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LucyGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 04-Aug-16 12:29:02

Is there an afterlife?

While we're unlikely ever to know for sure, says author Theresa Cheung, there are a startling number of accounts from those who have had near death experiences that point towards the possibility of an afterlife. What do you think?

Theresa Cheung

Is there an afterlife?

Posted on: Thu 04-Aug-16 12:29:02

(283 comments )

Lead photo

Do you believe in life after death?

It’s unlikely that we will ever have solid scientific proof that there is life after death, but we do have something that comes extremely close and that is accounts of people who have actually died and returned to tell their stories.

These voyagers to frontiers unknown report astonishing glimpses of a world beyond, a world that shimmers with light, magic and love. Hailey sent me her story:

"In 2005 I nearly died on the operating table. I haemorrhaged and my doctor later told me that everyone thought they had lost me. I recall floating above my body and seeing the surgeon and staff panic as they tried to save my life. I didn't feel any panic myself. It was as if I was watching an interesting novelty. I wasn't involved.

Suddenly, I felt myself being blown feet first into a grey mist. I don't know why but I remember seeing my legs and bare feet bathed in yellow light floating into the mist. When I was in the mist I lived my life again. Can't explain it very well but I remembered everything and again there was that feeling of interested detachment. I wasn't involved. I just watched. Then I found myself in this beautiful place. It was the most gorgeous and glittering place I have ever seen – like a garden but so much more than a garden. I felt nothing but completeness and happiness. My mind was still. I heard music but music that I have not heard on earth before and the scenery about me was like nothing I have seen on earth either – it was so vivid and beautiful. It shimmered like crystal and diamonds. Then everything vanished and the next thing I recall is waking up feeling very sore and tired in the recovery room.

I don't know why but I remember seeing my legs and bare feet bathed in yellow light floating into the mist. When I was in the mist I lived my life again.


Everyone who knows me will tell you that afterwards I changed. I know I have changed. It sounds corny but I feel like I was somehow born again, starting my life again. I am more compassionate and considerate of myself and others. I live in the present. I'm not afraid to be loving and spontaneous. I see more clearly now."

Near death experiences (NDEs) occur when a person is clinically dead or dangerously close to death. There are many questions about NDEs but one thing is certain and that is they exist. There are thousands of reports from people who believe they have glimpsed life after death, and a recent scientific study led by Dr Sam Parnia from the University of Southampton, has tentatively proved that consciousness can survive bodily death by at least three minutes.

Initially, when I began to collect afterlife encounter stories, I thought the experience was extremely rare, but I could not have been more wrong. Over the years the stories have flooded in and one reason for that may be modern resuscitation techniques because thirty or forty years ago these people would have died and taken their golden stories with them.

Not surprisingly, there have been many doubts about the validity of NDEs and chief among these is the argument that the experience is simply a hallucination but this cannot explain why all over the world and throughout history thousands of men, women and children have reported similar sensations during NDEs despite radical differences in cultures and belief systems. How is that possible? Surely, if the experience was hallucination wouldn't each person imagine something different? Why are there such strong similarities? Why after their NDE do people consistently report that they have lost their fear of death?

Theresa's book The Ten Secrets of Heaven: Mysteries of the Afterlifeis published in paperback by Simon & Schuster, and is available from Amazon. You can also find Theresa on Facebook here.

By Theresa Cheung

Twitter: @simonschuster

Gononsuch Sat 06-Aug-16 09:52:04

Oh Susan, you do have problems, why are you only Marmark1 instead of being MARMARK

confused

DaphneBroon Sat 06-Aug-16 10:07:18

Just skimming through the recent posts I feel I am in some sort of parallel universe.
What on earth is panthea on about?
wot (see what I did there?) on earth did you say to get deleted?
gononsuch your posts are as impenetrable as ever. Who is "Susan"?
And obieone don't feel obliged to take it upon yourself to devise a detailed response to religious matters raised or not, been there done that and it went on for ages.
Other than that, this is like the "Do you believe in angels thread." Equally surreal. hmm

Jalima Sat 06-Aug-16 10:26:17

I will join you in the parallel universe DaphneBroon confused
I understand they are holding GN Olympics which some of us have entered, not a bit surreal over there

Jalima Sat 06-Aug-16 10:30:02

Talking about surreal - I have an ad at the top of the page featuring a creepy bearded man, it is an ad for 'sunny' offering loans at 1299% apr
It is very disturbing, how can I get it to go away?

Jane10 Sat 06-Aug-16 10:46:45

Very interesting to hear the experiences described by so many on this thread. I'm a bit surprised at the black and white, yes/no attitude of some posters. I suppose it must be nice to be so absolutely sure one way or another but I'm happy to keep an open mind. Time will definitely tell!

Skullduggery Sat 06-Aug-16 10:48:44

Wow, flogging crappy online books via PM must be a new low.

Although, I've known a couple of narcissists who write utter shite and publish them online then try to flog them via forums and Facebook groups. Beware the dozen overly gushing 5 star Amazon reviews!
Panthea sounds like a spoilt child who isn't used to being told 'No'.

Back to the thread: I'm undecided.
My DH is a Buddhist who believes in reincarnation but generally I think that's it, there's nowt left once you're dead.
However, I have been 'visited' by my deceased mum and my ex's deceased grandad shortly after their deaths by visions of them followed by weird electrical faults occurring and then correcting themselves, but I still think it's probably just a random coincidence.

Falconbird Sat 06-Aug-16 10:56:26

When my first baby was born I was in what they called the first stage room. The pain reached a crescendo and I had to ask the woman in the next bed to ring the bell for the midwife.

Next moment I was looking down at myself in the bed. I felt quite happy and detached and amused that the midwife had gone to the wrong bed.

Then I was back on the ward and being rushed along the corridor at top speed.

Not proof of an afterlife but a definite out of the body experience. I can even remember details of the light fittings on the ceiling. smile

Elegran Sat 06-Aug-16 10:59:31

Hang on a mo, skull How do you know the book is crappy? It could be excellent.

Other members have written books too, but no-one has done a mail-shot about it. The bottom line is that GN private emails are meant to be just that - private messages, not selling opportunities for anything Those who received them were quite justified in not being pleased to get yet more unasked for mail, and HQ were right to point out the site guidelines.

Marmark1 Sat 06-Aug-16 11:00:48

Yes,I have problems Gononsuch,but nothing I can't handle because I know without a doubt I am surrounded with love.

Craftycat Sat 06-Aug-16 11:31:06

I'm open minded but when I was a child our next door neighbour was a member of a Spiritulist Church. She never made much of it or talked abut her beliefs- Mum was very fond of her so she did know. Lovely old lady too. When new neighbours moved in opposite to a house where another old lady had died some months before their 2 year old son used to wake up screaming in the night & saying he saw a cross lady in his room. Mum mentioned it in passing to our next door neighbour - just saying he was taking time to settle. It went on for a long time. The old lady asked Mum to ask other neighbour if she could go & pray in the room.
She did this & came out smiling & said they would have no more problems as the lady who died there had not managed to 'move on'& did not know why strangers were in her bedroom but now knew she was dead - she was at peace & had gone. Little boy - who knew nothing about this & was far too young to understand anyway was absolutely fine after that day.
As I say I am open minded but my mother - who was not at all religious found this very comforting & believe me my Mum was a very strong personality who did not believe any old fairy story she was told.
I used to love our next door neighbour- everyone did- & always felt a sense of peace & calm around her.I'm glad to say she lived to a ripe old age & went to live with her daughter for her later years.

tanith Sat 06-Aug-16 11:46:23

It makes me smile every time she mentions it but someone in my family who is interested in the 'spirit' world tells me my Mum comes through to her all the time, I just wonder why Mum doesn't 'appear' to anyone else in the family? I'd be only too pleased if she did.

Maccyt1955 you said..
I feel sorry for people with rigid ideas that when we die that is it. It must be a very difficult way to live and to have no imagination and no hope.

I don't find it difficult at all, I have plenty of imagination and hope of a few more happy years before I shuffle off, its just that it ends there for me after a very happy life and I'm quite at peace with that.

wot Sat 06-Aug-16 12:24:36

DaphneBroon, my post was deleted because I told her " be off with you!" But not so politely!! I hope I don't get deleted for repeating it .

wot Sat 06-Aug-16 12:25:06

I used the "B" word.

inishowen Sat 06-Aug-16 13:28:27

The night of my mum's funeral I was in bed sobbing my heart out. Then a very bright light appeared at the top of the window. It gradually faded and I had the most peaceful feeling that mum was saying goodbye. My bedroom is at the back of the house and there is only a garden outside, no road. It's always given me some home that there is an afterlife.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 06-Aug-16 13:37:30

We need imagination to believe in an afterlife Maccyt1955? Maybe so.

BlueBelle Sat 06-Aug-16 13:46:44

I think it must be very comforting to believe there is an after life I haven't had a particularly happy life so the thought of a paradise would be so lovely but I suppose my practical brain overtakes my imaginative brain on this matter how comforting to think you ll see everyone you loved again My mum firmly believed my Dad said when it s over its over

obieone Sat 06-Aug-16 13:47:39

jingl - good, I think?! smile

Marmark1 - I am a churchgoer

obieone Sat 06-Aug-16 13:53:20

And what happens to all the wisdom and knowledge gained in some people's life times?? How can it all disappear? Perhaps I'm naive.
wot

I think it is hugely important to pass it on. I think older people have a wealth of it, a lot of it not used.

obieone Sat 06-Aug-16 13:56:08

It struck me that when I helped empty out someone's home after they had gone, that the most treasured stuff was the personal stuff.
If she and others leave words in a notebook or on computer or something, they could be most treasured by others.

I have gone off topic.

DaphneBroon Sat 06-Aug-16 13:59:04

Oops wot!! wotever possessed you?
grin

wot Sat 06-Aug-16 14:01:37

Well, she was very rude in calling our chats "meaningless" and GN ers horrible!??

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 06-Aug-16 14:07:14

wot I wouldn't try to save the world forum if I was you. It won't get you anywhere.

#hardbitten

Jane10 Sat 06-Aug-16 14:33:01

I can understand the impulse though Jings. It was a nasty posting from someone who plainly doesn't know much about GN.

Corncob Sat 06-Aug-16 14:59:23

I think when you are gone it is just like a light going out and nothing. I so wish I could believe I could see me dear hubby and friends and family that have passed again,but am sure I will not.

Jane10 Sat 06-Aug-16 15:10:33

...but you don't know corncob none of us can until its too late. Quite exciting really, life's last great adventure! No rush though.