"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven." - Karen Sunde

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Near-Death Newsletter July 1, 2004
www.near-death.com Vol. 03, No. 07, Ed. 01
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The Near-Death Newsletter is a free semi-monthly newsletter
which is emailed to subscribers every 1st of the month and every
15th of the month. The mission of this newsletter is to inform,
enlighten, entertain, and aid the public in understanding the
latest in all things concerning the NDE and related phenomena
by promoting the International Association for Near-Death
Studies (IANDS), NDE researchers, experiencers, multimedia
resources, and events.

[Disclaimer: This newsletter is not affiliated with IANDS; but is
dedicated to the IANDS mission.]

Visit IANDS website at http://www.iands.org and join the
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Visit the NDE Online Store to find NDE multimedia products such
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Table of Contents
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(1) NDEs in the news
(2) Events, Conferences, Workshops
(3) Notes from the webmaster
(4) What's new on near-death.com
(5) Q & A with Dr. PMH Atwater
(6) Books on the NDE
(7) Websites on the NDE
(8) Support the search for the afterlife
(9) Odds and ends

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(1) NDEs in the news
===============================================

*** A Famous Skeptic Recants Her Prior Conclusions
INTERNET -- (SkepticalInvestigations.org)
In a recent article Susan Blackmore claims to have given up. “At last,
I’ve done it. I’ve thrown in the towel”, she wrote. "Come to think of it,
I feel slightly sad. It was just over thirty years ago that I had the dramatic
out-of-body experience that convinced me of the reality of psychic
phenomena … But perhaps the real reason is that I am just too tired -
and tired above all of working to maintain an open mind. I couldn’t
dismiss all those extraordinary claims out of hand. After all, they just
might be true..."
http://www.skepticalinvestigations.org/anomalistics/skeptic_research.htm


*** Woman's Near Death Experience
LAFAYETTE, LA -- (KPLC TV)
Ezora is 88 years old and has always been deeply religious. During
her near death experience she believes Jesus spoke to her: "I was
traveling. I traveled, I was trying, I was trying so hard to get to the end.
I wanted to see what was behind that beautiful light. That light was
big as this house. And when it opened up it said i had more work
to do and that's when I come back."
http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1958038&nav=0nqxO5Nw


*** Larry Hagman Rejects Liver Transplant
OJAI, CA -- (UPI)
Actor Larry Hagman has told TV Guide Online he prefers death to
a second liver transplant. Hagman, best known as the star of TV's
Dallas, said he told his doctors not to put him on a transplant list
after an infection struck his liver late last year. Don't bother. I'm
72 years old. I don't want to deprive somebody of a new liver just
because I'm greedy.
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=cfeacc9b69801297
Read Larry Hagman's NDE testimony:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/triggers04.html


*** Taking Life's Final Exit
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- (Los Angeles Times)
Authors Patricia Kelley and Maggie Callanan, longtime Washington,
D.C.-area hospice nurses, had heard similar talk so often from their
dying patients -- conveying this sense of moving from one place to
another, of being in transition -- that they concluded it must be a
special language the dying have to communicate what is happening
to them ... The authors termed the phenomenon "nearing death
awareness" -- a state they think reveals what dying might be like
and what a person needs to die peacefully.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&e=8&u=/latimests/takinglife\
sfinalexit
"Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs and
Communications of the Dying."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553378767/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


*** New Age Religion Emphasizes Personal Spiritual Development
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- (The Salt Lake City Tribune)
The first time Karen Bezoski left her body she was sitting in a
parapsychology class at Weber State University in 1971. It was like
the frequent stories of near-death experiences, weightless floating
and walking into the light, she recalls. Except she wasn't dying.
That experience, coached by meditation experts from Berkeley,
Calif., led Bezoski toward a belief in reincarnation and "soul travel,"
which eventually led her to Eckankar, a New Age religion emphasizing
the importance of personal spiritual development.
http://166.70.44.66/2004/Jun/06192004/saturday/saturday.asp

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(2) Events, Conferences, Workshops
===============================================

*** July 1 - 4, 2004 - Annual Reincarnation Conference
The International Association for Regression Research and Therapies
(IARRT) will present its 24th annual conference in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. The conference theme: “Spiritual Revolutionaries: Evidence
of Reincarnation” will present such notable researchers as: Walter
Semkiw, Raymond Moody, and Peter Novak.
http://www.iarrt.org/pressroom/052404.htm


*** July 9 - 11, 2004 - "Living Fully: Preparing for the End of Life and
Beyond"
Presented by the Spiritual Paths Foundation and Aspen Cancer Guides -
Aspen Institute, Aspen Chapel, 77 Meadowood Drive, Aspen, Colorado,
USA - Presented by: Rabbi Zalman Schachter, Tsoknyi Rimpoche, Eve
Ilsen, Dr Ira Byock, Dr Marilyn Schlitz, Mother Tessa Bielecki, William
Cathers, Dr Ed Bastian, Tina Staley - This 3-day program brings together
renowned experts from medicine, science, philosophy, and spirituality to
explore how our lives can be made richer by embracing the challenge of
understanding and preparing for the end of life and beyond.
http://www.spiritualpaths.net/seminars/page/304001/


*** July 23, 2004 - Rev. George Rodonaia Lecture
Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.), Edgar Cayce
Virginia Beach Conference - Virginia Beach, VA, USA - Charles Thomas
Cayce, PhD, President, presents an evening lecture series. Four lectures
deliver leading-edge professionals from a variety of disciplines. George
Rodonaia, M.D., Ph.D., holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in neuropathology,
and a Ph.D. in the psychology of religion. He underwent one of the most
extended cases of a “clinical near-death experience” ever recorded.
Today he is on sabbatical as associate pastor of a Methodist church in Texas.
http://www.edgarcayce.org/conferences/clickthru/presidents_series/speakers.asp#g\
_rodonaia


*** August 13 - 15, 2004 - "Experience Sacred Inner Realms"
Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) - Edgar Cayce
Virginia Beach Conference - Virginia Beach, VA - Cutting-edge researchers
show you how to safely enter expansive internal states, erasing fear of
death, enabling deep peace. Speakers include Dr. Raymond Moody, Gilles
Bedard, Robert J. Grant, Carol Bush, L.C.S.W.
http://www.edgarcayce.org/conferences/hq_va_beach.html


*** September 10 - 12, 2004 - "Soul Survival: A Conference Exploring the
Evidence for Life After Death" - Omega Institute for Holistic Studies,
Rhinebeck, New York, USA - Featuring with Dr Raymond Moody, Brian
Weiss, John Holland and Suzanne Northrop - This special gathering -
a favorite at Omega the past several years - is an extraordinary opportunity
to explore the evidence for life after death with some of the leaders in soul
survival, past-life therapy, reincarnation, communication with the deceased,
and the afterlife.
http://www.eomega.org/omega/workshops/515197a74ca5895c00f0c9293d6e7b1a/


*** October 21 - 24, 2004 - ParaWorldExpo 2004
Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, USA - If it's
outside of the box, it's all under one roof exclusively at the ParaWorldExpo -
Over fifty internationally recognized experts in parapsychology including
Dr. PMH Atwater (NDEs), Dr. Stanton Friedman (UFOs), Dr. David
Morehouse (Remote Viewing), Dr. Walter Semkiw (Reincarnation), Carol
Bowman, MS (Children's past lives), and Dr. Hans Holzer (Parapsychology).
http://www.paraworldexpo.com/home.htm


*** Visit the NDE Conferences page for more upcoming events
http://www.near-death.com/conferences.html

===============================================
(3) Notes from the webmaster
===============================================

Kevin Williams writes: Do We Have The Right To Die?

If we assume that every human being born into this world has a
"right to life," then it logically follows that every human being has a
right to end their life (or a "right to die"). Because death is a part of
life,
a person's right to life logically assumes a right to not have that life.
Thus, any law upholding a person's right to life has inherent within
that same law a person's right to die, otherwise it would not be a
right to life in the proper sense of the term. But there is a legal battle
going on in America right now over whether or not a person has a
right to die (i.e., a right to life). In the case of Terri Schiavo, a woman
who has been kept alive artificially for the past 13 years even though
she is in a "persistent vegetative state" (i.e., a condition in which a
person is technically alive but brain dead), the government stepped in
to deny Terri the "death with dignity" sought by her husband in
accordance with Terri's wishes. Does the government have the right
to prolong your life by artificial means whether you desire it or not?
The following is an article by Josh Patashnik entitled "Life or Death:
A controversial Florida case reignites the debate over right-to-die laws"
published on January 1, 2004, which clarifies the current debate.
[Read more here: http://www.near-death.com/notes/notes006.html ]

Peace and Light,
Kevin Williams

===============================================
(4) What's new on near-death.com
===============================================

The following are the latest additions to near-death.com:

*** The NDE of Susan Blackmore
Susan Blackmore is a senior lecturer in psychology at the University
of the West of England, a parapsychologist, a Zen Buddhist, and a
formidable skeptic of the Afterlife Hypothesis surrounding the NDE
phenomenon. Blackmore is also one of the few leading NDE researchers
who have actually had a NDE. You can read the detailed account of
her NDE on this web page.
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/experts09.html


*** Events concerning the NDE
New conferences and events have been added to this page to fill
through the year 2004. More events coming.
http://www.near-death.com/conferences.html


*** What's New page
All the recent additions to this website are also listed on the
"What's New" page on my website.
http://www.near-death.com/whatsnew.html


===============================================
(5) Q and A with Dr. P.M.H. Atwater
An in-depth look at the near-death phenomenon
===============================================

In this section of the newsletter, PMH Atwater will answer a
question submitted to her from subscribers to this newsletter. If
you have a question that you would like her to answer for this
column, just email your question to me at:
webmaster@... for consideration.


P.M.H. Atwater's latest book is entitled
"The New Children and Near-Death Experiences"
and you can purchase a copy online at this Amazon web page:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1591430208/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20

In the Summer of 2004, her book entitled
"We Live Forever: The Real Truth About Death"
is scheduled for release. Reserve copies can be ordered at this
Amazon web page:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0876044925/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


QUESTION: "Ponder this. I work and care for people in a large
Alzheimer unit. I have seen some die, and be full code for a good
thirty minutes. Before death they were totally comatose, even for
a year or more. Then after they were prepped to be sent to the
funeral home, they sat up and spoke for the first time in years.
Their first words were "I am alive! Why are you doing this?'

"The first time it happened, I was in total shock wondering what in
the world happened? They wanted a shower and asked for special
meals, which I provided. They asked for family and I got on the
phone and called, but most didn't come because they had already
given up hope. They all had an air of peace about them.

"One family did come because this man had passed six times in
a month's time. Every time he came back he was more outspoken.
He told his boys the mistakes they were making and told them
to mend their ways. The last time was the last time. But the family
was so unsure, they asked that we hold the body until it was for
sure. We held him for 24 hours and they stayed until the final end.

"Two days ago, we sent one to the funeral home and after two hours
she came to. She is hospitalized, entertaining everyone. If their
minds were more clear when they passed, could they tell us more?
Everyone of them came back lecturing family with total grace. When
I had my experience, I didn't want to come back but was allowed to
stay for a while. Maybe they had unfinished business that was very
important to them. Guess I did, too.

"Any ideas? This still continues to baffle me." Love, Pat

ANSWER by PMH ATWATER: "Determining that moment of final
death is always a puzzle. Just because vital signs have ceased
doesn't mean the soul cannot return. I have a section in my book
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Near-Death Experiences" that talks
about this and what the medical community now uses to make
that judgment call..." [Read more from the link provided below]
http://www.near-death.com/atwater/index.html

P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D.
http://www.cinemind.com/atwater/
http://www.near-death.com/atwater.html
Marketplace (a public service):
http://www.cinemind.com/atwater/rosen.html


===============================================
(6) Books on the NDE
===============================================

*** The NDE Online Store includes NDE books, videos, movies,
documentaries, magazines, and other media.
http://associatesshop.filzhut.de/shop/index.php?ID=62ed2010a2e86954f2f1f2020e105\
6af


*** We Live Forever: The Truth About Death - by P.M.H. Atwater
This book gives details and deep insights into what really happens
when you die and what it truly means. Atwater also explores such
mysteries as heaven and hell, the souls’ existence after death, the
power of prayer, and delves into the truths and myths about death
that may shed new light on the real truth about life and living.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0876044925/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


*** Exploring Reincarnation: The Classic Guide to the Evidence
for Past-Life Recall - Hans TenDam
Written by one of the world’s leading authorities, this examines
the full range of explanations for past–life recall. This definitive
study includes case histories from around the world, as well as
intriguing theories about the relationship between body and soul
- from general social beliefs about past lives to detailed questions
about karma and past–life regression therapy. An outstanding
introduction to reincarnation from a historical, scientific, and
philosophical point of view.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0712660208/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


*** Soul Bared - by David Oakford
David’s near-death experience begins with a description of his state
of mind and life directly before his accidental drug overdose. While
near-death, he meets a being of light who guides him through the
solar system. David is then taken to a place near our planet which
is the equivalent of heaven where he has a life review. After the review
he becomes aware he must decide to remain in the spirit city or return
to his physical form. He is shown future events in his life and is able
to ask questions.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1413723071/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


*** I Believe There Is No Death - by Joseph D. Ross
Joseph D. Ross, Jr., M.D. explores the supernatural which reveals
how love can transcend from beyond the grave. The author invites
readers to share an incredible journey into the world of dreams,
paranormal experiences, and psychic discernments. Through a
variety of unexplained phenomenon, the author delivers a sensitive
message of hope to the bereaved, giving cause to view life and death
in a new way. It provides comfort and solace to those who need help
in accepting their own grief and loss of a loved one.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561678449/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


*** The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell - by Aldous Huxley
As only he can, Aldous Huxley explores the mind's remote frontiers
and the unmapped areas of human consciousness. These two
astounding essays are among the most profound studies of the effects
of mind-expanding drugs written in this century. His later works reflect
an interest in mysticism and the effect of the consciousness-expanding
drugs.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060595183/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


*** Beyond Death: Empirical Evidence for the Human Soul
- by Timothy Owe - Can science demonstrate the existence of
the soul? In the wake of the revolution of quantum physics, an
increasing number of scientists have acknowledged the very real
possibility of the existence of the soul. Beyond Death sets out
to prove the existence of spirit and its survival after death from
empirical evidence gathered by qualified researchers from a number
of scientific disciplines. Mind-matter interaction, research into
healing and remote viewing, consciousness at the cellular level,
near-death experiences and biological evidence of reincarnation
are among the many perspectives from which this crucial subject
is explored.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561841617/ref=nosim/neardeathexpe-20


===============================================
(7) Websites on the NDE
===============================================

IANDS is the premier research organization in the field of
near-death studies. If you haven't yet joined this wonderful
organization, I encourage you to join online at their membership
page. There are many benefits for being a member. Their quarterly
newsletter Vital Signs is alone worth becoming a member.

Home page: http://www.iands.org
Join IANDS: https://www.iands.org/joincard.html

SEPTEMBER 8 - 10, 2005 - IANDS Annual Conference
A.R.E. Conference, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Check out the IANDS Conference information page.
http://www.iands.org/conf.html


*** Spirituality and The Brain
Todd Murphy is a behavioral neuroscientist whose website focuses
on how understanding the brain can help us understand life after death,
visions of God, romantic love, enlightenment, deja vu, out-of-body
experiences and other phenomenon.
http://www.innerworlds.50megs.com/index.htm


*** Near-Death Experiences Without the Flatlines
Paul Schenk, Psy.D. states that you don't have to die to see the light.
He asks, "What if you could have a near-death experience without any
risk to your body’s well-being? For almost 20 years I have used hypnosis
to help clients have "waking dreams." These interactive dreams, in
which the person is always someone else, enable the person to safely
experience many of the phenomena associated with a true near-death
experience, without any of the life-threatening risks."
http://www.drpaulschenk.com/nde.htm


*** Soul Travel Magazine
An article by Kevin Williams on near-death experiences and the dark
side of non-physical reality. Everyone talks about the light and being
embraced by the light and how God is light. This is great. But what
about darkness? What do near-death experiences have to say about
darkness?
http://www.soultravel.nu/2004/040124-darkness/darkness.asp


*** What The Bleep Do We Know
This website is affiliated with the documentary of the same title which
plunges the viewer into a world where quantum uncertainty is demonstrated,
where everything is alive and reality is changed by every thought. This film
has been called by some theater goers “The Handbook to ‘The Matrix.’”
Like “The Matrix” it shows you a greater reality behind the one we all
accept as true, and you have the ability to create absolutely anything
from your own thought.
http://www.whatthebleep.com/home/


*** Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona
The Center promotes open, rigorous discussion of all phenomena
related to conscious experience and organizes conferences, on-campus
lectures, web courses, and hosts visiting researchers.
http://consciousness.arizona.edu/
Check out David Chalmers' online papers on consciousness:
http://jamaica.u.arizona.edu/~chalmers/online.html


*** Global Psychics Presents Sir Martin Brofman
Brofman describes his NDE and provides links to many interesting
articles concerning prophecy, psychic development, spirituality,
and much more.
http://www.globalpsychics.com/lp/SpiritWays/nde.htm


*** If you know of any new NDE website or web article you would
like to see profiled, email to me the address of the website at:
webmaster@...


===============================================
(8) Support the search for the afterlife
===============================================

*** How can your usual online shopping raise funds for near-death
research without any extra cost to you? By joining the free charity
website called iGive.com. Then whenever you shop online and
make a purchase at eBay, Barnes & Noble, Land's End, Florist.com,
Amazon.com or over 500 other participating websites, iGive.com has
arranged to automatically direct up to 27% of the purchase price
near-death research (IANDS) as a contribution. Become a part of
the family of people who are working to bring proof of life after death
to this world! Just click on the link for more info.
http://www.near-death.com/iands_charity.html


===============================================
(9) Odds and Ends
===============================================

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===============================================
Copyright (c) 2004 Near-Death Experiences & the Afterlife
===============================================

Peace and Light,

Kevin R. Williams
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife"
http://www.near-death.com
"Nothing Better Than Death"
http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=15695
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Death is nothing more than a doorway, something you walk
through." - Dr. George Ritchie (a near-death experiencer)