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4893
qualitative
book
Long, Jeffrey. God and the Afterlife. HarperOne, 2016. Chapter 3. Katie.
God and the Afterlife - Katie - Chapter 3 - 2016
2016
3
F
At age three, Katie was eating cashews when one went down her windpipe, causing her to turn blue and pass out. Her grandfather, a fireman, tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate her and was forced to declare her dead. During this time, Katie had a profound near-death experience that would shape her entire life.
When Katie died, she rose above her body and saw her grandfather trying to revive her. However, her body held no interest for her, so she moved out of the room toward a presence she felt in the living room. She went toward this presence in a brilliantly bright space - not a tunnel but an area of light. The presence emanated peace, love, acceptance, calm, and joy that enveloped her. Her joy was indescribable and she can still feel this spectacular feeling years later. Katie did not experience this presence as God since she was too young to understand the concept, but she experienced it as "that which made me." She knew without doubt that she was a created being owing her existence to this presence. The overwhelming feeling of harmony, love, and goodness surrounded her, and she felt complete love, joy, and peace like a warm blanket, completely protected and loved. The next day after recovering, Katie knew two things for certain: there is life after death, and she is a created being. Though she couldn't express it rationally as a three-year-old, she pestered her mother with questions about who made her, what eternity is, and what God is. This experience was so deeply moving that Katie dedicated her life to studying philosophy and religion.
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Home
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Weak Evidence
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Choking leading to respiratory arrest. Grandfather (fireman) declared death after failed resuscitation.
Saw grandfather attempting resuscitation. Age 3 limits detailed observations.
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8/1/2025
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