The term “near-death experience” (NDE) was coined in 1975 in the groundbreaking book Life After Life by American psychologist Dr. Raymond Moody. Drawing from more than 100 interviews, Moody examined the common characteristics of what people reported during close encounters with death. And for the first time in history, these experiences were given a clear, memorable name.
Since then, many researchers have studied the circumstances, content, and aftereffects of NDEs. And their terminology and definitions have grown stronger as a result of this extended research, too. But it all started with Moody’s work.
Near-death experiences have always existed. We just didn’t have a name for them yet
Moody’s research wasn’t into a new phenomenon. Near-death experiences, or “NDEs”, have been happening throughout the course of human history. In fact, fascinating stories of people reporting visions and journeys to the brink of death date back thousands of years.
Somewhere around 380 BCE, famed Greek philosopher Plato concluded his seminal work The Republic. In it, Plato shares The Myth of Er. This narrative tells the story of a soldier who was thought to be dead on the battlefield. Er is revived during his funeral and describes having traveled to an afterlife.
And there are countless other records of people taking similar journeys of light, encountering spirits or beings, and having a renewed sense of purpose when returning. You’ll find them in Medieval Christian writings, Tibetan Buddhist texts, oral traditions, and more, from nearly every culture in the world dating all the way back to antiquity.
When did people start researching near-death experiences?
It wasn’t until the late 19th century and early 20th century that scientists really started examining the “hallucinations of the dying” or recording deathbed visions. In the 1960s, researchers like Russell Noyes and Celia Green investigated out-of-body experiences and other anomalous perceptions during accidents and illnesses.
Moody’s work is celebrated in the field of near-death studies not only for the quality of his work and the details of his findings, but for finally giving the science community a term to unify research in essential ways.
There are still a great many questions about NDEs left unanswered. But thanks to Raymond Moody and all the researchers who came before him and since, we’re getting closer to unraveling many of the mysteries surrounding near-death experiences and human consciousness.
Interested in contributing directly to this important work? Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to IANDS or joining IANDS as a member. You might also consider seeing if you qualify to participate in NDE research studies. With your help, we hope to one day understand fully what NDEs really are and, more importantly, what they mean.
