Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Near death experiences	Mike	Thursday, December 27, 2012
Question: Dear brother I have researched some of the evidence that would suggest that NDEs are spiritual. Some notable neurologists and surgeons once sceptics are now believers. Not all NDEs are the same in that many appear to travel to a place where they experience unconditional love and acceptance but I have heard testimonies of others who have been taken to hell and report that it is a place of absolute terror, pain and utter hopelessness. In any case I have found that in all the experiences I have looked into, there is no mention of religion. God, Love, Satan, Angels and demons yes but no religion. Many people that have seen hell have come back and had a profound change of life as do others. Assuming then that some NDEs maybe genuine and not merely a neurological function of the brain, is it possible then that it does not matter what religion you practice or whether or not you are religious but rather it may depend on the person you were and the life you lived which determines whether or not you can enter Heaven. I know that's over simplifying it but I am interested in what you believe.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Mike: When these experiences are genuine, religion is not mentioned in the experience because the person is dealing directly with angels, Jesus, and perhaps loved one's in heaven. The Catholic Church is the Church Triumphant in heaven. Those in heaven will know that they were saved through the Catholic Church and Christ, even if they were Hindus on earth. What would be a clue that the person's experience was demonic, with Satan appearing as an angel of light, is if the person came back and said that Jesus, or angels, or loved ones instructed them to go into the New Age, or that all religions are equal, or to specifically join a Protestant group. Most of these positive experiences say nothing along these lines. The people, rather, are comforted and inspired. If they then go to a non-Catholic group or the New Age that is something they chose for themselves, not that they were instructed by heavenly being. Although not reported as often, there are many instances of people going to hell. Not everyone goes to heaven. But, as to your question about the possibility of that it does not matter what religion one belongs? It ABSOLUTELY MATTERS. If it did not matter then Jesus was a liar for he said that no one comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). The Church teaches that non-Catholic Christians can be saved as they are genuine Christians if validly baptized. Even non-Christians can be saved. But, when anyone is saved it is through the Catholic Church even if the person does not know it (see the Catechism 830-848). There are no denominations in heaven. Heaven is the Catholic Church Triumphant and all who are saved, if not Catholic on earth, will be Catholic as they enter the Pearlie gates. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Near death experiences

Mike

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Question:

Dear brother

I have researched some of the evidence that would suggest that NDEs are spiritual. Some notable neurologists and surgeons once sceptics are now believers. Not all NDEs are the same in that many appear to travel to a place where they experience unconditional love and acceptance but I have heard testimonies of others who have been taken to hell and report that it is a place of absolute terror, pain and utter hopelessness.

In any case I have found that in all the experiences I have looked into, there is no mention of religion. God, Love, Satan, Angels and demons yes but no religion. Many people that have seen hell have come back and had a profound change of life as do others.

Assuming then that some NDEs maybe genuine and not merely a neurological function of the brain, is it possible then that it does not matter what religion you practice or whether or not you are religious but rather it may depend on the person you were and the life you lived which determines whether or not you can enter Heaven. I know that's over simplifying it but I am interested in what you believe.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Mike:

When these experiences are genuine, religion is not mentioned in the experience because the person is dealing directly with angels, Jesus, and perhaps loved one's in heaven. The Catholic Church is the Church Triumphant in heaven. Those in heaven will know that they were saved through the Catholic Church and Christ, even if they were Hindus on earth.

What would be a clue that the person's experience was demonic, with Satan appearing as an angel of light, is if the person came back and said that Jesus, or angels, or loved ones instructed them to go into the New Age, or that all religions are equal, or to specifically join a Protestant group.

Most of these positive experiences say nothing along these lines. The people, rather, are comforted and inspired. If they then go to a non-Catholic group or the New Age that is something they chose for themselves, not that they were instructed by heavenly being.

Although not reported as often, there are many instances of people going to hell. Not everyone goes to heaven.

But, as to your question about the possibility of that it does not matter what religion one belongs? It ABSOLUTELY MATTERS. If it did not matter then Jesus was a liar for he said that no one comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6).

The Church teaches that non-Catholic Christians can be saved as they are genuine Christians if validly baptized. Even non-Christians can be saved. But, when anyone is saved it is through the Catholic Church even if the person does not know it (see the Catechism 830-848). There are no denominations in heaven. Heaven is the Catholic Church Triumphant and all who are saved, if not Catholic on earth, will be Catholic as they enter the Pearlie gates.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum