I think that a belief in God and a belief that an essence of person exists after death are separate notions. It is quite possible to believe in one without believing the other. Yet of course these two beliefs are inextricably mixed within many traditions. I would recommend reading Robert Monroe's book, The Ultimate Journey, with an open mind. I had an NDE about one year ago. It did not reflect what I most fervently believed at the time and left me with more questions than answers. But this itself may well be a gift. I have learned, that often in life, that the questions are much more important.

I came really close, almost bled to death, did not actually understand what was happening and so I did nothing different than what was going on. Spent time in the hospital in Portland, four days, then a week back home before another three days in the hospital. Doctor said I was an accident waiting to happen. I am over what I had and apparently the condition will not return. I get regular blood work to check.

Yup

As a younger man I studied many things and actually did out of body travel. For the most part it is a mental state. Even so, we had company once that was told as we went to bed to turn off the stereo power supply when they retired for the night. The next day at breakfast I told them they did not do this and also told them just where everyone slept. I then went to the stereo and turned off the power supply.

I don't know what to think of NDE's - first of all, there is no evidence. No scientific proof. I have talked to people who came close to dying and they described seeing a light, meeting deceased loved ones, then approaching a boundary and being told "Your life's work is not finished. You have to go back." None of these people have a history of delusions or mental disorders. It could just be the brain chemistry of a person under severe stress. Nobody knows. I had a weird experience - don't know what to make of it. In 1977 I visited a friend for a weekend. I feel asleep early and woke up at midnight feeling afraid. I wanted to go to my friend's room but did not dare walk past the living room. I shook with fear for an hour, feeling that the living room contained something bad. At 1:00 a.m. the vibrations became softer and I fell asleep. When I woke up I told my friend. She stated that any person who slept in the bedroom close to the living room felt afraid about midnight. She also told me that people had moved out of that house because they often felt anxious and afraid. I don't know what to make of it. Being atheist I don't believe in anything supernatural. But it was weird.

As a matter of fact I have.... I must have been 10 years old. Walking down the street where I grew up, I went across and jumped to the sidewak (It's a weird u turn downhill street) but I tripped myself and came down towards the street. Everything next happened in a split second.... as I am fallling, I see a bus moving down and I see the rear wheel spining and I know we will meet. It's amazing how fast the brain can present the possibilities under such stressful conditions. The level of awareness goes to the roof, it is true. The sense of "I saw my whole life in one second" is also true. While all that is happening and I am terrified, my brain also kicked the self survival mode and I decided (half way going down...still going down) that I was not going to die. I did manage to move my body bearly away from the bus wheel as soon as I landed on the paviment. It has been more than 40 years and I still remember the whole scene as if had happen to me just this morning. All the emotions I went through in a split second were very real, they are still real to me.

No, but I had a couple blizzard experiences on the road where I fully expected I would die out there in the storm.

@Remiforce

How do you define "near death"?

1. No heartbeat, then revived through medical intervention.

2. Nearly fell off a cliff.

I experienced #2 several times while hiking.