Glossary of Key Terms

After-Death Communication (ADC)

An experience in which a bereaved person reports sensing, seeing, hearing, or otherwise perceiving the presence of a person who has died. ADCs can occur while the bereaved person is awake, asleep, or in a relaxed state. They are distinct from *NDEs and *DBEs because the person having the experience is not dying or clinically dead — they are a living, healthy person who perceives contact with a deceased individual. ADCs have been documented extensively in bereavement research, notably by Bill and Judy Guggenheim and in Jenny Streit-Horn's systematic review.

Afterlife Apologetics

A term coined by J. Steve Miller referring to a branch of Christian *apologetics that assesses evidence for the afterlife drawn from experiences such as *NDEs, *DBEs, *ADCs, and *terminal lucidity. Afterlife apologetics uses this evidence to build a cumulative case for the reality of God, the soul, and the afterlife — and thus for the truth of the Christian faith.

Annihilationism

The view that the unsaved will ultimately cease to exist rather than suffering eternally in hell. In this view, the final punishment for those who reject God is the total destruction of their being — they are annihilated and no longer exist in any form. Annihilationism is closely related to *conditional immortality but is technically narrower: annihilationism describes the fate of the unsaved (destruction), while conditional immortality describes the nature of the soul (not inherently immortal). In practice, the two terms are often used interchangeably.

Anthropomorphism

The attribution of human characteristics, forms, or qualities to God. In biblical studies, anthropomorphic language describes God using human terms — God's "hand," God's "face," God "walking" in the garden — in order to communicate divine realities in ways humans can understand. In NDE research, the question arises whether NDErs who report seeing God in human-like form are experiencing an anthropomorphic accommodation to their limited human perception, or something more literal.

Apologetics

A branch of Christian theology that offers a reasoned defense of the Christian faith. Apologetics seeks to provide evidence and arguments for the truth of Christianity, answer objections, and remove intellectual barriers to belief. The term comes from the Greek apologia (ἀπολογία), meaning "defense" or "answer," as used in 1 Peter 3:15.

AWARE Study (AWAreness during REsuscitation)

A landmark prospective, multicenter scientific study of *near-death experiences and *out-of-body experiences during cardiac arrest, led by Dr. Sam Parnia. The first phase (AWARE I, published 2014) placed hidden visual targets in hospital rooms above patients' beds to test whether patients who reported *OBEs could identify them. While few patients survived cardiac arrest with memories, the study documented one well-known verified *OBE case and demonstrated that conscious awareness can occur during periods when the brain shows no measurable activity. AWARE II continued this research with expanded methodology.

Autoscopy

The experience of seeing one's own body from an external vantage point. In *NDE research, autoscopy refers specifically to the component of the *OBE in which the experiencer looks down at their physical body, often observing medical personnel performing resuscitation. Autoscopic NDEs are particularly evidentially significant when the patient accurately describes details of the resuscitation procedure that they could not have perceived through normal means.

Being of Light

A luminous, personal presence frequently reported by *NDErs. The being of light is typically described as radiating overwhelming love, warmth, acceptance, and knowledge. Many NDErs — including many who were not religious prior to their experience — identify this being as God or Jesus Christ. The being of light often communicates telepathically and may initiate a *life review. This figure is one of the most consistent and widely reported elements across *NDE accounts worldwide.

Brain Death

The irreversible cessation of all brain function, including the brainstem. Brain death is the legal standard of death in most countries. It is distinct from *cardiac arrest, in which the heart stops but brain death has not necessarily occurred. Some of the most evidentially powerful *NDEs occur during *cardiac arrest when measurable brain activity has ceased, but these patients are typically resuscitated before full brain death occurs.

Cardiac Arrest

The sudden cessation of effective heart function, resulting in the loss of blood circulation to the brain and body. During cardiac arrest, the heart either stops beating entirely or beats so ineffectively that no blood is pumped. Within approximately 10–20 seconds of cardiac arrest, measurable brain activity (as detected by EEG) typically ceases. Cardiac arrest is the medical context in which the most evidentially significant *NDEs occur, since the brain is demonstrably nonfunctional during the period when the patient reports vivid conscious experience.

Cessationism

The theological view that certain miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (such as prophecy, tongues, and healing) ceased after the apostolic era, typically understood as ending with the death of the last apostle or the completion of the New Testament canon. Some cessationists extend this view to argue that God no longer works through extraordinary spiritual experiences, which can lead them to dismiss *NDEs and *DBEs categorically. This book argues that cessationism — even if correct regarding specific spiritual gifts — does not justify dismissing NDEs and DBEs, since these experiences are not exercises of spiritual gifts but rather encounters that occur at the threshold of death.

Clinical Death

The cessation of heartbeat and breathing. A person who is clinically dead has no pulse and is not breathing. Clinical death is not the same as *brain death — clinical death is potentially reversible through resuscitation (CPR, defibrillation, etc.), while brain death is not. Most *NDEs that occur during a medical crisis happen during a period of clinical death, after which the patient is resuscitated.

Conditional Immortality (CI)

The theological view that human beings are not inherently or naturally immortal. Only God possesses inherent immortality (1 Timothy 6:16). Human souls continue to exist after death only because God actively sustains them. In this framework, eternal life is a gift granted to those who are in Christ, while those who finally reject God are not sustained and ultimately cease to exist. Conditional immortality is compatible with *substance dualism — a soul can be real, immaterial, and capable of surviving death while still being dependent on God for its continued existence. This book argues for the combination of conditional immortality and substance dualism.

Conscious Intermediate State

See *Intermediate State.

Deathbed Experience (DBE)

A broad term encompassing all seemingly spiritual phenomena that occur surrounding a person's final death. DBEs include *deathbed visions, unusual physical phenomena (such as clocks stopping, unusual lights, or the perception of the dying person's spirit leaving the body by those present), and experiences reported by those attending the dying. Unlike *NDEs, the person having a DBE typically does not survive — they die. DBEs have been documented across cultures and centuries and provide evidence for the afterlife that is distinct from but complementary to NDE evidence.

Deathbed Vision (DBV)

A specific type of *deathbed experience in which a dying person reports seeing deceased relatives, angels, heavenly landscapes, religious figures (especially Jesus), or other spiritual beings in the hours, days, or sometimes weeks before death. The dying person is typically awake, alert, and often reports the vision with great clarity and peace. DBVs frequently include the dying person identifying a deceased relative they did not know had died, providing a form of *veridical evidence. The landmark studies by Karlis Osis and Erlendur Haraldsson documented DBVs across cultures (American and Indian) and found remarkable consistency.

Dispensationalism

A theological system that views God as working in distinct ways during different periods (dispensations) of redemptive history, such as the Mosaic Law, the prophets, and the church age. Some dispensationalists hold that certain miraculous phenomena are limited to specific dispensations, leading them to dismiss *NDEs and *DBEs as impossible in the current era. This book argues that even if one accepts dispensational theology, NDEs and DBEs are not exercises of spiritual gifts and therefore fall outside the scope of dispensational restrictions.

Distressing NDE

A *near-death experience characterized by fear, torment, darkness, isolation, or encounters with malevolent beings. Researchers such as Nancy Evans Bush and Phyllis M. H. Atwater have categorized several types: (1) an inverse or "mirror" NDE, in which typical NDE elements are experienced as terrifying rather than peaceful; (2) a void experience, in which the person is alone in empty darkness; (3) a hellish experience, with fire, demons, or extreme suffering. This book interprets distressing NDEs as corresponding to *Hades (the intermediate state of the unsaved dead), not *Gehenna (the final hell).

DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine)

A naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in trace amounts in the human body. Some researchers, notably Rick Strassman, have hypothesized that the brain releases a surge of DMT at death, producing *NDE-like hallucinations. However, there is no evidence that the brain produces DMT in quantities sufficient to cause such experiences, and this hypothesis cannot account for *veridical NDEs in which patients accurately report events occurring outside their body during clinical death. See Appendix B for a full discussion.

Dualism

See *Substance Dualism.

Emergentism

A philosophical view of the mind-body relationship holding that consciousness "emerges" from the physical brain when the brain reaches a sufficient level of complexity. On this view, the mind is not identical to the brain (as in *reductive physicalism), but it is entirely produced by and dependent upon the brain and cannot exist without it. This book rejects emergentism because *NDEs during *cardiac arrest — when the brain is demonstrably nonfunctional — show that consciousness can exist independently of brain activity.

Eschatology

The branch of theology concerned with the "last things" — death, the *intermediate state, the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the ultimate destiny of humanity and creation. NDE research intersects with eschatology because it provides experiential data relevant to questions about what happens after death, the nature of the *intermediate state, and the reality of both heavenly and hellish realms.

Evangelical

Christians who affirm the full inspiration and authority of the Bible (all 66 books), interpreted using historical-grammatical methods. Evangelicals hold to historic Christian doctrines including the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, salvation by grace through faith, and the necessity of personal conversion. The author of this book identifies as an evangelical Christian.

Exegesis

The careful, systematic study of a biblical text to determine its original intended meaning. Good exegesis involves examining the words and grammar of the text (in the original Hebrew or Greek), the historical and cultural context, the literary genre, and the broader context within Scripture. This book practices exegesis throughout when interpreting biblical passages related to the soul, the *intermediate state, and the afterlife.

Flatline EEG

An electroencephalogram (EEG) reading showing no measurable electrical activity in the brain. A flatline EEG during *cardiac arrest indicates that the cerebral cortex — the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought, perception, and memory — is not functioning. The occurrence of vivid, structured *NDEs with accurate *veridical perceptions during periods of flatline EEG is among the strongest evidence that consciousness can operate independently of the brain.

Gehenna (γέεννα)

A Greek term used by Jesus in the New Testament, derived from the Hebrew Ge-Hinnom (the Valley of Hinnom), to refer to the final place of punishment for the wicked after the last judgment. Gehenna is distinct from *Hades/Sheol. In this book's framework, Gehenna corresponds to the "lake of fire" described in Revelation 20:14–15 — the final, post-judgment destiny of the irredeemably wicked. *Distressing NDEs do not correspond to Gehenna but to *Hades, the intermediate holding state before final judgment.

Greyson NDE Scale

A standardized, validated 16-item questionnaire developed by psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Greyson (published in 1983) to measure the depth and characteristics of a *near-death experience. The scale assesses cognitive, affective, paranormal, and transcendental components. Each item is scored 0–2, for a maximum score of 32. A score of 7 or higher is typically required for an experience to qualify as an NDE for research purposes. The Greyson Scale is the most widely used instrument in NDE research and provides a standardized way to compare experiences across studies.

Hades / Sheol (ᾅδης / שְׁאוֹל)

The intermediate realm of the dead. In the Old Testament, Sheol is the Hebrew term for the place where the dead go after death. In the New Testament, Hades is the Greek equivalent. In Jesus' parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31), Hades is depicted as a place of conscious awareness where the unrighteous dead experience torment, separated by a great chasm from *Paradise (Abraham's Bosom), where the righteous dead rest in comfort. This book interprets *distressing NDEs as glimpses of Hades — the intermediate state, not the final *Gehenna.

Hermeneutics

The principles and methods of interpretation, especially as applied to biblical texts. Hermeneutics asks: How should we read and interpret the Bible? This includes questions about how to handle different literary genres (narrative, poetry, prophecy, parable, apocalyptic), figurative versus literal language, and how cultural context affects meaning.

Holistic Dualism

A view of human nature that affirms both the distinction between soul and body (dualism) and the deep, intended unity of the two. Unlike strict *substance dualism, which can sometimes be accused of devaluing the body, holistic dualism emphasizes that God created human beings as unified wholes — body and soul together — and that the separation of soul from body at death is abnormal and temporary, to be remedied at the final resurrection. John W. Cooper's work Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting is a major defense of this view. This book adopts holistic dualism as its working anthropology.

Hypostatic Union

The Christological doctrine, defined at the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451), that Jesus Christ possesses two complete natures — one fully divine and one fully human — united in one person (hypostasis) without confusion, change, division, or separation. The hypostatic union is relevant to this book's argument because it demonstrates that orthodox Christianity already affirms a composite metaphysics of personhood: if the divine and human natures can be united in one person, the union of an immaterial soul and a material body within one human person is entirely coherent within the Christian metaphysical tradition.

Hypoxia / Anoxia

Hypoxia is a reduced supply of oxygen to the brain or body tissues. Anoxia is the complete absence of oxygen. Both conditions are sometimes cited as naturalistic explanations for *NDEs, on the theory that oxygen deprivation causes hallucinations. However, research has shown that hypoxia and anoxia typically produce confused, fragmentary, and unpleasant experiences — the opposite of the clear, structured, and profoundly meaningful experiences reported in NDEs. Furthermore, hypoxia cannot explain *veridical perceptions. See Appendix B for a detailed discussion.

Imago Dei (Image of God)

The biblical teaching that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26–27). The imago Dei is foundational to *theological anthropology and to the dignity and value of every human person. While theologians debate exactly what the image of God consists of — rationality, moral agency, relationality, dominion, or some combination — the concept affirms that human beings have a unique and exalted status in creation. Substance dualists often argue that the immaterial soul is a key component of the imago Dei.

Intermediate State

The period between a person's death and the final resurrection of the body at Christ's return. The question of whether the soul is conscious or unconscious during this period is one of the key debates in Christian theology. This book argues for a conscious intermediate state — the soul is fully awake, aware, and active between death and resurrection — based on both biblical evidence (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:21–23; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Revelation 6:9–11) and *NDE evidence. The alternative view, *soul sleep, holds that the soul is unconscious during this period.

Life Review

A commonly reported element of *NDEs in which the experiencer relives significant moments from their life, often from the perspective of others affected by their actions. During the life review, NDErs typically report feeling the emotions — both positive and negative — that their actions caused in others. The life review is consistently described as focusing on love, kindness, and the impact of one's actions on other people. It bears striking similarity to the biblical concept of divine judgment and accountability (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12), though it occurs in an atmosphere of love rather than condemnation.

Monism

The philosophical view that human beings are composed of only one substance or kind of thing. In the context of theological anthropology, monism holds that a human being is entirely physical — there is no immaterial soul distinct from the body. Some Christian monists (such as Joel Green and Nancey Murphy) argue that personhood, consciousness, and even the hope of resurrection can be maintained without an immaterial soul, through God's power to reconstitute the whole person at the resurrection. This book rejects monism as incompatible with both Scripture and the evidence from *NDEs.

Nearing-Death Awareness

A term used in hospice and palliative care to describe the seemingly spiritual experiences of dying patients in the days and weeks before death. These may include seeing deceased relatives, talking to unseen visitors, describing beautiful places, or expressing awareness that death is imminent. The term was popularized by hospice nurses Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley in their book Final Gifts. Nearing-death awareness overlaps significantly with *deathbed visions.

NDERF (Near-Death Experience Research Foundation)

The largest *NDE research database in the world, founded by radiation oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Long and his wife Jody Long. NDERF collects NDE accounts from around the world through a detailed online questionnaire available in multiple languages. As of the writing of this book, NDERF has collected over 5,000 NDE accounts. J. Steve Miller's systematic studies of consecutively posted NDERF accounts form a significant part of the evidence base for this book, particularly regarding the surprising frequency of Jesus in NDE reports and the scarcity of anti-Christian elements.

Near-Death Experience (NDE)

A profound subjective experience reported by individuals who have come close to death or been pronounced clinically dead and then been resuscitated. Common elements include: separation from the body (*OBE), passage through a tunnel or darkness, encountering a brilliant light, meeting a *being of light or deceased relatives, experiencing overwhelming love, undergoing a *life review, visiting heavenly landscapes, encountering a border or barrier, and being told or choosing to return to the body. The term was coined by Dr. Raymond Moody in his 1975 book Life After Life. NDEs are now studied by cardiologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and psychologists worldwide.

Necromancy

The practice of attempting to communicate with the dead, explicitly forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10–12; 1 Samuel 28; Isaiah 8:19). Some Christian critics of NDE research worry that studying NDEs constitutes or encourages necromancy. This book argues that NDE research is not necromancy because the researcher is not summoning or attempting to contact the dead — rather, the researcher is studying the testimony of living people who report what they experienced during a medical crisis. The distinction is between actively seeking to contact the dead (forbidden) and listening to the testimony of those who nearly died and returned (not forbidden).

New Heavens and New Earth

The final, eternal, glorified state of creation described in Revelation 21–22, Isaiah 65:17, and 2 Peter 3:13. The new heavens and new earth will be revealed after the final judgment and the general resurrection, when God makes all things new. This is distinct from the current *intermediate state (*Paradise) that NDErs appear to visit. The heavenly landscapes, cities, and gardens described in NDEs correspond to Paradise — the present dwelling place of the righteous dead — not yet to the final renewed creation.

Nonreductive Physicalism

A form of *physicalism that holds that while human beings are entirely physical (no immaterial soul), mental properties and consciousness are not reducible to mere brain chemistry. Mental states are "supervenient" upon physical states — they arise from and depend upon the physical but are not identical to it. Nancey Murphy is the most prominent Christian advocate of this view. This book rejects nonreductive physicalism because it still entails that consciousness cannot exist apart from a functioning brain — a claim contradicted by *NDEs during *cardiac arrest with *flatline EEG.

Out-of-Body Experience (OBE)

An experience in which a person perceives themselves as being located outside their physical body, often observing their body and surroundings from an elevated vantage point. In the context of *NDEs, OBEs frequently occur during *cardiac arrest or surgical procedures, with patients reporting accurate observations of their own resuscitation, conversations among medical staff, or events in other rooms of the hospital. When the information reported during an OBE is later verified as accurate, it constitutes a *veridical NDE — among the strongest evidence for the independence of consciousness from the brain.

Panoramic Memory

An older term for the *life review, used in early NDE literature and in accounts of drowning survivors dating back to the nineteenth century. The term emphasizes the comprehensive, instantaneous quality of the experience — the person's entire life "flashes before their eyes" in a panoramic sweep. Swiss geologist Albert Heim first documented panoramic memory in mountain climbers who survived falls in the 1890s.

Paradise

The blessed intermediate dwelling place of the righteous dead, where they are "with Christ" (Philippians 1:23) in joy and rest. Jesus used this term when He told the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). Also referred to as "Abraham's Bosom" (Luke 16:22) and "the third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2–4). Most positive *NDEs appear to involve a visit to Paradise — the present *intermediate state — not the final *New Heavens and New Earth.

Peak in Darien Experience

A specific type of *NDE or *DBV in which the dying or clinically dead person reports seeing a deceased individual whose death they did not know about. For example, a dying patient sees a relative in the afterlife and later the family discovers that the relative had indeed died, unbeknownst to the patient. The term was coined by researcher F. W. H. Myers. Peak in Darien cases provide powerful *veridical evidence, since the patient could not have known the person was dead and therefore could not have been hallucinating based on expectation.

Physicalism

The philosophical view that everything that exists is physical or material. In the context of theological anthropology, physicalism holds that human beings are entirely physical beings with no immaterial soul. There are two main varieties: *reductive physicalism (the mind simply is the brain) and *nonreductive physicalism (the mind arises from the brain but is not strictly identical to it). Some Christians (such as Joel Green and Nancey Murphy) have adopted forms of physicalism, arguing that the Bible teaches a unified view of the person without an immaterial soul. This book argues that physicalism is incompatible with Scripture, the early creeds, orthodox Christology, and the empirical evidence from *NDEs.

Postmortem Opportunity

The theological view that some or all people who die without having heard or understood the gospel may receive an opportunity to respond to Christ after death. This view is held by a number of theologians across the Christian tradition, including some evangelicals. The author of this book holds this position. It is distinct from *universalism in that a postmortem opportunity does not guarantee that all will be saved — it simply holds that God, in His mercy, may extend the offer of salvation beyond the moment of death for those who lacked adequate opportunity in life.

Prospective Study

A research study that enrolls participants before the event of interest occurs and then follows them forward in time. In NDE research, a prospective study would identify cardiac arrest patients at the time of their arrest and interview them systematically afterward, rather than collecting accounts from people who come forward voluntarily. Prospective NDE studies — such as those by Pim van Lommel, Sam Parnia (*AWARE study), and others — are considered more rigorous than *retrospective studies because they reduce selection bias and recall distortion. Van Lommel's prospective study of 344 cardiac arrest survivors in the Netherlands (published in The Lancet, 2001) is one of the most important studies in the field.

Property Dualism

The philosophical view that while there is only one kind of substance (the physical), that substance possesses two fundamentally different kinds of properties: physical properties and mental properties. Mental properties (consciousness, qualia, intentionality) are real and irreducible but do not constitute a separate substance. This book rejects strict property dualism as inadequate because, like *physicalism, it cannot account for the survival of consciousness when the physical brain ceases functioning during *NDEs.

Psychopannychism

See *Soul Sleep.

Reductive Physicalism

The strongest form of *physicalism, holding that mental states simply are brain states. On this view, consciousness, thoughts, emotions, and the sense of self are nothing more than electrochemical activity in the brain. When the brain dies, the person ceases to exist entirely. This book rejects reductive physicalism as incompatible with Christian theology and refuted by *NDE evidence.

Reincarnation

The belief that after death, the soul is reborn into a new body, possibly going through many cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. This book firmly rejects reincarnation as incompatible with the biblical worldview. Hebrews 9:27 teaches that each person dies once and then faces judgment. When *NDErs report apparent past-life memories or are told about reincarnation, this book attributes it to demonic deception, the experiencer's pre-existing beliefs, or misunderstanding of what was communicated.

REM Intrusion

A proposed naturalistic explanation for *NDEs suggesting that the brain enters a dream-like REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep state during the crisis of dying, and that NDEs are essentially vivid dreams. Researcher Kevin Nelson has promoted this hypothesis. However, REM intrusion cannot explain *veridical NDEs, nor does it account for the occurrence of NDEs during *cardiac arrest when brain activity has ceased. REM intrusion typically produces confused, fragmented imagery — the opposite of the coherent, structured experiences reported in NDEs. See Appendix B for a full discussion.

Resuscitation

The medical process of restoring heartbeat, breathing, and circulation to a person who has experienced *cardiac arrest or *clinical death. Common resuscitation methods include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), defibrillation (electric shock), and the administration of medications. NDEs occur during the period of clinical death before successful resuscitation. Advances in resuscitation technology over the past several decades have allowed more people to be brought back from clinical death, which has increased the number of NDE reports.

Retrospective Study

A research study that collects data about events that have already occurred. In NDE research, a retrospective study gathers accounts from people who come forward after having an NDE, often years after the event. While retrospective studies have provided invaluable data, they are considered less rigorous than *prospective studies because they may be subject to selection bias (only people with vivid or positive NDEs may come forward) and memory distortion over time.

Shared-Death Experience (SDE)

An experience in which a person who is present at or near the death of another person shares some or all of the dying person's *NDE elements — such as seeing a brilliant light, perceiving deceased relatives, hearing music, or feeling a sense of being pulled upward. The bystander is healthy and not dying. SDEs are significant because they undermine the objection that NDEs are merely hallucinations produced by a dying brain — in an SDE, the person having the experience has a perfectly healthy, functioning brain. The term was popularized by Dr. Raymond Moody.

Soul Sleep (Psychopannychism)

The theological view that the soul is unconscious between death and the final resurrection — that the dead "sleep" and have no awareness until Christ returns and raises them. Advocates include some Seventh-day Adventists, some conditionalists, and various other groups. This book rejects soul sleep as incompatible with key biblical texts (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:21–23; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Revelation 6:9–11) and with the evidence from *NDEs, which demonstrate vivid conscious experience during clinical death.

Substance

In philosophy, a substance is a fundamental, independently existing entity — a "thing" that has properties but is not itself a property of something else. In *substance dualism, a human being is composed of two substances: a material body (a physical substance) and an immaterial soul (a mental or spiritual substance). The concept of substance is important for understanding the claim that the soul is not merely a property or function of the brain but is a real, distinct entity in its own right.

Substance Dualism

The philosophical and theological view that a human being is composed of two fundamentally different kinds of substance: an immaterial soul (or mind) and a material body. On this view, the soul is a real, distinct entity that can exist and function apart from the body — and does so after death. *NDEs provide empirical evidence for substance dualism by demonstrating that consciousness, perception, and memory can occur during periods when the brain is not functioning. This book defends substance dualism as the view most consistent with Scripture, the early creeds, and the NDE evidence. See also *Holistic Dualism.

Temporal Lobe Stimulation

A proposed naturalistic explanation for *NDEs based on the observation that electrical stimulation of the temporal lobes of the brain can produce experiences such as a sense of a "presence," altered perception of time, vivid memories, and out-of-body sensations. Neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield and later Michael Persinger explored this hypothesis. However, temporal lobe stimulation produces fragmentary, often frightening experiences that patients recognize as unreal — in stark contrast to the coherent, structured, profoundly real experiences reported in NDEs. Furthermore, temporal lobe stimulation cannot explain *veridical perceptions. See Appendix B.

Terminal Lucidity

A phenomenon in which a dying person whose brain has been severely compromised — often by dementia, Alzheimer's disease, brain tumors, or other conditions causing prolonged confusion or unconsciousness — suddenly becomes lucid, alert, coherent, and communicative, often shortly before death. The person may recognize loved ones they have not recognized for years, hold meaningful conversations, and say goodbye — only to die within hours or days. Terminal lucidity is significant for the dualism-physicalism debate because it demonstrates that full conscious mental function can return even when the brain is demonstrably damaged or deteriorated beyond what neuroscience would predict could support such function.

Theological Anthropology

The branch of theology that studies human nature — what a human being is — in light of God's revelation. Key questions include: Are humans composed of body and soul (*substance dualism), or are they purely physical (*physicalism)? What is the image of God (imago Dei)? What happens to the person at death? Theological anthropology is central to this book because the NDE evidence directly addresses whether humans possess an immaterial soul capable of surviving bodily death.

Triduum Mortis

Latin for "the three days of death," referring to the period between Christ's death on the cross (Good Friday) and His resurrection (Easter Sunday). The triduum mortis is theologically significant for the question of the *intermediate state because it raises the question: Where was Christ's soul during the three days His body lay in the tomb? The historic Christian answer — reflected in the Apostles' Creed's statement "He descended into hell [Hades]" and in texts like 1 Peter 3:18–20 — is that Christ's soul was alive, active, and conscious while separated from His body. This provides a Christological precedent for the conscious *intermediate state and for *substance dualism.

Universalism (Universal Reconciliation)

The theological view that all human beings will ultimately be saved and reconciled to God — that no one will be permanently lost. In its conservative or "biblical" form, universalism holds that God's redemptive love will eventually overcome all resistance, and that even those who initially reject Christ will eventually repent and be saved, possibly after a period of purifying suffering. This book's author leans toward *conditional immortality but remains open to considering conservative biblical universalism, regarding the question as one of his current areas of study.

Veridical NDE

A *near-death experience in which the experiencer reports specific, detailed information that is later verified as accurate and that the person had no normal means of knowing. Examples include: a patient accurately describing their own resuscitation procedure while clinically dead, reporting conversations that occurred in other rooms of the hospital, identifying objects placed in locations they could not have seen, or seeing a deceased relative whose death was unknown to the patient (see *Peak in Darien experience). Veridical NDEs are the single most powerful category of evidence for the survival of consciousness after death, because they demonstrate that the mind was perceiving real-world events at a time when the brain was not functioning.

Vision

In biblical and theological usage, a supernatural experience in which a person perceives spiritual realities — heavenly beings, divine messages, future events, or other realms — that are not accessible through ordinary sensory perception. The Bible records many visions (Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1; Daniel 7; Acts 7:55–56; 2 Corinthians 12:1–4; Revelation 1–22). NDEs and DBVs share many characteristics with biblical visions, and this book argues that some NDEs may be understood as a modern form of the visionary experiences recorded in Scripture.