Near death experiences result from electrical surges in brain, not God

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   LauraGTposted 11 years ago

   Many speak of near death experiences as proof of God or proof of life after death.
   
   A new British study demonstrates that near death experiences are the function of brain activity.
   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23672150
   
   What do you think?

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      wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sounds a little like a report I've seen, where someone built a mesh "helmet" capable of producing magnetic waves in specific locations.
      
      Test subjects in a darkened room reported a feeling of being watched when a particular area or the helmet was powered up and producing magnetic waves.  Almost to a person, believers reported a feeling of being watched by God as long as the current was on.  Remove the current and "God" went away, too.

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That has to be the result of brain activity, or in the case of near death experiences, the result of brain inactivity. If the brain is traumatized, the person is not able to consciously understand what they are experiencing, let along comment on it later on.

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      riddle666posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So what is new?

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      moonlakeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My friend had a near death experience. She didn't see God she saw Satan for a long time she had a hard time getting over that and asking why she didn't see God.
      I don't know what I believe. I would like to believe people actually see the other side because I believe in the other side.

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      Peggasuseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've read that article about the research that was done, but it really doesn't prove the non-existence of God or the non-existence of an afterlife.  All it proves is that after death in rats, there is an electrical surge.  What does that have to do with what the being really goes through, after it's body dies?
      
      The article says, "We know precious little about brain activity during death, let alone conscious brain activity."  So the researcher is admitting that science doesn't really know much this subject.
      
      I dare say that much, MUCH more research has to be done before anyone can come to any important scientific conclusion.

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   Emile Rposted 11 years ago

   I think, the ability to cause an experience, or replicate something, would not necessarily negate the possibility that something else could trigger the same, or that some  purported experiences are not real.   
   
   Not saying I believe in NDE, but neither do I see cause to rule them out entirely.

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   janesixposted 11 years ago

   Of course there would be a surge of electical activity in the brain. Why does that negate God? Bit of a leap of logic there.

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      LauraGTposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It gives a biological explanation for what people experience in these situations.  People seeing light or having flashes becomes a biological event, not a proof point for the existence of a god.

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         janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Sure. But it doesn't disprove God either. Why shouldn't spiritual events result in biological effects?

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