Accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs) are becoming increasingly mainstream, both in science and popular culture. Movies like Angel Studios’ After Death (2023) and books like John Burke’s Imagine Heaven (Baker, 2015) are bringing this topic from the fringes into churches all over the world, not to mention the many NDE testimonies that consistently go viral on various social media platforms.

Some Christian apologists believe this is an important opportunity for evangelism; others warn of potential danger. The ambiguous nature of NDEs means some seem to contradict others and even point away from Christ at times.

Let’s look at some of the strongest validations and cautions that people should be aware of when considering NDEs. 

Raymond Moody coined the term “near-death experiences” in a book called Life After Life (Mockingbird Books, 1975). He researched how people who had survived a period of being clinically dead tended to describe a set of common experiences: being “out of body,” being transported through a tunnel, meeting a being of light, watching a life review, etc.

As medical technology continues to advance, the number of people claiming to have had an NDE grows steadily. Today, approximately one in 25 Americans has had an NDE.