Brain-dead neurosurgeon says he visited heaven

[Philip]

Fascinating article: Brain-dead neurosurgeon and researcher says he visited heaven: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ience.html

He said, "My entire cortex - the part of the brain that controls thought and emotion and that in essence makes us human - had shut down."

Here the neurosurgeon describes what happened in a video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z28oHCwySM

[RickD]

Wow! I always wondered what heaven was like. Now I know! Pink puffy clouds, butterflies, and a blue eyed woman. Call me skeptical, but I'm not convinced he saw heaven.

[Philip]

Paul wasn't sure about his experience, either: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows." (2 Corinthians 12:2 ESV)

[PaulSacramento]

At best what we have is evidence that, even with virtually NO brain activity, our conscience "lives" on.
What he saw was what his conscience was able to translate to his brain.
"Heaven" will be different things to different people because people need a "point of reference" of sorts to "translate" those images.

[RickD]

Paul wasn't sure about his experience, either: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows." (2 Corinthians 12:2 ESV)

Philip, the difference is that Paul knew a man "in Christ". This doctor admitted he was a nominal Christian. My initial reaction on all NDEs and death experiences is skepticism. I'm not saying he definitely didn't see heaven, but it seems like he may have still been alive too. I know he claimed his brain was shut down, and I'm sure he saw something. But heaven?

[PaulSacramento]

Paul wasn't sure about his experience, either: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows." (2 Corinthians 12:2 ESV)

Philip, the difference is that Paul knew a man "in Christ". This doctor admitted he was a nominal Christian. My initial reaction on all NDEs and death experiences is skepticism. I'm not saying he definitely didn't see heaven, but it seems like he may have still been alive too. I know he claimed his brain was shut down, and I'm sure he saw something. But heaven?

One man's heaven is another man's purgatory

[Philip]

Rick, I'm not endorsing anything about what this doctor says that he experienced. But posted it merely because it IS , at the very least, intriguing. But is it not possible that, through this doctor's experience, that God is perhaps providing the world with evidence that there is something that transcends our mortal bodies? Would this guy's long experience as a neurosurgeon and researcher of the mind not make him an excellent witness to such a reality? But also quite interesting, all NDEs are not all the same - as in I'm thinking that perhaps the devil is deceiving some people, even in a NDE - not sure if that is possible. But look at things of the mind - dreams especially come to mind. Our dreams are all over the map as to their subject matter and weirdness. And so what is it about being near death that produces THESE types of dreams?

[RickD]

PaulS wrote:
One man's heaven is another man's purgatory

Philiptheskeptical wrote:
Rick, I'm not endorsing anything about what this doctor says that he experienced. But posted it merely because it IS , at the very least, intriguing. But is it not possible that, through this doctor's experience, that God is perhaps providing the world with evidence that there is something that transcends our mortal bodies? Would this guy's long experience as a neurosurgeon and researcher of the mind not make him an excellent witness to such a reality? But also quite interesting, all NDEs are not all the same - as in I'm thinking that perhaps the devil is deceiving some people, even in a NDE - not sure if that is possible. But look at things of the mind - dreams especially come to mind. Our dreams are all over the map as to their subject matter and weirdness. And so what is it about being near death that produces THESE types of dreams?

Ok, if you look at it that way, then I agree. But I was just going on the headline:"Brain-dead neurosurgeon says he visited heaven".
And, if he was dead, and having a death experience, then I agree that it could be demonic deception.

[Philip]

Rick, also there is a very good possibility, that IF this man was chosen as a witness to the reality of heaven, that there is something beyond the merely physical, then just because the doctor was not a Christian doesn't really matter - because he may not have actually been there in BODY but only had a glimpse of it through his MIND.

Note exactly what Paul says he is unsure of: "whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows." And so as a non-Christian, I would think the doctor could not have actually been there. And as his body was still alive, I think we can be pretty sure that this was not the case. But as for actually seeing and experiencing this, through his mind, while yet STILL in his body, via a remote (though seemingly - to him - a perfectly, life-like experience) vision of heaven - I think that is entirely possible.

[RickD]

Rick, also there is a very good possibility, that IF this man was chosen as a witness to the reality of heaven, that there is something beyond the merely physical, then just because the doctor was not a Christian doesn't really matter - because he may not have actually been there in BODY but only had a glimpse of it through his MIND.

Note exactly what Paul says he is unsure of: "whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows." And so as a non-Christian, I would think the doctor could not have actually been there. And as his body was still alive, I think we can be pretty sure that this was not the case. But as for actually seeing and experiencing this, through his mind, while yet STILL in his body, via a remote (though seemingly - to him - a perfectly, life-like experience) vision of heaven - I think that is entirely possible.

I tend to think in this case, it was in his mind. Different, IMO, from our own B.W.'s death experience.

[Philip]

B.W.'s death experience

Can you please point me to that?

[RickD]

B.W.'s death experience

Can you please point me to that?

A LAND UNKNOWN: Hell's Dominion, B. W. Melvin

If the subject of NDEs and death experiences interests you, I highly recommend this book.

[Philip]

Thanks, Rick.

Oh, and I myself once had a near-death experience: Almost didn't remember our anniversary one year. Yet my brain freeze thawed, and just BARELY in the nick of time, as NEAR death would have almost surely have become TOTAL death!

[RickD]

Thanks, Rick.

Oh, and I myself once had a near-death experience: Almost didn't remember our anniversary one year. Yet my brain freeze thawed, and just BARELY in the nick of time, as NEAR death would have almost surely have become TOTAL death!

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

[PaulSacramento]

B.W.'s death experience

Can you please point me to that?

A LAND UNKNOWN: Hell's Dominion, B. W. Melvin

If the subject of NDEs and death experiences interests you, I highly recommend this book.

I did not know this about our B.W.