"What we call life is a journey to death. What we call death
is the gateway to life." - Anonymous

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Near-Death Newsletter July 15, 2004
www.near-death.com Vol. 03, No. 07, Ed. 02
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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.

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From the webmaster
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This is an abbreviated newsletter due to events that are happening
this month which require a large amount of my time away from
the computer.

My beloved grandfather, Walter Williams, passed away recently at
the age of 94. I took care of him from 1995 to when he was placed
in a nursing home in 2003. He has finally joined his beloved wife,
Marie, my beloved grandmother who passed away in 2002. These two
people played a significant role in raising me as a child and I have
always considered them more as parents than grandparents. Together
we have come full-circle in many ways as they took care of me when
I was a child. Their loving influence on me was and will forever be immense.
You can view my on-line family album here: http://home.comcast.net/~williams.h/

Since 1995, I have been living in my grandparent's house. After my
grandmother died and after putting my grandfather in a nursing home,
I have been living in their home alone and waiting for public housing
to place me in an apartment to suit my disability. I have been on the
public housing list for years. Finally, this month they contacted me
and now I am in the process of relocating there. At the same time
as this happened, my grandfather died. This bit of synchronicity
means that I am not only leaving my grandparent's wonderful house; but
my grandfather is leaving for an even more wonderful house in heaven
at the same time. The synchronicity of this event is such that it is
very difficult for me to convey with words.

When my mother died in 2001, I learned just how connected we all
are. When she died, my immediate family began experiencing such
synchronisitic "coincidences" that go beyond mere coincidences.
As members of my family have passed on to the Other Side, the
synchronicity surrounding their passing demonstrates to me that my
connections to them remain unbroken. Indeed, the circle will never
be unbroken. -- Kevin Williams

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Table of Contents
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(1) NDEs in the news
(2) Notes from the webmaster
(3) What's new on near-death.com
(4) Websites on the NDE
(5) Support the search for the afterlife
(6) Odds and ends

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(1) NDEs in the news
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*** Everlasting Love
ATTLEBORO, MA -- (TheSunChronicle)
Whether they are called extraordinary experiences, near-life events
or after-death communication, these types of occurrences are quite
common, experts say. People who are grieving see an everyday
happening as a sign from a deceased loved one that ends up comforting
them. A plant blooms unexpectedly, as it did for Britton. A bird lingers.
An animal visits. A butterfly hovers. A light goes on or off. A song comes
on the radio. A dream brings comfort. Yet people who have these
experiences are often reluctant to talk about them because of how
others might react.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2004/07/13/reports/special10.txt


*** Elizabeth Kubler-Ross After "On Death and Dying"
WASHINGTON, DC -- (NPR)
When Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's book "On Death and Dying" was first
published more than three decades ago, it spoke about the experience
of dying in a new way and made its author a celebrity. The book is
still read around the world, but its author has faded from the public
spotlight. John Biewen of American RadioWorks reports.
(AUDIO): http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3154013


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(2) Notes from the webmaster
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Kevin Williams writes: "When Does Death Mean Death?"

I had the following email debate with a skeptic who refused to believe
that anyone having a NDE is "dead". Here is the exchange:

SKEPTIC: Doctors use to consider a person clinically dead when the
heart stopped. Now it is the brain and only up to a certain point of the
brain stem . What we call brain dead is legal brain dead. There is
without doubt brain activity after clinical brain deadness. Near death
is just that near death! Not death. When the brain is gone all we really
know is that is that. Doctors do not have the money or time to trace all
electrical brain activity to the end. I do not think we even have the ability
to do it yet. There is no one yet to come back from death yet, not even
Harry Houdini, that said if there is a way I will do it. He did believe in
an after life even though he went around exposing the fake spiritualists.
I still maintain that no one knows.

KEVIN WILLIAMS: Here is a NDE by a woman who underwent a rare
surgical procedure. This woman was:

(1) put unconscious using an anesthetic
(2) then her body temperature was lowered to 60 degrees
(3) then her heartbeat and breathing were stopped
(4) then her brain waves flattened (brain death)
(5) the blood was drained from her head
(6) while in this condition, she floated out of her body
(7) she observed the doctors operating on her body
(8) then she had the most profound near-death experience documented
in Dr. Sabom's study

This woman met all the criteria for death - and more. This woman was
MORE than dead. She was beyond clinical and brain death. Yet she
was able to identify specific surgical procedures which proved correct.
It doesn't get any clearer than this.

SKEPTIC: I question your facts. As I wrote, near death is not death.
Brain death is death when it reaches a legal stage. At such a point
no one has come back and if so then the person was not dead yet.
The sense of hearing is the last to go and can create the feelings of
floating like a dream. She says she observed the doctors that does
not prove she did. No one yet has proof. In China or Japan when people
have near death experiences they do not see Jesus at the end of the
tunnel. They see the figure of their faith. Death is like a doorway. Perhaps
it just is and the door is shut. Kevin, are you trying to sell your book?

KEVIN WILLIAMS: The term "near-death" is misleading because it
is a misnomer as many researchers will tell you. Philosophically, it is
like saying a woman is "near-pregnant". Either a woman is pregnant
or they are not pregnant. Philosophically, either a person is dead or
they aren't.

But the medical definition of death has been debated for centuries
depending on the culture, social conditions, and the role of the medical
profession. The newest definition (i.e., "brain death") may not yet be
adequate for encompassing all of death's meanings. There is no
consensus within the scientific community concerning when conscious
life begins. In the same way, there is no consensus within the scientific
community concerning when physical life ends. Determining the precise
time of death is, in fact, medically and scientifically impossible according
to cardiologist Michael Sabom, M.D. who states: "It used to be thought
that the point of death was a single moment in time. But it is now thought
that death is a process, not a single moment."

But because doctors need something to go by, they have come up with
various legal and social definitions over the years for the sake of finality.
Here are the terms we're most familiar with:

(1) HEART-LUNG FAILURE = the traditional definition of death until
advances in medical technology created problems for this definition

(2) CLINICAL DEATH = breathing and heartbeat have stopped - a person
might still be able to be resuscitated with CPR or other means, depending
on why the vital signs ceased and under what conditions.

(3) LOWER BRAIN DEATH = the lower brain (i.e., brain stem) which
controls automatic body functions, stops working. The length of time
which the brain stem must be inactive before a person is declared legally
dead varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Complicating the issue, the
same person can be considered legally dead if about to become an organ
donor, but legally alive if not.

(4) HIGHER BRAIN DEATH = the brain stem still functions, keeping
the heart, lungs and digestive system working, but the sensing, thinking
part of the brain has shut down. When the "person" is dead, the body
might still be functioning. But for all practical intents and purposes, there
is no ethical reason to keep the body alive.

(5) WHOLE BRAIN DEATH = both lower and higher brain functions have
ceased - This definition was first developed by the ad hoc committee at
Harvard Medical School in 1968. In 1980, hospitals were permitted to begin
using it as a determination of death in patients. But even though a person
might suffer from whole brain death, they can still have a heartbeat which
only ends due to the failure of the lungs. If the lungs are forced to keep
breathing, such people can continue to digest food, excrete waste, and
even bear children. Whether or not such people are "dead" is currently up
for political debate.

(6) BIOLOGICAL DEATH = permanent cellular damage occurs due to
a lack of oxygen. This process is irreversible and final.

Whichever definition science ultimately agrees on will influence how
people are treated in hospitals, how people get organs for transplant,
whether women have abortions, and when doctors perform stem-cell
research - not to mention the implications within religious, philosophical
and metaphysical circles.

So, according to these definitions, the woman who had the NDE during
surgery met all the criteria for WHOLE BRAIN DEATH. What you are
talking about is BIOLOGICAL DEATH and, by definition, no one returns
from it.

SKEPTIC: She says she observed the doctors but that does not prove
she did. No one yet has proof.

KEVIN WILLIAMS: You need to be more precise with words. Like death,
there are many definitions of the word "proof". Here they are:

(1) CIRCUMSTANTIAL PROOF = evidence supported by surrounding
circumstances

(2) CONCLUSIVE PROOF = evidence that is irrefutable

(3) DIRECT EVIDENCE = proof that directly proves

(4) EXTRINSIC PROOF = evidence that indirectly proves

(5) ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE = proof that consists of informal personal
responses

(6) STATISTICAL EVIDENCE = mathematical proof

(7) ANALOGICAL EVIDENCE = metaphorical proof

(8) CORROBORATING EVIDENCE = evidence that supports other evidence

(9) REAL EVIDENCE = tangible evidence

(10) DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE = evidence that is reproducible in
the laboratory

The kind of proof you are referring to is REAL EVIDENCE. In other words,
an example of the evidence which would satisfy your criteria would be
if the woman brought back the sandal of Jesus or something like that.
In fact, the kind of evidence you are looking for cannot be obtained using
the scientific method because science does not yet have the ability to
quantify what would constitute REAL EVIDENCE of consciousness surviving
biological death. In essence, you are trying to find REAL EVIDENCE for
something that may not even be quantifiably real - like trying to capture
a dream in a bottle.

But don't be fooled into thinking that you do not have a burden of proof
for the claim you make that there is no proof of the survival of consciousness
after biological death; because there is a mountain of CIRCUMSTANTIAL
PROOF, ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, STATISTICAL EVIDENCE, CORROBORATING EVIDENCE,
and even DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE that consciousness survives biological death.
And it is YOU who has the burden of proof to explain this evidence. I do not.
This evidence fills my entire website. Where is your proof to back up your
claim and refute my evidence? When you claim that there is no proof of
survival, you offer no proof yourself to support your claim that there is no
proof. And you probably think you don't have to provide such a lofty thing
as "proof". The ball is in your court.

Read what I emailed you thoroughly and examine the evidence on my
website. Then come back to me with (1) rebuttals against my claims, and
(2) your proof that there is no proof of the survival of consciousness after
death.

SKEPTIC: In China or Japan when people have near death experiences
they do not see Jesus at the end of the tunnel - they see the figure of
their faith.

KEVIN WILLIAMS: Again, you make a claim without any proof. Not only
that, your claim is false. Your statements only show me that you have not
done your homework.

According to PMH Atwater:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/evidence04.html
Initial Greeters met in near-death states:
Religious figures (usually conform to the predominant
religion the experiencer was exposed to, but not always -
Jesus has appeared in near-death scenarios of Jewish people,
for stance; a Muslim man once told me he was met by Buddha.

According to Jeanie Dicus:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/reincarnation05.html
She is a Jew who was greeted by Jesus during her NDE.

According to Mellen-Thomas Benedict:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/reincarnation04.html
He was greeted by a being who transformed into Jesus, Buddha,
Krishna, and other personalities. Before his NDE he had no
specific religious belief.

According to May Eulitt:
http://www.near-death.com/group.html
She saw the being as Buddha although she is not a Buddhist.

According to George Rodonaia:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/evidence10.html
He was an atheist who had a NDE and had an experience
with Jesus and his disciples.

According to a study by Dr. Jeff and Jody Long:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/experts102.html
Of the 302 people who responded to the survey, 29% (88) saw
familiar beings and 25.8% (78) saw unfamiliar beings. Of the
166 people who saw beings, 53% saw familiar beings, while
47% saw unfamiliar beings. The highest percentage of familiar
beings seen were blood relatives (25.9%), followed by religious
figures (22.9%).

SKEPTIC: Death is like a doorway .. perhaps it just is and the door is shut.

KEVIN WILLIAMS: Again, you make a claim and think you do not need
to deal with such lofty ideas as "burden of proof". Where is your proof
that death is the blessed end of everything? You must refute my
evidence and provide me the proof for your claim.

SKEPTIC: Kevin, are you trying to sell your book?

KEVIN WILLIAMS: I am not trying to sell a book. I AM selling a book.
And I maintain this website. Is there something wrong with selling books
or is it that you are against capitalism? Is this a great country or what?

Peace and Light,
Kevin Williams

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(3) What's new on near-death.com
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The following are the latest additions to near-death.com:

*** Emanuel Swedenborg's Map of the Heavens and Hells
I have added a large graphic representing the structure of the many
heaven and hell realms as described by the great mystic Emanuel
Swedenborg. This is certainly worth a look.
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/triggers141.html


*** Edgar Cayce and UFOs
The great out-of-body traveler and psychic had some interesting
things to say about extraterrestrials. I have included a list of them
on Betty Andreasson's alien abduction NDE page.
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/triggers19.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

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(4) Websites on the NDE
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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


*** 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@...


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(5) Support the search for the afterlife
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*** 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


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(6) Odds and Ends
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Copyright (c) 2004 Near-Death Experiences & the Afterlife
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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)