Dr. Mary Neal's Life After Death

In the Spring of 1999, Dr. Mary Neal was kayaking with colleagues on a river in southern Chile. Neal was stuck under a Kayak for over 15 minutes. During this time period, she recalls being confronted by God, saying her family would be faced with a tragedy and that she must be there to help him through it. She was told her nine year old son, Willie would die, but did not say when. Her son did, in fact, die in a car accident at the age of 19. Neal was convinced Jesus was the reason why she was able to survive the Kayaking accident, and it was God that enabled rescue workers to revive her (Sunfellow). She is one of the many documented NDE’s with a story that have taken place, suggesting life after death. Near death experiences have become universally

The experiences patients go through are one like no other. They come to, “...express a spiritual realm and a loving presence that some refer to as God…” (Lichfield). During this period they might also come, “into contact with relatives that have been deceased, and at the same time, recalling previous events that occured in one's life” (Lichfield). These experiences have been documented to change people's lives as some go on to new professions and ending marriages as a result of their subconscious experience. Additionally, some have developed a greater sensitivity to light, sounds and certain chemicals. Furthermore, their personalities may become altered, such as becoming more caring-sometimes to a fault. According to Diane Corcoran, a president of a NDE study association, near death experiences can occur from many common circumstances such as “heart attack, near-drowning, electrocution, terminal illness, combat fatigue.” Many patients share a common theme, reporting that their occurence did not have the same feel as a hallucination or dream, but considered more real than real life. Although there are documented NDE’s all agreeing that there is life after death, it is imperative to examine the legitimacy of these claims and view the counter argument to see what is in fact

Pastor Jose, another example survivor of a near death experience. He supports these phenomenons and gives a religious point of view on life after death. Pastor Jose, a catholic priest on a journey to become a full time practicing priest globally faces a near death experience as a result of a tragic mishap. Father Jose had gotten into a car accident and was rushed to the hospital. During this frantic moment he recalls his soul being lifted from the body with his guardian angel. The angel took him into the three stages of the afterlife in Christianity. First, Pastor Jose was brought to hell by an angel where he experienced great suffering. He was able to recognize people in hell but would not reveal their intentions to the public. Next, he was brought to purgeatory where he saw suffering but to a lesser extent than hell. The suffering was due to the fact that they could not be one with God. This was the intermediate stage between heaven and hell. Lastly, his angel brought him to heaven where he confronted God. He was told that his life was not over, to pray for the souls in purgatory, and to spread peace to God’s people (Insight856). Although paralyzed from the waist down Pastor Jose was given a message by Jesus’ mother Mary to “get up and walk”(Insight856). He was able to do instantly. He then began to spread his message to many cities throughout the world. Pastor Jose's doctor told him that he would never walk again