The Near-Death Experience

Much has been written about the phenomenon of near-death experiences, but little attention has been paid to scientific research, such as that of Dr. Michael Sabom, that indicates that these are body-free or spiritual experiences. Still less attention has been paid to the parallels that exist between descriptions such as those given by George Ritchie, whose near-death journey caused Raymond Moody to begin the epoch-making study that brought the phenomenon into the public eye, and the work of Rudolf Steiner. Steiner spoke of the twentieth century as an age at the threshold of the Risen Christ; it is the author's conviction that Ritchie's story affords us an opportunity to recognize and enter into the meaning of this event.