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Exploring
Science and Mysticism together |
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ANTHONY BUCKLEY
of the UK writes about his own NEAR DEATH
EXPERIENCE, and about an
APPEARANCE of a DEAD NEPHEW
to a Buddhist friend:
It seems that
concepts of Survival have been around for a very long
time simply
due to
People's Experiences.
Following
the appearance of his dead nephew, my Buddhist pal has naturally
adjusted
his concept that we go into some unconscious 'spiritual soup'
upon death.
Christians who believe that we are dead until the final
resurrection must also
re-assess should they experience an NDE or ADC.
My own
'New Agey' concept of being part of, or linked-to, a Greater Spirit
comes from an experience when I crashed my car several
decades ago.
I saw scenes from childhood and felt held by a Loving
Intellect which seemed
deeply interested in my life, yet with not a shred of judgement.
I
found the piece about the Vatican being open to the possibility of
contact
from the deceased very
refreshing given that the general Church view
seemed to be that such
contacts were 'demonic
delusions'. One can understand
the Church's caution that
people might try to force contact and
thus create all
sorts of imaginings and
perhaps even the input of deceiving
spirits, however
there do seem to be a wealth
of unbidden contacts which are
wholly benevolent
(I think of my Catholic mother
being greatly-comforted in her
grief by what she
says was my deceased father's
hand resting briefly upon
her's).
The
Transfiguration records "...Moses & Elias talking with him" (Matt
17.2 KJ):
The reality of Communing with the living-departed is confirmed by
three gospel writers.
The 'Communion of Saints' is possibly a loose
term, perhaps meaning 'spirits
of good intent'? Our dear teacher & brother, Jesus, found
enough goodness
in the socially-reviled tax collector and the thief next to Him
on the cross to
love them both.
Am I wrong
to feel that Good Intentions, Love, are sufficient? Jesus also
brings in the concept of 'become as little children' - What can be more
Direct & Honest than they? They let their needs and loves be
known in no uncertain way!