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New Research on Near Death Experiences May Shed Light on the Mind-Body Question
Near Death Experiences are one of the front lines in the battle between physicalism and spiritually-oriented belief systems. Physicalism says that only matter/energy exists and that only the matter/energy in our universe can cause any event. That means that the brain produces consciousness and when the matter in the brain dies, so does the mind and the perception of self.
The wide interest in Near Death Experiences and the remarkable prevalence that has now been documented has stirred interest in alternative explanations. Best selling books such as Eben Alexander’s Proof of Heaven and films such as “Heaven is for Real” have brought the issue and questions to the masses. These reports generally support the idea that the mind, consciousness, or the soul continues to exist and have very vivid experiences even though the brain has stopped functioning.
If it can be firmly established that the neurons in the brain have ceased firing, but vivid experiences continue, then the physicalist insistence on the brain producing the mind fails. On the other hand, if these experiences are shown to be created by brain activity, then this popular and attractive “proof” for spiritual, transcendent or immaterial reality is seriously undermined.
