Does the Church believe in this?

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DrewC

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Does the Church believe in Near death expierences? Ive been reading some Christian near death expieriences and they are facinating. Some of them conflict with the Church though, like for example one of them said Jesus and the Father were not one being. I dont know what to think can someone clairify this for me? Thanks.
Drew.
 
I’m no authority on this, but I’d say it depends on the experience. There are many saints who’s last words were about seeing different heavenly things. If that’s counts as a near death experience then I’d say the Church approves of them at times.

However, people who were technically dead, and claim to have been to heaven or even hell and take different truths back with them…I’d say those are nearly universally rejected.

There are a few people in histroy, mystics and Saints, who God gave visions too and the Church has appoved some of those, so it’s not like it can’t happen, but it’s all at God’s discretion.

People who were recusitated by CPR or who’s hearts were shocked back into activity, God isn’t fooled into thinking they’re done with Earth. Thus, only those He has reason to give a sight of Heaven or Hell with have it revealed.
 
DrewC:

To be taken as fiction.

And I read a few also that seemed doctrinely on line until I read one case of one person who also went on to write a book about it. After going through the usual tunnel to the light he got to experience talking to angels. He was allowed to ask all sorts of questions, one being did it matter what religion someone had? Ans: No.

This is where I bowed out. I attribute this answer to political correctness for the purpose of promoting sales to all religious groups. Jesus would not have allowed or stated this, period. If true the “angels” weren’t of the right persuasion.

There must be very brave, or, very stupid people in the world to take a chance such as this and profit from lies.

I read another who related a description of angel’s attributes and their environment and that didn’t jibe with St. Thomas’s Summa. I think this person was “really” just dreaming.

AndyF
 
It is my understanding that the Church has three categories for “visions”, be they near-death experiences or
other visions.

Human origin
Diabolical origin
Divine origin (approved)

Now the Church will only investigate and make a determination if it is important. Also each vision/visionary is individually investigated.

I believe that two of the criteria used (there are many more I am sure) for investigating these types of phenomena are whether there is anything that contradicts the teachings of the Church and the spiritual state of the person.

Personally, I think the vast majority of “near-death experiences” are of human origin. That is not to say people are lying (though I think some are), I am merely saying that they are neither from God or the Devil. It may be a natural process. I also believe a small number of these may be diabolical experiences. I believe only a vanishingly small number would be of Divine origin. As a consequence, I don’t believe any of it has any relevance.
 
I think we should also keep in mind the possibility that the visions are genuine, but that the memories of the visions are corrupted. By definition, a near death experience occurs during a period of great trauma for the individual involved. While they may have a glimpse of the very edges of heaven, it is probably more than the human mind, still tied to its fallen body, particularly during a period of trauma, is capable of interpreting accurately. As a result, they might start putting their own interpretation on the events.

Further of course, I agree with others that the visions that differ from Church teaching might be diabolical in origin. After all, it would definitely be in the interest of Satan to convince people that many things we do that we shouldn’t will not keep us from God’s grace.

–
Bill
 
DrewC said:
Does the Church believe in Near death expierences? Ive been reading some Christian near death expieriences and they are facinating. Some of them conflict with the Church though, like for example one of them said Jesus and the Father were not one being. I dont know what to think can someone clairify this for me? Thanks.
Drew.
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In these days, there are many claiming visions - usually considered by the Church as “private revelation”.

There are two parts to “discernment” i.e. trying to tell if the visions were from God or connected with God:


  1. *]Any message or information in the vision MUST agree with the Bible as interpreted by the Magesterium
    *]Asking what is the fruit of the vision.
    With the second, for example, after Our Lady appeared to the Indian in Guadalupe, there were thousands of conversions to the faith in the following years.

    When a person claims one of these “near death” experiences to me and says they saw God or the Beatific Vision or whatever, the first thing I ask them is where they are going to church. If the vision brought them back to the Church, it might be something truly from God but if it didn’t, then we just do not know.

    We have many in our church today claiming to see the Blessed Mother etc. If these private revelations are bringing people to pray the Rosary and good stuff like that, then God is working through them whether the person is really seeing the BVM or not.

    Fr Groshel of EWTN has written some interesting things about visions and every so often, he does his “Sunday Night Live” (on EWTN, the global Catholic network) about these. You can get more information about broadcast times- on cable and satellite TV and serius radio also and DVDs of shows etc at:
    www.ewtn.com
 
I don’t put a lot of stock in near-death accounts. First of all, it’s impossible to sort out what is legitimate and what is simply hallucinations brought on by oxygen deprivation. Second, there seems to be a lot of discontinuity from one experience to the next. Finally, one should consider one’s entire life a near death experience. We truly do not know what tomorrow will bring so our best course of action is to live as Christ demonstrated.
 
StCsDavid said:
I don’t put a lot of stock in near-death accounts. First of all, it’s impossible to sort out what is legitimate and what is simply hallucinations brought on by oxygen deprivation. Second, there seems to be a lot of discontinuity from one experience to the next. Finally, one should consider one’s entire life a near death experience. We truly do not know what tomorrow will bring so our best course of action is to live as Christ demonstrated.
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How do you hallucinate when youre dead? jw if thats possible.
 
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