Near-Death Experiences
Offline It has been argued by many members on this particular forum that there is absolutely no evidence that consciousness can exist independently of the brain and the body. Well, this is not entirely true. There is evidence - namely, NDEs (Near-Death Experiences) and OBEs (Out of Body Experiences). This thread will discuss the near-death experience.
The phenomenological aspects associated with near-death exepriences are listed below. These characteristics have been reported regardless of culture or society (although the vocabulary employed to describe the experiences have differ).
1 A very unpleasant sound/noise is the first sensory impression to be noticed (R. Moody: Life after Life);
2 A sense of being dead;
3 Pleasant emotions; calmness and serenity;
4 An out-of-body experience; a sensation of floating above one's own body and seeing the surrounding area;
5 Floating up a blue tunnel with a strong, bright light or garden at the end;
6 Meeting deceased relatives or spiritual figures;
7 Encountering a being of light, or a light (often interpreted as being the deity or deities in whom they personally believe);
8 Being given a life review (the "life-flashing-before-your-eyes" phenomenon);
9 Reaching a border or boundary;
10 A feeling of being returned to the body, often accompanied by a reluctance.
11 Feeling of warmth even though naked.
(source: Wikipedia: Near-death experience)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_death_experience#cite_note-autogenerated2-43
NDEs have steadily increased in accordance with the advancement in modern resuscitation technology. A Gallop Poll reported in 1992 that nearly eight million Americans have experienced a NDE. [1] Recent scientific studies have demonstrated that between 10 and 20% of people who are clinciallly near death (such as cardiac arrest) have reported a near-death experience. [2]
NDEs have transformative power. Individuals (including former avowed atheists) who have undergone NDEs have reported personality changes (less anxiety and fear concerning death, a change of values from materialistic ones to spiritual ones, and inner peace). [3] In fact, A. J. Ayer (self-professed atheist and eminent philosopher and proponent of "logical positivism" ) is reported to have had a near death experience in which he had purportedly seen "God." [4]
The NDE of Pam Reynolds is especially interesting because of the situation in which it occurred. Reynolds had to undergo a very risky brain surgery due to an aneurysm. The operation required that her brain be completely drained of all blood. She would be declared clinically dead during the operation. During this time, she would experience an NDE. Later she recounted her experience, describing things during the operation that were validated by the medical staff.
Reynolds was under close medical monitoring during the entire operation. During part of the operation she had no brain-wave activity and no blood flowing in her brain, which left her clinically dead. She made several observations about the procedure which later were confirmed by medical personnel as surprisingly accurate.
This famous near-death experience is considered by many to be proof of the reality of the survival of consciousness after death, and of a life after death
(source: Wikipedia: Near-death experience)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_death_experience#cite_note-autogenerated2-43
1 < Mauro, James (1992) Bright lights, big mystery. Psychology Today, July 1992. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19920701-000030.html
2 < http://www.aspsi.org/feat/life_after/tymn/bruce_greyson.htm
3 < Ex-atheist describes near-death experience: 01/31/2004 http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-04/01-31-04/c04rg223.htm
4 < "Did Atheist Philosopher See God When He Died?" by William Cash, National Post http://gonsalves.org/favorite/atheist.htm
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
- Login to post comments
Speaking of mental phenomena...
OH! oooooh! UUUUUGH! me! me! pick me! MEEEEE! ill do it! Doomy do good job! You'll see!
What Would Kharn Do?
I'll keep you in mind, there is a long waiting list. I have to check your references and past employment...you were never a convicted felon right? You were? Put that in the work related experience section. "Shanking" is an important skillset here.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
Im not gonna lie about this... im not a convicted felon, hell... im not even part of a criminal organization... i havent even been hired for an assassination yet! Im just a fresh young upstart looking to break his way into the business
What Would Kharn Do?
Entry level shanking it is.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
The subject matter of this thread is NDEs, which typically involves cardiac arrest and clinical death, not hypnagogia or "sleep paralysis."
It would appear that you are the one who is confused here. While NDEs typically entail an OBE, the converse is not true. Also, it appears that you are confused as to whether you were really levitating or not (the term "probably" in your comment suggests this much).
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
It's called "promissory materialism." You don't have a materialistic explanation that accounts for all the aspects reported in NDEs and yet you are "promising" us that a materialistic explanation is forthcoming. The promise is based on a faith-commitment to materialism (even though there is evidence to suggest that the mind and the brain are not identical).
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Oh, so you mean emergent properties of things aren't the same as the things from which they emerged? Well, one learns something new every day.
Second: We can actually measure and quantify material things (and physical, non-material things- such as gravity). So no, it's not 'faith,' it's EVIDENCE. Something you don't have. You have a series of feelings, and, based upon the history of making this feeling into the basis of observation and organization of what's 'real,' I am truly justified in saying you have nothing at all.
At least physicalists have empirical data. You don't even have that.
Isn't that called...common sense? Look at the precedent, and you see things have been explained that were thought "mystical" time and time again.
You obviously didn't read the article several years ago in the New York Times that I linked.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
Near death experience is a TYPE of out of body experience. I was explaining my own personal experience which has symptoms of both such as: "lucid experience associated with perceived consciousness apart from the body and physical paralysis ."
You know nothing of my medical history, and considering most of my episodes were BEFORE I was able to control them (and after I actually had a...near death...experience), it's possible it wasn't completely an OBE. I don't know why you're arguing so strongly on the semantics of the two terms when the heart of the issue is whether it's paranormal or not. Sounds like you're deflecting what you cannot explain for something you feel you can easily argue against. I don't care which term you're arguing in this thread, they're both biological reactions, and both very similar. How about you try to tie in this whole "consciousness existing outside the body," bullshit you began this thread with?
And no, there's no confusion as to whether or not I was actually FLOATING ABOVE MY BODY. I already said I don't believe in the paranormal and that it FELT as though I was. The word PROBABLY was directed at "being so relaxed," not as in "I was probably levitating." XD Seriously, get smarter.
1. Polkinghorne's objections are pretty much due to his Christianity. Dual aspect monism is watered down dualism as deism is watered down theism. Following polytheistic religions leads to all kinds of foolishness.
2. Still waiting on you to produce peer-reviewed evidence...
"I do this real moron thing, and it's called thinking. And apparently I'm not a very good American because I like to form my own opinions."
— George Carlin
First of all, you can word it anyway you want but I'm not "promising" anything. Secondly, there is a biological explanation. People often say "sure" when they're too occupied to pull up research debunking an issue of only partial interest. I'm not going to reserach this topic for you, and don't feel passionate enough about it to put forth an effort. My intention was to share what I thought was directly related. Also, biological evidence is the backbone for any medical unknown. It has nothing to do with having faith or making a commitment to the explanation when real scientists know it's not about wishing or hoping, but simply waiting until the answer presents itself. Only religious people need faith in explaining what they don't understand.
He can't and won't. You're new here, so I'll tell you now: Paisley never defines his terms, merely asserts that dualism has a 'priveleged' position in epistemology. Why? Well, because we have a subjective 'inner world' of course!
I like this. Sukisho was a good series.
Here ClockCat, have an internet, you've earned it.
The Wiki quote says that "the brain's electrical activity can stop COMPLETELY." How do you explain NDEs in a computer (the metaphor employed to describe the brain on the materialist view) without any electrical activity? I will remind you that you argued in another thread that during dreamless sleep there is no consciousness. IOW, you made an argument in another thread in which you implied that the brain undergoes periods of time (during sleep) when a normally functioning brain generates no consciousness whatsoever. Now you would have us believe that the brain of an individual in a state of clinical death is able to generate consciousness. How exactly does that work?
Your argument is contradictory. First you argue that there was not enough loss of blood to completely stop brain activity. Then you argue that memory would not be expected to register in a brain that is inactive. Which one is it? Active or inactive? You can't have it both ways.
At any rate, Pam Reynolds had no brain activity and no blood in her brain during the operation.
Sorry, but Pam Reynolds "eyes were closed with tape" and "small ear plugs with speakers were plugged in her ears. These speakers emitted audible clicks which were used to check the function of the brain stem." *
* (source: Wikipedia: Pam Reynolds' NDE)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Reynolds
I have just provided you with evidence that clearly suggests that consciousness continues to function even though the brain is nonfunctional. Whether or not you acknowledge this does not change the fact that there is evidence.
There is a noted veridical OBE in which the patient properly identified a tennis shoe located on the ledge of window that could only be seen from a vantage point located outside the hospital. The link is below.
http://www.esalenctr.org/display/confpage.cfm?confid=3&pageid=22&pgtype=1
Reproducing the illusion of an OBE is not the same thing as reproducing an actual OBE. Also, you are only reproducing one component of an OBE. Besides, I just provided you with documented cases of veridical OBEs.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
I have provided a documented case of a veridical NDE and OBE in the OP. Also, I have provided other documented cases. Whether you acknowledge this or not does not change the fact.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Agreed.
By the way, thanks for the honesty. This allows me to direct my time and energy elsewhere.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Now come on. Was that really neccesary?
Why don't we all lay off the with all the douchebaggery?
Don't forget to reply to my post Paisley.
Well I was born an original sinner
I was spawned from original sin
And if I had a dollar bill for all the things I've done
There'd be a mountain of money piled up to my chin
Several points:
1) Electrically stimulating the angular gyrus in the brain and producing an experience that mimics some aspects of an OBE is not new. Canadian neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield discovered this 50 years prior to Olaf Blanke's discovery in 2002.
2) Producing the illusion of an OBE is not to be confused with the spontaneous OBE that is experienced in a near death experience. There are important differences.
a) Electrically induced "OBEs" do not generate the accurate descriptions of the environment as reported in the documented case studies of NDEs.
b) Electrically induced "OBEs" do not generate the psychological after-effects or personality transformations that individuals undergo who have experienced an NDE.
Bruce Greyson (professor of psychiatry at UVA and prominent researcher in the field of NDE studies) comments on this and other forms of so-called induced "OBEs." Here's the link.
http://www.aspsi.org/feat/life_after/tymn/bruce_greyson.htm
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
LOL
The mission of the Academy of Spirituality and Paranormal Studies, Inc. is to discern, develop and disseminate knowledge of how paranormal phenomena may relate to and enhance the development of the human spirit.
- Mission Statement
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
PURPOSES OF THE ACADEMY
ACADEMY OF SPIRITUALITY AND PARANORMAL STUDIES, INC. was formed in December, 2005. Its purposes are threefold:
FIRST, to encourage dialogue, exchange of ideas and cooperation between clergy and academics of religion and philosophy and scientists, researchers and academics of all scientific and humanistic disciplines in the fields of psychical research and new disciplines as well as the historic sciences.
SECOND, to conduct an education program for these scholars, it's members and the general public, blending data already available in the area of their common interest with the interchange of views stimulated in these scholars, to the end that both the scientific and religion communities may be better informed about such facts and views and their propriety, value and respectability.
THIRD, to work closely with, and offer good offices to, all reputable organizations having related interests in the fields of education, religion, science and psychical research.
The ACADEMY will endeavor to sponsor conferences and symposia for the presentation of scholarly data, points of view, and interchange of ideas in the area where religion and psychical research interface; publish papers resulting from such meetings and other appropriate materials on this area that will be of interest to academics, scientists and clergy; and monitor, evaluate, explain and report the significant data in this area for the benefit of scholars.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
My god their website design is horrible.
http://www.aspsi.org
Really, look at that. It looks like it was made by a 3rd grader as a hobby.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
Yes, the credibility is assured of any website that talks about interviews with the dead. "Tailor-fit" indeed.
http://www.aspsi.org/feat/life_after/tymn/_life_after_death.php#interview_deceased
HAHAAHahaha.. oh my god... this is hilarious.
This is like, geocities come back all over again.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
Careful Clock... they can track you!
If your not catious, you'll be dodging invisible psyballs in no time!
What Would Kharn Do?
I have never really understood why so called NDEs are taken so seriously by such a large number of people. I mean, people are quite unreliable at assessing reality as it is, but we are supposed to believe them more when their brains are deprived of oxygen?!
The psyballs are clearly an impending danger, providing the website is accurate, professional and clearly has no ulterior motives like forcing a bastard combination of existing religion and "science" that might limit their viewpoints to trying to find "one specific answer" that supports their idea, rather than...well you know, how science works, of accepting the results no matter what they show.
Oh wait.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
No it does not.
1-Her body temp was lowered to allow more time for the surgery.
2-The amount of time her brain was not receiving oxygenated blood was approximately 6 minutes.
3-Her brain was blue screening and misfiring as all brains do with inadequate amounts of oxygen, supposing she is of normal human origin.
Since she was only clinically dead and not dead-dead this proves nada. Brain wave activity can be difficult to monitor in some conditions including lowered body temp.
Yes you have and no one disputes that people have in some cases these experiences. This does not however support your consciousness ideas that it is separate from the mind or brain as I mentioned. If it were so all humans that experience near death should have this experience. They don't.
I had near death, but no light flashing dreams etc. I was dead for several minutes but was unaware of being so as I was already drugged. Not everyone gets a NDE dream, some get nothing like I did. If this was consciousness separating from the body even if I was drugged I should have experienced the NDE dream.
So being that many individuals do not have NDE dreams when they clinically die what does that signify? According to several web sites I found with Google approximately 5% of the US population supposedly has had a NDE. What I can't find are statistics that compare NDEs to Non-NDES. I found a book by PMH Atwater called The Big Book of Near Death Experiences. In promos on google books he claims from 12 to 20% experience it. Do you have data or sources? How many NDEs occur per 100,000 near deaths? If the brain and consciousness are as you suggest it should be 100%, but it's not as many are like me and had no NDE when they clinically die. Care to explain or is this simply unknown?
I know.
____________________________________________________________
"I guess it's time to ask if you live under high voltage power transmission lines which have been shown to cause stimulation of the fantasy centers of the brain due to electromagnetic waves?" - Me
"God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, - it says so right here on the label. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these divine attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. No checks please. Cash and in small bills." - Robert A Heinlein.
No, you didn't even read what I wrote. Link ONE case study where people could see surroundings OUTSIDE of their field of view during an OBE/NDE. Someone saying they saw something on the floor and a nurse agreeing with them is not evidence. Show us an article where controlled conditions were put into place. There are some reports of doctors doing exactly that to real OBE/NDE patients with no results. It's funny how all your mysticism and new age woo dissapears when placed inside controlled conditions to remove your fanatical bias.
Edit:
Found a nice video to sum up Paisley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyOHJa5Vj5Y
While I personally have never had an NDE I have experienced a ADC (After Death Experience) which I've yet to scientifically explain.
I was in China, 12 hours ahead of Florida, when during my sleep I was visited by my grand mother. From what I remember of the event was my grandmother's hands and a feeling or thought that "every thing was ok".
After review of the event I called home and was told my grand mother was ok, but I was being lied to by my family as to not upset my vacation.
The following evening the same event took place and I called home again the next day only to be lied to again. My girlfriend then tried to lie also, but I was able to get the truth out of her.
When I returned from China I was told the truth and that she had passed at or around 1:30pm, which would have been the time I was asleep in China.
I was told by my mother that at the time of my grandmother's passing she was asking for me.
I am not a believer in "god", nor a "creator". I do not believe in any religion and this event has not changed my position on such subjects or ideas. I am a rational thinking individual. I observe and question that which I experience.
I have no doubts that in some form or fashion there is no end to thought only a transformation from one form to another. Such an idea stems from observations in nature. All things are born and all things decay and all things are recycled.
..Yeah...I'm going to go with when you die, all that is left of you is a corpse rotting in the ground.
Until someone proves otherwise, that is the only thing we know. The rest is just wild speculation.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
That's fine for every one else, but not for me. Rationalizing the experience I have narrowed down several explainations for what I experienced.
Since the experience is not repeatable it will need to remain an experience for me and me alone.
You're attempting to make two separate arguments. First, you argue that the NDE occurs before or after clinical death. Then you argue that the NDE occurs during clinical death but the brain has just enough oxygen to function. Which one is it? Do you believe NDEs occur during clinical death or not?
You're drawing a comparison between documented cases of NDEs and a fictitious character in a fictional book?
People who have NDEs vehemently deny that they are dreamlike experiences. In fact, they consider them to be the most profound experiences of their lives.
The brain does not show any wave activity during clinical death. So, this idea that the brain is "running on vapours" is purely speculation and conjecture. Furthermore, why would an individual have a vivid experience when his or her brain is running on empty? NDErs report having mental clarity. Based on your theory (assuming that the mind and the brain are identical and that the brain is actually running on vapours), we would expect there to be (at the very most) mental confusion and disorder, not mental clarity.
It would stand to reason that they would encounter deceased individuals that they were most emotionally connected to.
Also, how does seeing dead people (whether they are loved ones or strangers) during a state of clinical death support the materialistic worldview?
Incidentally, there have been documented cases in which NDErs have reported seeing dead relatives that they didn't even know were dead at the time of the experience.
What is a "p of one?"
No, I am not saying that everyone who has experienced an NDE have had their experiences corroborated or verified. However, there are many NDEs (not only the Pam Reynolds' case) that have been verified. The link below provide cases of veridical NDEs (e.g. an individual was able to identify the nurse who retrieved his dentures from his mouth while he was comatose and undergoing CPR for cardiac arrest and another woman was able to identify a tennis shoe on the ledge of a window that could only be seen from the vantage point of being outside the hospital). Also, there are cases of individuals who were blind from birth that have reported seeing for the first time during an NDE.
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research11.html
True, I did say that. But all experiences (not only NDEs and OBEs) are influenced by an individual's background and cultural-conditioning. Moreover, I do not consider these NDEs to be literal descriptions of another physical reality (although the initial OBE most likely is as many NDEs have been verified). The important thing that I take from this is that there is a mental realm that exists independently of the physical.
The pantheistic God is sentient. I am now digressing but this is an important point. The "light" that is encountered in an NDE is typically described as a sentient, loving being (sometimes it is described as the fires of hell).
I have explicilty stated that NDEs vary. However, a typical progression or pattern has been identified.
http://www.near-death.com/faq.html
The timeline is recorded in the Wikipedia article on Pam Reynolds' NDE. Moreover, both Pam Reynolds' eyes and ears were taped shut before the operation commenced.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Reynolds
Sure, you can argue that both the patient and the medical staff were in cahoots. But what evidence do you have that there was some kind of conspiracy?
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Gravity is both physical and nonmaterial? Well, I guess the nonphysical is real. You have just made the argument for it.
Materialists have no evidence that mental phenomena are physical. Mental phenomena have no measureable physical property. And they are not amenable to third-person observation. So, this belief that mental phenomena are physical is simply that...a belief.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
OBEs are not identical to NDEs (although a classic NDE entails an OBE).
I know that you employed the term "probably." Now either you are telling the truth or you are lying. It's that simple.
Unless you were actually NEAR death (such as cardiac arrest), you were not having an NDE.
And if it is "possible" that it wasn't completely an OBE, then your experience is irrelevant.
The only deflecting occurring here is from materialists who cannot provide an explanation why a clinically dead brain is having a conscious experience.
The subject matter of this thread is the near-death experience. If you don't care, then you should not participate.
Those who have actually experienced NDEs and floated over their body are NOT confused as to whether it was real or merely a feeling. Also, I have provided evidence of veridical NDEs.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
NDE, etc are old news. There nothing there, except a few wacko's on the fringe who claim to be studying it.
But let me uderstand this correctly, Paisley, are you saying this is the best argument you have for consciousness being able to exist without a body/brain?
If so, if we show that you are wrong, will you concede your point, or just move on to another one and ignore the failings of this one?
Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centuries since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes. I personally resent it bitterly.
Isaac Asimov
Who is discussing John Polkinghorne's objections or dual-aspect monism? (Incidentally, dual-aspect monism is not technically dualism. But now I am digressing.)
There is a scientific and academic published peer-reviewed journal on NDEs (e.g. "Journal of Near-Death Studies" edited by Kenneth Ring).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_Near-Death_Studies
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
I have already done my research. Thank you very much. And that you are not willing to do yours clearly demonstrates that you're not in a position to debate this topic.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Science began in the milieu of a dualistic framework. That's not speculation. That's not conjecture. That's historical fact. And hitherto, no evidence (NONE, NADA) has ever been produced to establish beyond all reproach that mental phenomena are physical. So, yes...until proven otherwise...dualism has a privileged metaphysical position because it is based on our first-person experience of the world.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
What exactly are you objecting to here? That I simply agreed with his own self-assessment?
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
They are taken seriously becasue there is no material explanation how the mind fucntions independently of a nonfunctional brain.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Considering the fact you cannot adequately defend yourself in a thread you created shows differently.
Prove the mind functions independently of a nonfuctional brain then?
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
I have provided evidence in this thread.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
While you don't find the evidence compelling (big surprise!), others do.
Also, her brain activity was not difficult to monitor. They had placed ear plugs with small speakers in her ears to monitor her brain and during part of the operation she had no brain activity. She had a flat EEG. Moreover, they had completely drained the blood from her brain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Reynolds%27_NDE
What kind of nonsense is this? Just because everyone does not experience an NDE during clinical death does not negate the fact that others do. Moreover, I have provided cases in this thread of veridical NDEs (i.e. NDE cases in which individuals had out-of-body experiences and were able to make observations that were later confirmed by the medical or hospital staff).
If you didn't have an experience (what you are pejoratively referring to as a dream), then you didn't have an NDE. This is not difficult!
I have already addressed this (see above).
It signifies that they did not have an NDE. To reiterate: This is not difficult!
Dutch cardiologist Pim van Lommel conducted a clinical study and reported that 18% of his patients who suffered cardiac arrest and were successfully resuscitated had an NDE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Death_Experience
I have already addressed this issue (see above).
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Oh. Then will you repeat it? I must of missed it.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
What have you shown?
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
I'm not sure that ADE is the formal term, but I have had a similar experience with the death of my grandmother. This is fairly common.
"There is no end to thought only a transformation from one form to another?" <= That smacks of pantheism.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead
Yeah, an individual making an observation that was later confirmed by someone on the medical or hospital staff does qualify as evidence. Moreover, the fact that an individual had any kind of experience (even if it were purely illusory) does not explain how consciousness is able to function in light of the fact that the brain is nonfunctional.
Yes, there is presently an ongoing study of NDEs involving cardiac arrest patients being led by the British cardiologist Sam Parnia. However, the study is a three year experiment and the scientists will not publish the results until the experiement has been completed. Imagine that! So, your assertion that there are no results is actually misleading.
"Scientists animated by the purpose of proving they are purposeless constitute an interesting subject for study." - Alfred North Whitehead