The evidential value of near-death experiences for belief in life after death.

Near death experiences (NDEs) provide suggestive but not yet convincing evidence for life after death, though they can be persuasive for the individual who has the experience. The paper surveys positions from those who see NDEs as strong evidence to physicalists who view them as weak. It argues that while the current evidence suggests the possibility of an afterlife, it is not overpowering. The author recommends further research on veridical perceptions during NDEs, the most impressive type of evidence for life after death.

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Abstract

In this paper, I explore the issue of what evidential value near death experiences (NDEs) offer for belief in life after death. I survey the major positions on this issue, ranging from writers who believe that NDEs already offer convincing evidence for life after death, to physicalists who believe that they offer, at best, a very weak case. I argue that the present NDE evidence does suggest the possibility of life after death; however, such evidence is not yet overpowering or convincing. However, I go on to argue that NDEs do offer persuasive evidence for life after death for the individual who has the NDE. I end by suggesting that further research should be done on the most impressive type of NDE evidence for life after death, veridical perceptions during an NDE.