Evidence for God in near-death experiences

Oncologist Jeffrey Long in his book God and the Afterlife: The Groundbreaking New Evidence for God and Near-Death Experience {GA} reports on a study conducted by the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF).

“All the NDErs answered the NDERF survey question: ‘During your experience, did you encounter any specific information/awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?’” Of the “420 experiences shared in the most recent version of the NDERF survey that met all the previously discussed criteria for near-experiences,” 191 answered “Yes,” 62 answered “Uncertain,” and 167 answered “No.” That is, “the percentage of NDErs who were aware of God or a supreme being during their NDE [45%] is greater than the percentage of NDErs reporting a tunnel [32.4%], encountering deceased loved ones [25.2%], or having a life review [20.7%].” {GA, 37-38}

“In addition to asking questionnaire responders if they encountered information about or awareness of God, the NDERF survey also asked this group about their beliefs in the existence of God just before they had their NDE and then again at the time they shared their experiences.” Before their NDE, 39 percent of the respondents believed that ‘God definitely exists.’ “At the time they shared their NDEs with NDERF, an average of twenty-two years later, 72.6 percent of the NDErs believed ‘God definitely exists.’ To put this another way, there was an 86 percent increase in those who believe God definitely exists after their NDEs.” Combining the “NDErs who currently believe that ‘God definitely exists’ with those who currently believe ‘God probably exists,’ you find that this is the belief of a whopping 81.9 percent of NDErs—compared to 64 percent for the combined group before the NDE.” {GA, 39}

Certainty

I went from an uncertain belief in God to a certain belief. {GA, 43}

I was speaking with God, so that is my proof that God exists. The existence of God and Heaven was verified. It is real—the light and the presence. It was clearly God—everywhere and a part of everything. There were no limits on the power of God. I felt unconditional acceptance, forgiveness, and love. {GA, 43}

The light that I encountered felt supreme—unending, unconditional, immense love, a force that feels eternal, powerful and creative at the same time, which satisfies my definition of “God.” {GA, 44}

I have strong faith now and can see where God influences my life. {GA, 46}

I no longer fear death. I have a connection with God that is very personal and is forever. It’s not limited to this earth. {GA, 46}

It was more than an affirmation that God exists. It can’t be explained in words . . .. Saying that it’s “proof” downplays this experience. {GA, 46}

After my experience, I felt greatly comforted. I knew that God loved me and was always with me. {GA, 46}

I believe in God now. I don’t question whether there is a God. I’m not afraid of “death.” I don’t make people question their own faith anymore. {GA, 46}

I had the overwhelmingly creative and unifying emotional experience of the presence of God. This presence is what is “real,” and everything else is such a minor field of this reality. {GA, 55}

Love

I felt the presence of pure love. This is very hard to describe. Everything made sense: God exists, God is love, we are love, and love creates all that is. Everything is pure love, God is love, and everything exists because of this unconditional love. {GA, 50}

The entire encounter was about God, the ultimate power of God, and God’s forgiveness. The message was, “Love is the greater power in the universe.” {GA, 50}

I felt God as an all-encompassing presence—complete, total, and unconditional love in its highest form! I was surrounded by God’s unconditional love, which was so much greater than human love. I was given the knowledge that God is real and loves me unconditionally. {GA, 50}

No human can ever love with the love I felt in that light. It is all-consuming, all-forgiving. Nothing matches it. It is like the day you looked into the eyes of your child for the first time magnified a million times. {GA, 50}

“The NDERF questionnaire asked ‘During your experience, did you encounter any specific information/awareness regarding love?’” 244 respondents (58.1%) answered “Yes” and 136 (32.4%) answered “No.” 85% of those who said, “Yes,” provided a narrative response. {GA, 52}

Love is the paramount element of reality. {GA, 53}

I knew that the being I met was composed of a substance I can only call “love,” and that substance was a force or power, like electricity. {GA, 53}

Love was everywhere. It permeated the afterlife. It was incredible. {GA, 53}

I was loved unconditionally despite my faults and fears. {GA, 54}

This love was unique. I felt completely safe; nothing bad could happen. I was no longer in pain, and all my worries and fears were left behind with my body. {GA, 54}

Thelma’s experience: I have not found words to tell of it. “Light”? It was much bigger, profoundly more than just light. It was so vast! Shimmering, a cloud of warm love. Like I was in love with the whole world, and everyone loved me back! It was such a glorious feeling, I didn’t want to return. Our life is a gift; we make of it what we want. There is a “God,” for lack of a better word, and it would have to be called love! Now I understand some of my father’s Bible. {GA, 55-56}

Katie’s experience: When I died, I rose above my body and saw my grandfather trying to revive my body. But my body was of no interest to me, so I moved out of the room toward a presence I felt in the living room. I went toward this presence, which was in a brilliantly bring space—not a tunnel, but an area. The presence was one of peace, love, acceptance, calm, and joy. It enveloped me, and my joy was indescribable. I can still feel this spectacular feeling. I did not experience this presence as God (I was too young to understand the concept), but I did experience it as that which made me. I knew without a doubt that I was a created being that owed its existence to this presence. {GA, 65-66}

{GA} - God and the Afterlife: The Groundbreaking New Evidence for God and Near-Death Experience (2016)