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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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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?

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

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

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

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

confused

Marmark1 Sat 06-Aug-16 09:44:01

Don't have problems Gononsuch??

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 06-Aug-16 09:40:05

Very good! grin

Gononsuch Sat 06-Aug-16 09:39:56

Nice one Annie flowers

Anniebach Sat 06-Aug-16 09:38:17

No Gonosuch, God doesn't vote labour, he votes Plaid Cymru

michellehargreaves Sat 06-Aug-16 09:30:17

I think we should all be entitled to our opinions and beliefs - as long as they don't impinge on anyone else.
Having said that, a strange thing happened the night before my mother died, she was 52 and not ill at all; she died in a car accident the next day. She had had a brother and a sister who had died in the 1920s when she was a child. She was sitting with us and chatting when she said, "I feel very close to May and Tommy-Joe this evening. I feel they are looking over my shoulder". She was killed the next day. Certainly no lack of oxygen to the brain when whatever it was happened.
I'm still not sure whether there is or isn't anything after death. My father died on Monday ( 44 years after Mummy ) I hope she was there, but i really don't know.

Elegran Sat 06-Aug-16 09:26:00

Not sure of the connection between getting the knife in first and anyone's concept of an afterlife? Surely that is a matter for individual belief and experience?

I don't believe in "putting the knife in first" Gononsuch and, funnily enough, neither do I have the problems that some people have on this forum (not most of them, just some)

Quite a few of the relationship problems in life arise from being too quick to get the retaliation in fast.

Maccyt1955 Sat 06-Aug-16 09:23:22

I absolutely believe in an afterlife and in reincarnation. When my father was dying he told me that his mother was waiting for him. Two days after he had died I was trying to sleep and the bedroom was filled with the smell of his favourite after shave: Eau Savage.

As a former palliative care nurse, I have witnessed beautiful smiles on the faces of people who have just died after terrible suffering.

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.

AllTheLs Sat 06-Aug-16 09:22:22

An afterlife? I sincerely hope not!

Jane10 Sat 06-Aug-16 09:11:24

Buttered would be interesting! My last comments were for Gononsuch. GOKW what s/he's on about.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 06-Aug-16 09:09:01

buggered

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 06-Aug-16 09:08:12

I'm buttered if I'd pay for this stuff gonon!

Jane10 Sat 06-Aug-16 09:06:42

confusedconfused!

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 06-Aug-16 09:05:57

Obieone absolutely nothing to do with anything you, or anyone on here, has said. smile

Maggiemaybe Sat 06-Aug-16 09:02:25

confused

Gononsuch Sat 06-Aug-16 08:59:59

Can't argue with most of whats been said on this thread, I don't have faith in live. I believe that you should get the "knife in first" and funnily enough I don't have the problems that most people have on this forum.

God votes Labour, that's right isn't it Anniebach.

Sorry just can't take it seriously.

GNHQ if you do make it a subscription service I will subscribe.

Marmark1 Sat 06-Aug-16 08:49:39

Am I hearing,some of you people are church goers?