Near-death experiences (NDEs) confirm Catholic doctrine on the Four Last Things

Near-death experiences (NDE) of people considered clinically dead, who come back to life from the edge of definitive death, are becoming increasingly common in every country, culture and continent, as medical means of resuscitation have become more advanced. NDEs do not reveal everything about the process of exiting this life, since by definition they stop at the threshold of death, but the elements that can be established are perfectly in line with Catholic doctrine on the Last Things. These include the idea of a personal review and judgment of our entire life by a loving and compassionate "Being of Light"; the immortality of the soul; its separation from the body at the moment of death; the communion of saints; the existence of angels; and even the existence of hell (negative NDEs). All those who undergo this extraordinary experience emerge transformed and no longer fear death.

Jesse Krauß - Vue d'artiste d'une expérience de mort imminente ©CC0/wikimedia

Reasons to believe:

In our secularized Western world, where few people still believe in eternal life, NDEs bring us face to face with the reality that after this life there is a magnificent other life waiting for us, a life filled with unconditional and immeasurable love.
Testimonies are the same across all cultures and ages, and today number in the tens of millions: people on the verge of clinical death (pulse and breathing stop), who return to life, can testify, if they feel confident, to having left their bodies and lived through an incredible experience that drew them into an elsewhere, a beyond, another world, generally magnificent, outside our time and space, which they had to leave, most often with regret, to return to this earth.
The people who have experienced a NDE are all deeply affected by it. They no longer see their life in the same way: they have a renewed sense of purpose for their life, and give more attention, presence and care to those close to them; they show a greater love of neighbor, empathy and gratitude for life, seeing it as sacred. This return from death’s door stays with them, reactivating their spirituality, bringing them closer to God and to others. They are convinced that there is life after death.
The subject is very serious, and has been well studied by many scientists since Dr. Raymond Moody's first book on Life after Life published in 1974. In the USA, for example, there is the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF), founded in 1998 by Dr. Jeffrey Long. The Foundation's website collects as many testimonies as possible, using a detailed form with around a hundred questions.

Summary:

NDEs are a universal experiences that concerns people of all times, ages, belief systems, educational levels, cultures, as well as socio-cultural backgrounds.

NDEs are by no means isolated occurrences, but are far more frequent than most people imagine: Today, nearly 60 million people have returned from clinical death (16 million in the United States), an increase of 200,000 a year (thanks to advances in life support technologies and resuscitation). Could there really be millions of fakers who invent these science-defying experiences? The current increase in the number of NDEs is in itself a sign to be taken into consideration.

These "experiencers" (as they are referred to) say they were "whisked away" to another world beyond this one, generally magnificent, outside our time and space, where they were perfectly happy, but which they had to regretfully leave to return to their body, something that many found difficult to do.

From this point on, they have a renewed sense of purpose for their lives, and give more attention, presence and care to those around them; they show a greater love of neighbor, empathy and gratitude for life, seeing it as sacred. This return from death’s door stays with them, reactivating their spirituality, bringing them closer to God and to others. They are convinced that there is life after death, and they no longer fear death.

Some went even further, and say they were taken through a long tunnel. They met other beings who welcomed them with infinite kindness. These beings are identified as either a deceased (sometimes unknown) relative, or a spiritual figure (or spirit), who can be likened to an angel.

But above all, the most extraordinary part of their experience is their encounter with a "Being of Light", a "person", radiant with light, emanating unspeakable love, a love universal and personal at the same time, and bringing incredible serenity.

This Being seems to know everything about the person, asking them, "What have you done with your life?", with great tenderness, without blame, without reproach, without guilt, but, at the same time, with all the demands of love. There is no judgment, but the individual understands how they have acted rightly or wrongly, coming to the truth about themselves, reviewing all the consequences of their actions, feeling all the harm or good they have done to others "as if they had done it to themselves".

Christians recognize this Being as their Lord, with all the characteristics found in the Gospel, which defines him as "Light of the world" (Jn 1:5-9; 8:12; 12:46), "full of love and truth" (Ex 34:6; Ps 84; Jn 1:14 ).

Others are absolutely overwhelmed by the Love that emanates from that Being of Light and is poured out on them. They feel loved as they have never felt loved before.

This encounter is unforgettable: it transforms those who undergo this indescribable experience. It can never be taken away from them!

Many then investigate who this Being might be, and realize that He is the God of the Bible.

This discovery very often leads them to ask for baptism to become children of God.

This spiritual step they often take eliminates the possibility of a demonic cause, as the devil has no interest in encouraging a return to God.

Dr. Patrick Theillier was for decades the head of medical research in Lourdes, France, and his main duty was to record and authenticate unexplained cures. In addition to declarations of healing, he received many testimonials from experiencers who had never dared tell anyone about their experience.

Beyond reasons to believe:

We can't ignore the multiplicity of documented, real human experiences that are in line with Christian beliefs and that confirm the reality of an afterlife beyond anything we can imagine.

Going further:

Article “The Catholic Church and Near-Death Experiences”

More information:

Books

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, by Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent (2010, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Life After Life: The Investigation of a Phenomenon by Raymond A. Moody Jr.(Mockingbird Books, 1975)
Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You, by John Burke (Baker Books, 2015)

Online videos