Items of Interest November 19, 2012 Issue

The present heaven

Virginia Harris

“The Present Heaven,” posted on virginiaharris.com, in response to “Heaven is Real” (Newsweek, October 15, 2012).

“Proof of Heaven,” the recent Newsweek cover article by a respected neurosurgeon describing his near-death, or afterlife, experience while in a seven-day coma has given me a lot to ponder, not the least of which is the courage and conviction it must have taken for Dr. Eben Alexander to share his personal story.

Many neurosurgeons have for years explained away any patient’s description of near-death visions as effects of the brain reacting to loss of oxygen. So, for this doctor to step away from conventional explanations and offer a radical view of a different reality knowing his reputation is at stake—well, seems to me this courageous stand merits deep consideration.

What occurs to me as the most important point to consider is not the imagery details of Dr. Alexander’s mental journey and disputing are-they-or-aren’t-they true (regardless, they are personally true to him), but the simple point that while the brain was shut down, the doctor was consciously active. In fact, he describes this as his “inner self” that was alive and well and surrounded by a feeling of unconditional love—a heavenly state. 

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Your Daily Lift

Safe journey