Essay Sample on Death Experiences The Life Review

Essay Sample on Death Experiences The Life Review Death has been a fascination for humanity since the beginning of time. Death is in fact lifes greatest mysteries, as it has been common belief that no one can return after death to re-tell what has happened to them. However, this general idea about death is starting to change in the Western world with the phenomenon of the near death experience. The near death experience has enabled human beings to fathom what occurs after one dies. However, not everyone is open to accepting peoples reports of near death experiences, and many remain skeptical despite the vast similarities in thousands of accounts. There are millions of people in Western society who claim to know what it is like to die. These people have all been in medical situations, where their lives have been at stake. Most of these people have actually clinically died, and have been resuscitated through medical devices. Raymond Moody, an American psychiatrist, coined the term near death experience (NDE) to refer to the situation where a person experiences death for a short amount of time, but then is revived and returns to life. Moody wrote a book entitled Life After Life in which he exposes the phenomenon of the near death experience. Though some may argue that, one should be slightly suspicious about very recent NDEs after the publicity following in the wake of Moodys book, Moody attempts to retrace the near death experience back to antiquity, to prove that this is not just a modern phenomenon (Bremmer 261). However, these ancient near death experiences bear almost no similarities to the modern experience, the exceptio n being the feeling of drifting away (Bremmen 263). It becomes evident that near death experiences are influenced by the time period that they are occurring in. Near death experiences can be seen as products of their time. Since Moodys book, the awareness of near death experiences has increased. People who have claimed to have experienced near death following the publicity of Moodys book, perhaps only experienced these things because they have read about them. This is a common occurrence in human nature. Images and ideas often seep into our unconscious minds and we begin to believe that these images and ideas are our own. Popular culture has made use of the near death experience in plot scenarios of television shows and movies. Even on the popular animated television show The Simpsons, Homer Simpson is shown floating over his body while he is in the operating room. With these images in mind, it is not wrong to say that someone who has experienced a life threatening trauma might recall these images and believe that they have taken place in their own lives. The modern and Western near death experience involves less religious figures and symbol s, as Westerners are becoming more and more secularized. What one might imagine taking place after death is a reflection of their position in the world and their beliefs as, every age gets the afterlife it deserves (Bremmen 268). Despite the detailed accounts of many near death experiences, it is difficult to ignore ones skepticism and become convinced. Although each account is so interesting to read, and despite the similarities between each individual story, the reports of near death experiences continue to sound like dream reports. A person retelling a dream often sees themselves in the dream as if they are detached from their body. They often have difficulty recounting the events of the dream and have difficulty finding the right words to express the events of the dream. When recounting a near death experience, Many people have made remarks to the effect that, There are just no words to express what I am trying to say, (Moody 273). Dreamers will often meet random people, dead relatives and religious figures in their dreams. Similar to when a person who dreams, in the context of the near death experience no one, has reported any odors or tastes while out of their physical bodies (Moody 285). The body in a dream is not a physical body, as many sensory perceptions like smell and taste do not take place within dreams. However, a dream can easily feel like reality. When waking up from a good dream, a person may wish to re-enter the dream, and when waking from a nightmare a person may feel relieved that it was in fact not real. Many people who have experienced near death describe it as a reality that they wanted to remain a part of. Near death experiences are not necessarily dreams. It is undetermined exactly what they are, however they do share many characteristics of dreams. The mere fact that, The persons involved uniformly describe their experiences as ineffable, that is, inexpressible, is reminiscent of the difficulty of those who wish to express their dreams (Moody 273). The life review part of the near death experience is quite remarkable. This aspect of the phenomenon has also made its way into popular culture. In various movies and television shows, the characters are often in situations where their lives seem to flash before their eyes. This usually happens at a pivotal moment when the character is either in danger or has just undergone an epiphany of some sort. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describes the life review as the last phase of the near death experience. She interprets this phase, as being heaven or hell. Maybe both (Kubler-Ross 319). The reason for her interpretation is that within this phase, one is forced to review their life, and to understand the significance of their behavior throughout their lifetime. The way Kubler-Ross describes the life review causes it to appear to be an emotionally difficult process. However, it is very difficult to imagine ones life flashing before ones eyes in a matter of moments. Clearly this life review is made up of many memories stored deep within ones brain. Although not having a basis for this claim, perhaps these memories that are being conjured are due to the fact that the brain is being deprived of oxygen during the time of a near death experience. Although lacking any empirical evidence, it is plausible to assume that there is perhaps a scientific explanation to the near death experience. Every person who has experienced this phenomenon has been in a state where their lives were at risk. Most of the people have actually died and been revived, suggesting a severe loss of oxygen to the entire body, including the brain. Perhaps the near death experience is some sort of reaction in the brain due to this loss of oxygen? Without scientific evidence, it is impossible to come to a conclusion, but with all mysterious matters such as these, the human being is often drawn to science to look for answers. The skeptic will always try to find a justifiable cause for what is inexplicable. Considering that the near death experience is an incredibly mysterious phenomenon, Westerners have become increasingly fascinated with it. It is human nature to be fascinated with that which is ambiguous, confusing and intangible. Human beings seek answers to everything. When something does not have a concrete answer, we try to explain it and attempt to come to an understanding. Death is naturally the greatest mystery of life and therefore the near death experience perhaps sheds some light upon the unknown. The near death experience is a comforting thought for Westerners as it assures them that life does go on after death. Most of the accounts of those who have experienced near death have described it as a tremendously pleasurable experience and, people [even] reported that they did not want to come back (Kubler-Ross 317). Although it is quite difficult to believe the individuals who report near death experiences, it is also quite difficult not to. The similarities between experiences are uncanny, making even the most adamant skeptic ponder the phenomenons validity. It is unbelievably interesting to imagine that in the Western world today, due to all of our medical technology, we are able to actually die and come back to life to talk about it. It is simply fascinating that humanity has perhaps unraveled lifes greatest mystery. You can order a custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis or dissertation on any topic from our professional custom essay writing service which provides students with high-quality custom written papers at an affordable cost.

Analysis of Crimes of The Heart essays

Analysis of Crimes of The Heart essays 2. The scenes take place in the home of the Magrath sisters. (Actually it's their grandfather's house, but it is cared for and inhabited primarily by Lenny Magrath.) 3. The house is old, the exact age and condition is not described. 1. The play takes place in the summer sometime during the late 19 70's to early 1980's. 2. The play takes place soon after the birthday of Lenny Magrath, which has a special significance to the characters. 1.The 3 Magrath sisters, Lenny, Babe, and Meggy, are the main cluster of characters. The other three characters are Chick, a Magrath cousin, Barnette, Babe's attorney, and Doc Porter, an old friend of Meg and Lenny. A character that is often talked about is Granddaddy, yet he is never seen. 1. The Magrath sisters complete the different portions that fufill society's image of an ordinary woman. Each of these women play the roles that a normal woman plays such as wife, mother, daughter, and sister. Barnette is a lawyer who is defending Babe, whom he is infatuated with. Doc Porter is a father of two and a husband who once wanted to be a doctor, who now apparently owns a small ranch, he also spent time as a house painter. Granddaddy is an old man who is in the hospital. 2. It seems that all the characters have a mutual respect for each other, aside from Chick who has strong opinions concerning Meg. As I have mentioned the character of Barnette is infatuated with Babe. Babe and Lenny both feel that Meg has always been treated better by their Grandmother and Grandfather. 4. The Characters all live in a democratic nation. 5. The characters pay no attention to religion, it is rarely mentioned in the play. 6. The prevailing attitudes of the characters are that family is important, sex is not considered a bad thing. They seem to con ...

Anthopologist Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Anthopologist - Term Paper Example Migration is the movement of people from one country to another for causes that are either for greener pasture or opportunities; desire to enjoy democratic freedom from conflict situations or for education, retirement or pleasure for new climate; and for a taste of better political hegemony. In United States, the pattern of migration developed anent with geopolitical expansion of United States of America in other major regions of the world. This is reflected to the kind of nationals US have these days who came from different poles of the world with distinct cultural structures, historical roots, political affiliations, economic characters and social contexts. A typology of immigrants showed that they came from Europe, Asia, Latin America and other areas of the world. They all leave their families, properties and the culture which molded them to wander into larger communities that require major adjustments in lifestyles despite uncertainties, of new laws, norms and social structures t hat could either assimilate them or marginalize them. Immigration therefore poses a challenge on how social relationship and interactions are accommodated in the mainstream of American society with comforting sense of belongingness. Many stories depict sad and great tales about issues on racial and identity that may relate to white’s colonial expansion and economic exploitation or to racial discrimination of African blacks which took a Hegelian success toward tribal unification and struggle for independence. This proved that migrants passed historic prejudicial processes which segregated them from the white in an ideation that their skin and identities are stamped with inferiority. This prejudice is a position made by dominant race with an imposing feeling and thought of disliking another person due too their native social characters. If such is actually manifested in behaviors by disqualifying or mistreating other people on the basis of membership, this becomes discriminatio n. The latter evolves into an institutional discrimination if prejudice and marginalization are done systematically as a state policy. A classic example of this case is the ironclad separation of black and white due to Apartheid policy—a law that socially segregate people by custom and laws and from black and white. This created problems on integration, organizational affiliation, access to the use of social facilities, and therefor cause disparities, inequalities or inequities in economy, politics or decision-makings, stature of very lives, distrust in social relations and, ergo, causing ethnocentrism and interracial conflicts in various forms. The situation inspired on US administrators to dialogue about migration, race and ethnicity in search for common ground and to recognize common values such as freedom, rights, fairness, security and justice in response to growing demands of immigrants for the state to look seriously into. The series of national dialogues also situate perspectives whether race is a significant issue in America and about the deep impact of ethnicity in the process of integrating and mainstreaming new people into American fold. Such meant a discursive discussion about accessing and providing equal opportunity and equal protection, education, jobs, health care and in availing for justice under the law. It also motivated America to enhance their understanding of migrant’s history by highlighting in dialogues the experiences of Natives, Afro-Americans, Latinos,