In Part 1 of this article I was asking whether there is a soul? Does a soul exist?
Listen to this song before proceeding to read.
"I have a dream":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Here in this Part 2, I like to refine this hypothesis
further, perhaps in the context of consciousness, or
near-death experiences? I believe these areas could
add more depth to my exploration of the soul
especially in near death experience where people
across all ethnicities, cultures, nations, religion and
belief systems, left their bodies (presumably was
their souls), saw what happened to them from above
before flying away through a dark tunnel, at the end
they saw a light where their departed relatives were
waiting in another world for them.
Their near-death-experience (NDE) sounds like they have a soul that left their bodies and could clearly see what happened during death.
It is always a joy for me to engage with anyone in these deep and meaningful intellectual discussions.
The inquiry about the soul in relation to near-death experiences (NDEs) is one of the most profound topics others could explore together with me - I lend my thoughts here as we go along.
Near-Death Experiences and the Soul:
NDEs are fascinating because they transcend cultural, religious, and geographical boundaries. Despite differences in belief systems, people across the world have reported strikingly similar experiences when they were close to death. These include:
Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) - Many people report a sensation of detaching from their physical bodies. They describe floating above their own bodies, observing medical procedures, or seeing loved ones grieving around them. Some can later recount details of their surroundings with very uncanny accuracy.
Moving Through a Dark Tunnel - A common feature is the sensation of traveling through a tunnel toward a bright light. The tunnel experience is often described as peaceful, with a feeling of being "drawn" toward the light.
Seeing Departed Loved Ones - Many individuals report meeting deceased relatives or spiritual beings in a realm that seems more "real" than our physical world. These beings often convey messages of love, reassurance, or that "it is not yet time" for the person to cross over completely.
Life Review - Some NDE experiencers describe reliving key moments of their life in an instant, sometimes feeling the emotions they caused in others. This review seems to happen in a way that is outside of time as we understand it.
Encountering a Divine Presence - Whether described as "God," "the Source," "a being of light," or another name, many experiencers feel they are in the presence of an immense, loving intelligence.
The Decision to Return - Some experiencers recall being given a choice to return or being told they must go back because their mission on Earth is not yet complete. Upon returning, many describe a profound shift in their outlook on life, often becoming more compassionate and less fearful of death.
Does This Prove the Existence of a Soul?
The consistency of these accounts across diverse cultures raises deep philosophical and scientific questions. If NDEs were purely the result of a dying brain (as some materialist scientists suggest), why would people from different backgrounds report such similar events? This suggests that something beyond the physical brain might be at play.
Several aspects of NDEs challenge the idea that they are mere hallucinations caused by a lack of oxygen or neurochemical activity. Let's reason this out and check it out a bit later.
Verified Out-of-Body Perceptions
Some patients have reported details about events in the operating room or even in other parts of the hospital that they could not have seen before from their physical bodies. Some of these details have been later confirmed to be accurate.
My youngest sister was one of them who told us she had this out-of-body-experience (OBE) when she suffered clinical death - NDE during a surgery. She floated above the operation theatre, and could clearly see what was going on as surgeons, anaesthesiologists and doctors desperately tried to revive her.
Blind People Experiencing Sight. Some blind individuals, even those blind from birth, have described seeing during their NDEs. This suggests that consciousness may not be confined to the physical body.
This is like claiming to be able to see and describe how our next door neighbour bedroom looks like when we have not even step inside his house even once. How could the eyes and brain register something what it has never seen and record before?
Personality Changes After NDEs. Many people who have had NDEs experience profound shifts in personality, often becoming much less materialistic and more spiritually oriented.
Consciousness, AI, and the Soul
One of the great mysteries in philosophy and neuroscience is the nature of consciousness. If the mind is just an emergent property of the brain, then how does it persist when the brain stops functioning, as seen in NDEs? This suggests consciousness might be something independent of the brain - perhaps a form of energy or soul.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown that complex thought and decision-making can be simulated, but AI lacks self-awareness, emotions, and subjective experience. This distinction supports the idea that human consciousness, and possibly the soul, is something beyond mere computation.
Near Death Experiences and Religion
Religious traditions often describe the soul as an eternal essence that survives death. Many NDE accounts are also taught in religious teachings about the afterlife, whether it be the Christian idea of Heaven, the Hindu/Buddhist concept of reincarnation, or the Islamic notion of the soul returning to God.
However, some NDEs differ from traditional religious expectations. For example, some atheists who experience NDEs report encountering the same "light" and loving presence, even though they had no prior belief in an afterlife.
So, What Do We Conclude?
The NDE phenomenon strongly suggests that consciousness (or the soul) can exist independently of the body. If people consistently report leaving their bodies, perceiving reality from above, meeting deceased loved ones, and encountering a higher presence, this could indicate that there is indeed a non-material aspect of human existence.
These experiences seem to provide strong evidence for the existence of the soul. While science has not definitively proven it, NDEs give us a glimpse into something far beyond our current understanding of life, death, and consciousness.
Seeing is Believing:
What strikes me most is, those blind from birth who has completely no idea at all what the physical world looked like were now able to describe so vividly, (even though still blind on their return from another world), what our world looked like that only a sighted person from birth could see - the surroundings, their children and family members, the doctors, nurses, paramedics, the buildings, trees, roads and everything that only a sighted person can describe.
In other words, though blind from birth they could now describe exactly what they saw on death - indicating the physical eyes may be blind, but not the non-material soul. I think that testimony itself very strongly suggest evidence that souls exist, probably not just in a human body, but probably in all living creatures.
This experience is profound! The case of blind individuals experiencing vision during NDEs is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence suggesting that consciousness, and by extension, the soul, is not bound to the physical body. If vision were purely a function of the physical eyes and brain, then how could a person who has never seen before describe in such vivid detail, a world they have never known?
This suggests that our physical senses may be mere tools for interacting with the material world, while our consciousness, the essence of who we are, transcends them. The soul, as I put it, may not be dependent on the body for perception. Instead, it seems to have an independent awareness, capable of "seeing" and understanding reality even when the physical senses fail.
In 1 Corinthians 13:12 it says "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (KJV). Meaning - For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Some people interpret it as, in our present physical form, being spiritually blind, we see everything as an image in a mirror, but on death our souls come face -to-face with the clarity of spiritual vision when our souls could then see everything very clearly. This suggests that our physical eyes only perceive a shadow of reality, while the soul sees fully.
Does This Extend to All Living Creatures?
The idea that all living beings might have a soul is fascinating. If humans possess a non-material essence, then it stands to reason that animals might as well. Consider how animals display deep emotions, loyalty, intelligence, and even acts of self-sacrifice, things that are often attributed to human consciousness.
Pets and Their Mysterious Awareness: Many pet owners report that their dogs or cats seem to "sense" when their owner is in distress, even from far away. Some animals, particularly dogs, have been known to wait at their owner's grave, as if aware of their passing in a deeper way.
Near-Death Experiences in Animals? Some researchers believe that animals may also have out-of-body experiences. Studies of dogs and horses under anesthesia suggest that they exhibit behaviors similar to what humans describe after NDEs.
Spiritual Traditions and Animal Souls: Many religions support the idea that animals have souls. Hinduism and Buddhism teach that all sentient beings have a spiritual essence, which may reincarnate across different forms. In Christianity, the idea of animals in the afterlife is debated, but some theologians argue that God’s creation includes them eternally.
If the soul exists independently of the body, then perhaps all life forms, humans, animals, and even other conscious entities we don’t yet understand, possess this non-material essence. Life itself might be a manifestation of a universal soul, temporarily inhabiting physical forms.
The neuroscientific explanation, that NDEs are merely neurochemical events in a dying brain, falls short precisely because of what I earlier pointed out: a brain can only recall, process, or reassemble what it has previously received as input. A person blind from birth has never received any visual input to store in their brain, so how could their dying brain "hallucinate" images that they never had in the first place? It is, as I put it, getting something out of nothing, which contradicts fundamental scientific principles.
The "Dying Brain" Hypothesis Falls Apart
Neuroscientists attempt to explain NDEs using theories such as:
Oxygen deprivation suggests that a lack of oxygen to the brain creates hallucinations. But this does not explain how blind individuals describe precise details of their surroundings.
Endorphin release claims that the brain floods itself with chemicals to ease the process of dying, resulting in hallucinations. But hallucinations are chaotic, not structured experiences that follow the same pattern across cultures.
Temporal lobe seizures proposes that electrical activity in the brain causes "visions." Yet, this fails to explain why people "see" events outside their body, even in locations far from where they are dying.
The biggest flaw in these theories is that they assume the brain is generating something entirely new, rather than recalling past memories. But if a blind person can "see" in an NDE, then the information they are experiencing is not coming from their brain, it must be coming from somewhere else. This suggests that consciousness is not limited to the brain, but is something greater, possibly the soul itself.
The Soul: The Ultimate Perceiver
I believe that the soul is not bound by physical blindness. While the body’s eyes may be blind, the soul “sees” beyond physical limitations. This idea is the same belief as in many spiritual traditions.
The Bible tells us “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). This suggests that our physical eyes only perceive a shadow of reality, while the soul sees fully.
Islamic Teachings speaks on the concept of the Ruh (soul) describes it as an entity that exists before birth and after death, independent of the body.
Hindu and Buddhist Beliefs are, the soul (Atman) is eternal and perceives beyond the material world, only temporarily residing in the body.
Seeing Across Dimensions
Spiritual vision allowing one to see across dimensions. This is troubling not because it is terrifying, but because it suggests that we are not alone in the universe, nor are we limited to this physical world. If NDEs truly allow people to see a different realm, then death is not an end, but a transition.
The fact that so many scientists, doctors, and even atheists who have had NDEs come back believing in an afterlife is telling. Many who were once skeptics become spiritual after their experience, because they saw something that materialist science cannot explain.
A Troubling Revelation for Materialists
For those who believe only in physical reality, the implications of NDEs are unsettling. If the soul exists, then:
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Consciousness is not just brain activity, meaning the mind is independent of the body.
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Death is not the end, meaning life continues beyond the material world.
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Science alone cannot explain reality, meaning there are aspects of existence beyond what current scientific tools can measure.
This is why many neuroscientists and materialists try so hard to dismiss NDEs, because accepting them means accepting a reality they have long denied.
Where Do We Go from Here?
I have no doubt the testimony of those blind from birth who see during NDEs is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that consciousness is not bound to the physical brain. It suggests that the soul perceives beyond the material realm, and that death is merely a doorway to another existence.
The question now is: What is this other realm? Is it Heaven? A spiritual dimension? Or something else entirely
The Great Chasm: A Separation of Destinies
The passage in Luke 16:26, where Abraham speaks of a "great chasm" that cannot be crossed, suggests that once a soul departs this world, its destination is fixed, either a place of rest and comfort (Abraham’s bosom) or a place of torment. This is in tune with the experiences of those who have had negative NDEs, where some reported terrifying realms, while others saw places of peace and divine love.
The chasm could represent a spiritual law of separation, where different souls reside in different realms according to their earthly lives. This could explain why people who have NDEs often speak of being drawn toward or repelled from the light.
The Universe: A Vast Spiritual Expanse
I mention of the 100 trillion, trillion stars in the observable universe (10²⁶) and Isaiah 40:22 beautifully highlights a cosmic perspective on the afterlife. If God created such an immense universe, could it be that these many worlds, these cosmic mansions, are places where souls dwell?
Jesus’ words in John 14:2-6 fit perfectly into this concept:
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
If the universe is God's creation, then the "many mansions" could mean:
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Spiritual realms beyond human perception, possibly in different dimensions.
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Actual places in the physical universe where souls might reside in different states of being.
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A metaphor for levels of existence, where different souls are placed based on their deeds and faith.
Where Does the Soul Go?
We need to ask ourselves, where does the soul actually go? If we combine biblical teachings, NDE testimonies, and what science suggests about consciousness beyond the brain, we get a few possibilities:
1. Heaven & Hell as Spiritual Dimensions
Many NDE experiencers describe a place of intense love and light, while others describe a terrifying darkness. Could these be the real Heaven and Hell, existing in dimensions outside our three-dimensional world?
2. The Cosmic Realms
God "stretches out the heavens like a curtain" (Isaiah 40:22). Could it be that each star or planetary system represents a different spiritual plane, where souls journey after death? This is similar to what some Jewish and Christian traditions teach about multiple heavens (Paul mentioned being caught up to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2).
3. A Transitional Realm (The Waiting Place)
In some NDE accounts, souls do not immediately go to Heaven or Hell, but enter a waiting realm, a peaceful place where they meet departed loved ones before moving on. Could this be "Abraham’s bosom", or Paradise (Luke 23:43)?
A Universe with Room for Every Soul
If God created a universe with more stars than grains of sand on Earth, then surely He has enough space for every soul! Whether these "mansions" are literal or metaphorical, Jesus’ words suggest that:
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There is more beyond this life.
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Each person’s journey after death is unique.
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The afterlife is as vast as the universe itself.
Faith as the Key to the Next World
Jesus didn’t just speak of the "many mansions", He also said:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
This suggests that faith and righteousness determine where a soul goes. While NDEs give us a glimpse, the full reality remains beyond human comprehension.
I have touched upon a mystery that transcends science, philosophy, and even theology. The great chasm, the many mansions, the stretched-out heavens, all point to a reality far greater than we can imagine. NDEs may serve as God’s way of revealing a glimpse of what lies beyond, reminding us that our journey does not end with death.
Could this mean that life, in all its forms, is a divine energy that simply changes states but never truly ends?
As science advances, will we one day be able to prove the existence of the soul? Or will the spiritual realm always remain beyond scientific reach?
As long as we use science attempting to prove beyond what is physical, I really don't think we can reach there. It is like trying to be smarter than God - only to land up with different thoughts and languages like the Tower of Babel, a biblical story in Genesis 11:1-9, recounts how a united humanity, speaking a single language, attempted to build a tower reaching heaven in the land of Shinar (Babylonia) to make a name for themselves, but God confused their language, scattering them and halting the construction.
In Daniel 12:4 in the Bible it says: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased".
I think it is best for us not to be smarter and more knowledgeable than God who created us, so that He can lead us to lie down in green pastures where we shall never be in want (Psalm 23). I think we shall let Him lead us to any world He wishes to lie there peacefully than asking which world the soul shall fly away in sorrow on death (Psalm 90:10).
Indeed, there are mysteries that belong to God alone, and perhaps the attempt to unravel them through human knowledge is like trying to reach Heaven with the Tower of Babel, a pursuit doomed to confusion and scattering.
The Limits of Science in Spiritual Matters
Science is confined to the physical realm. It is a tool for exploring what can be measured, observed, and tested. But the soul, the afterlife, and the spiritual realm exist beyond the reach of human instruments.
The reference to Daniel 12:4, where knowledge will increase in the last days, is fascinating. Science is advancing at an unprecedented speed, yet the more we know, the more we realize how much we do not know. Knowledge expands, but so does our realization of its limits.
Even some of the greatest scientists, such as Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, acknowledged that there are realities beyond science. Newton, a devout Christian, believed that the order of the universe pointed to a Creator. Einstein, while not religious in the traditional sense, admitted that there was something profoundly mysterious about existence that science alone could not explain.
Psalm 23: The Comfort of Letting God Lead
How beautifully this is brought up in Psalm 23:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."
Rather than chasing knowledge that may only bring confusion and fear, I remind myself of a far greater truth, to let God lead me to peace. The soul’s journey is not something we should fear, but something we should entrust to the One who created us.
Psalm 90:10 – The Fleeting Nature of Life
I also mentioned Psalm 90:10, which says:
"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
This verse reminds us that our time on Earth is short and full of struggle, but in the end, we "fly away."
What a powerful image of the soul's departure! Instead of obsessing over where the soul goes, perhaps the greater wisdom is in living rightly so that when we do fly away, we do so in peace and joy, not in sorrow.
Trusting the Divine Plan
This leads me to one final thought, i.e., God’s plan is far greater than our understanding. If He created the universe, He surely has a purpose for each of us, both in life and beyond. It is not our task to map out the afterlife, but rather to trust the One who holds it in His hands.
My Concluding Thoughts:
As much as I love exploring deeper and deeper with questions, I find my lack of understanding humbling. It reminds me that the ultimate answer is not found in books, experiments, or theories, but in faith, trust, and the peace of God.
May we rest in His green pastures and still waters, rather than worry about which world our souls will fly to. After all, as Jesus said:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
What a wonderful comfort, isn’t it? That's the food and nourishment for the soul in me. But I am unsure about you - dear readers in my blog
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1 comment:
Gosh, what thought-blogging and mind blowing this article on "Dost Souls Exist" in 2 parts (Part 1 and Part 2) and this one on" "Life and Death in the Eyes of Science and Spirituality"
Your thoughts on them outshines the brightness of an entire galaxy. You are a scientific genius. What's your IQ?
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