Freethought & Rationalism Archive

happyboy · 12-30-2002, 06:45 PM

ah, yes near death experiences. it's a wonderful thing what a highly malfunctioning brain will make you see.

happyboy, who looks forward to oblivion after death

Amie · 01-01-2003, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Admiral
Amie

Could you be a little more specific? Did you like the book because you found it entertaining? Because you learned something from it, it was intellectually stimulating? Or other reasons?

Have you visited her website yet? She has a lot of great stuff for sale, you might find something you like. Please go there and let me know what you think.

Why did I like the book? I thought it was a nice story. Ultimately it changed her life in so many ways that she saw as positives so good for her...

I have not visited her site yet, I'll swing by and let you know what I think of it...

Quote:

No reply? Wouldn't have taken you 5 minutes to check her web site and answer me. Good luck in Holland.

The Admiral

I've been out of town.

Quote:

ah, yes near death experiences. it's a wonderful thing what a highly malfunctioning brain will make you see.

I don't have a malfunctioning brain and I had one once.

Philosoft · 01-01-2003, 08:08 PM

Amie, you don't think it's possible your brain, at the time of your NDE, was perhaps oxygen deficient, or something else that could possibly be called a "malfunction"?

Infinity Lover · 01-01-2003, 09:34 PM

Admiral...

I did some sniffing around at Eadie's website, as well as some sites critizising her. Appearantly there's some Christians, who prefer to stay faithfull to the more strict absolute doctrine of the Bible, that aren't to happy with her more 'new age' flavoured spirituality.

From the probe ministries website...

Quote:

"What can we learn from Betty Eadie and her near-death experience? First and foremost is that near-death experiences tend to alter one's world view. Raymond Moody in his book The Light Beyond offers evidence for such a concern. He states that those who experience a near-death episode

...emerge with an appreciation of religion that is different from the narrowly defined one established by most churches. They come to realize through this experience that religion is not a matter of one 'right' group versus several 'wrong' groups. People who undergo an NDE come out of it saying that religion concerns your ability to love--not doctrine and denominations. In short, they think that God is a much more magnanimous being than they previously thought, and that denominations don't count.

This idea, that doctrine is of no importance but we should only be concerned about love, is parallel to the teachings found in the New Age world view. Ms. Eadie is in agreement with Dr. Moody's statement that "love" is our ultimate goal and that religion is simply a vehicle to get us to the party. It makes little or no difference whether we get there in a Ford or a Chevrolet."

For as far as her books strike a cord with religious people, at least she inspires them in a positive way. In that sense I rather see her being popular and having a large following, than Jack Chick. What can I say; you can't force everyone to read Carl Sagan, and hope they'll deconvert tomorrow.

Here's a bit from Mindspring.com

Quote:

It has been well-documented that Betty Eadie's story is full of contradictions. Furthermore, Eadie has changed her story a number of times depending on the audience to which she is speaking. Her book "Embraced by the Light," was originally published as a MORMON book by Mormon publishers in Utah (Eadie has been a Momron since BEFORE her experience and reflects classic Mormon doctrine). It quickly became the #1 selling book among Mormons.

The general public then picked up on her story, which was quickly changed to be more palatible to the general audience. She quickly became a "Christian" and her books sold in Evangelical stores. Then, suddenly, Jesus in the light became just a light that could be Buddha or some other religious figure to someone else. Interestingly, there ae actually TWO versions of her book--one for Mormons and one for the rest of the country. Her original MORMON volume recounts how Jesus told Eadie abortion was wrong, it is a crime against the child. Then , in her second book, Jesus is suddenly very pro-choice and is saying something completely different. Also, distinctively Mormon phrases are removed.

I'll be the last person to deny that this makes you go hmmm. But that still doesn't lead me to believe money is nessecarily the number one motive, or the only one. Being successfull and popular is no crime in my eyes. And it doesn't mean the core of her NDE, as she experienced and interpreted it, is a complete fabrication either.

Quote:

Originally posted by the Admiral
She has a lot of great stuff for sale, you might find something you like.

I was expecting to see a broad array of tacky trinkets or other merchandise along those lines... but no; a fairly small assortiment of books and audio/video tapes. So she used her money to start a publishing company (wich is a smart and understandable move, if you want to be in controll creatively and finacially) , so others can make a buck trying to positively inspire people through writing as well. Big fucking deal.

Off course if you're not a believer (and I'm not) that's not exactly your slice of pie. But in all fairness, I'm still inclined to say Eadie is probably trying to have a positive impact on people, based on her NDE, in a way that according to her beliefs is right, while making a handsome buck along the way, and not nessecarily ruthlessly greadily exploiting people.

The Admiral · 01-03-2003, 06:33 AM

Infinity

Good bit of research you did there. I went to Probe Min. which was new to me and read the whole blurb.

The Admiral

Hobbs · 01-07-2003, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amie
I don't have a malfunctioning brain and I had one once.

Amie, have you read the Susan Blackmore book Dying to Live which The Admiral mentioned? I'd be interested to hear your reaction. Does your NDE fit one of her scenarios? Would it be plausible to conclude that your experience could have been a subjective interpretation of a set of physiological phenomena in a stressed brain?

01-01-2003, 08:08 PM	#23
Philosoft Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast of disorder Posts: 6,829	HI Amie. Welcome back. Amie, you don't think it's possible your brain, at the time of your NDE, was perhaps oxygen deficient, or something else that could possibly be called a "malfunction"?

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12-30-2002, 06:45 PM	#21
happyboy Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on the border between here and there, WV Posts: 373	ah, yes near death experiences. it's a wonderful thing what a highly malfunctioning brain will make you see. happyboy, who looks forward to oblivion after death

01-03-2003, 06:33 AM	#25
The Admiral Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Racine, Wi. USA Posts: 768	Infinity Good bit of research you did there. I went to Probe Min. which was new to me and read the whole blurb. The Admiral

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