Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are reported by individuals who have revived from clinical death or near-death, featuring sensations of leaving the body, entering and emerging from darkness, meeting deceased friends and relatives, encountering beings of light, judgment of one's earthly life, feelings of oneness, and reaching barriers. This book explores the relationships between NDEs, shamanism, and beliefs about the afterlife in traditional indigenous societies in Africa, North America, and Oceania. It shows that how NDEs are experienced and interpreted varies by region and culture, with North America valorizing them and attempts made to replicate them through shamanic rituals. In Africa, they were largely considered aberrational events with links to possession or sorcery.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 11 September 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Near-death experiences (NDEs) have been reported globally and throughout human history, often by individuals who have revived from clinical death or near-death states. These experiences typically involve sensations of leaving the body, entering and emerging from darkness, encountering deceased friends and relatives, encountering beings of light, receiving judgment for one's earthly life, experiencing feelings of oneness, and reaching barriers before returning to the body. NDEs are often interpreted as having profound spiritual or religious significance by those who have them.

In his book, Gregory Shushan delves into the relationships between NDEs, shamanism, and beliefs about the afterlife in traditional indigenous societies across Africa, North America, and Oceania. Drawing on historical accounts of early encounters between explorers, missionaries, and ethnologists, Shushan addresses key questions such as: Do ideas about the afterlife commonly originate in NDEs? What role does culture play in how people experience and interpret NDEs? How can we account for cross-cultural similarities and differences in afterlife beliefs?

While NDEs are universal, Shushan highlights that their actual experiences and interpretations vary significantly across regions and cultures. Historical documents reveal that in North America, NDEs were commonly valorized and attempts were made to replicate them through shamanic rituals. In contrast, in Africa, NDEs were largely considered aberrant events with links to possession or sorcery. In Oceania, Micronesia corresponded more to the African model, while Australia had a greater focus on afterlife journey shamanism. Polynesia and Melanesia exhibited an almost casual acceptance of the phenomenon, as reflected in numerous myths, legends, and historical accounts.

Through his comprehensive study, Shushan sheds light on the diverse ways in which NDEs have been understood and experienced throughout human history. He emphasizes the importance of cultural context in shaping these experiences and highlights the need for further exploration to better understand the spiritual and religious dimensions of NDEs across different cultures. This book offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between NDEs, shamanism, and beliefs about the afterlife, contributing to our understanding of the human experience and the broader realm of spirituality.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 243 x 158 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197685433