The Near-Death (Near-Hell) Experience
Sometimes the low-key National Catholic Register can deliver quite a jolt. In 1999 the front page of its August 8-14 issue carried the fiery headline “WORLD EXCOMMUNICATED.”
Gosh, the whole world? In theory we like the idea of excommunication, but our first reaction was that this could be taking things a bit too far.
Well, the next issue of the Register doused the headline. A “Correction” notice stated that because of a “production glitch,” the headline was erroneous. Yes, okay, those things happen.
This year, the lead story on the front page of the January 7-13 Register carried an equally arresting headline: “New Research Confirms Life After Death.” Our first reaction was that this could portend the instant conversion of the whole world. The story, written by Register correspondent Paul Burnell, tells about a “scientific investigation” into the (presumably) bona fide “near-death experiences” of four people. Yes, only four. Yes, the headline is just a wee bit exaggerated. Nonetheless, the story proved to be captivating, not because of the report on the research, but because of an interview Burnell conducted with a priest in Kansas, Fr. Steven Scheier (not connected with the “scientific investigation”).
You May Also Enjoy
What Is Christianity?: The Last Writings... The 21: A Journey into the Land of Coptic Martyrs... God Loves the Autistic Mind: Prayer Guide for Those on the Spectrum and Those Who Love Us.
That it can be legitimate to feel offended should not lead us to the conclusion that every time a person feels offended, his response is justified.
French author Yves Chiron presents Paul as torn between mind and heart, with strong emotional reactions tempered at times by rational thought.