Jeffrey Long’s NDE research: God as love & light

 The differences that NDE survivors describe are as striking as the similarities. Each experience reflects the personal background of the person, as well as their culture and their exposure (or not) to explicit religious teachings and practices. Many speak of God in ways that reflect an awareness of Christian teaching. Yet, NDEs do not confirm Christian or other monotheistic teachings about God’s judgment or demands for worship. NDE survivors who speak of God do not cite commandments or report any threat of divine punishment for falling short of religious or spiritual teachings.

One NDE survivor reports: The entire encounter was about God, the ultimate power of God, and God’s forgiveness. The message was, “Love is the greatest power in the universe.” {GA, 50}

Another affirms: I’m not afraid of death. Now I know that we are all connected and that each of us is made of light and we are all “God” on earth. I didn’t believe in God and now I accept that we all come from the same light and are part of the light. {GA, 177}

The affirmation that God is Light and the Light is Love is not directly a Christian or monotheistic teaching, nor is the conviction that we are all one with God.

I was one with God, an NDE survivor recalls, or the Collective Soul, Father Sky, a Higher Power, whatever label you wish to attach to it. It was perfect love. {GA, 89}

This kind of experience has led many NDE survivors to feel more spiritual than religious, as the teachings of each religious tradition and community seem to require beliefs in divine attributes and required practices that their near-death experience revealed to them were not only unnecessary but impediments to simply living their faith in Love by being more loving.

I saw my childhood and felt the emotions my actions created in others. I learned that many of the things I thought I did “wrong” were not necessarily wrong. I also learned of opportunities to love others that I passed up. I learned that no matter what has been done to me, there is more to the story than my ego might not see or understand. My life has changed because I take into account more the feelings of others when I act. {EA, 114}

All of the sudden I floated out of my body. I felt free and peaceful, and I had no pain I looked down and they were doing CPR on me. I continued to float up, and a beautiful tunnel appeared with a bright light at the end of it. The light was brighter than the sun, pure and white, but it didn’t hurt my eyes. I feel so many emotions recalling the experience, but nothing can really express those feelings. Everything was “pure”—the brightest colors—like a filter had been removed and I could see the purity of everything. Then I turned and saw what I believe was God. It was pure energy, and you could sense the great wisdom that was within. God told me that we all have to live in love, that I had to take back the message of love. We need to love one another and help one another. Meeting God and his speaking to me was that blanket of love. I use the male pronoun but there was no gender. The feeling of the love being wrapped around me, the brilliant colors, and the connection—now I try to spread God’s message of love. {GA, 74-76}

The notion that we have come from a higher Consciousness and after life on earth will return to this “home” is a very old idea, which is rejected not only by science and secular culture but also by many who are active in religious communities that emphasize a religious calling to work for peace and social justice. Yet, it is a crucial element of the near-death experience, and sustaining for many survivors trying to live their lives on earth “in the Light” until they die and are “back home” again.

Wendy writes: When I went through the light all my dead relatives were there. I knew everyone even though I hadn’t met them before. They were so happy to see me and welcomed me home. {GA, 74}

And another NDE survivor remembers: I saw a bright light that was a thousand times brighter than the sun and felt that the rays shining down on me were made of peace, love, and serenity. I was safe, I was home, and I belonged. Yes, God was the light I saw. {GA, 85}

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

{EA} – Jeffrey Long, Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences (2010)