personal spiritual experiences are true in the absence of any provably more rational explanation.
A young child hears the voice of Jesus telling her, “Paint what you see.” At age four, she begins to create. Having never been to a church and not raised in a religious home, she nevertheless paints Christian images with extraordinary skill, including the painting on the banner of this page completed when she was only eight years old. Should we discount the impact of Akiane’s spiritual experiences on her astonishingly brilliant artistic skills? She asserts that spiritual experiences guided her. In the absence of a more provably rational explanation, it is, in fact, equally or more rational to believe her sincere and fervent accounts of her spiritual experiences that so impacted her life and the world.
Despite the fact that some people lie about their experiences, are simply mistaken, or can be explained scientifically, countless other personal spiritual experiences impact scores of people for reasons that are often difficult to comprehend or explain. Neurologists still cannot scientifically explain near-death experiences or instances of consciousness separate from our physical body. Visions, healings, even prayerful guidance or insight astound and captivate us while insisting on deep spiritual discernment and consideration of God as Creator.
Aside from theologians, scientists, and philosophers, perhaps pop musician Justin Timberlake put it most clearly:
“I can honestly say I am a Christian, but my spirituality has been developed on the road and is based on my experiences with God.”
Pam, the neurosurgeon, Akiane, and Jesus' apostles all proclaim the truth and the mystery of spiritual encounters. Although there are many others across history who also recount profound spiritual experiences, if only ONE person actually experienced spiritual consciousness apart from their physical body, then there must be more to each of us than mere physical matter. Pam floated above her physical body seeing and hearing all that took place in the operating room. The neurosurgeon was spiritually visited by someone he did not know but would know later. We are all, in fact, both soul and body, spirit and matter, created in the image of a spirit God (Gen. 1) and given a physical body within this material world.
Want to know more about God? Consider reaching out to people who’ve had personal experiences with God and ask them. Chances are, they’d love to tell you.
RSS Feed