Thanks, I had never heard of this organization. I hope it’s for former RLDS and FLDS, as well as the more “mainstream” LDS.

It’s a bit late to catch this years convention. Hopefully I can be there next year.

Been busy. Interesting material though.

I know the Iraq Occupation is slipping from America’s thoughts but I just wanted to weigh in and tell you want the informed minority thinks will be happening there in the coming months.

At the end of December the UN authorization to remain in Iraq is expired. Their will be no Status of Forces agreement between the US and Iraq (for many and easily predictable reasons) and the US will have no legal authority to stay in Iraq. Al Sadr and Sistani will will call for the US to get out and if we don’t they will quickly escalate the attacks on US forces (the only reason for the lull in violence was the wait for Dec 2008). So Americans will then see the Iraqis telling us to get out and escalating the attacks simultaneously which will evaporate any remaining US supporter for the occupation.

We will leave and the Shiites will continue the ethnic cleansing they began under the protection of The Surge.

How long until BushCo is brought to trial for murder? One year.

Also interesting material

However, seven had memories, four of which counted as near-death experiences.

They told of feelings of peace and joy, time speeded up, heightened senses, lost awareness of body, seeing a bright light, entering another world, encountering a mystical being and coming to “a point of no return”.

I agree with Dr. Chris Freeman that there is no proof that the experiences happened when the brains were shut down. I cannot imagine how it would be possible scientifically to confirm or disprove that, unless we develop a thought-reading machine and monitor someone’s thoughts simultaneously with their vital signs. Unless that technology becomes available, it will have to remain as pure speculation

What I find interesting is what the thoughts are (what they always are when people have near-death experiences)…basically 100% lines up with the idea of the soul and Heaven. As atheists, what are your views of this?

Some alternative views I have imagined:

- The patients made it up (along with the thousands other of recorded NDE cases)

- It’s constructed from prior beliefs…One believes there is a heaven, so under extreme duress these strong beliefs are somehow magnified

- It is somehow a survival mechanism. Somehow, near death experiences, specifically the feelings of separating from the body, entering another world, etc. have a positive physical effect on the body that improves the odds of survival for the person. Therefore, since it is beneficial for species survival, it has been naturally selected to exist in current humans (at least).

- (in addition to the previous though) … And 1,000’s of years ago, an early human had an NDE (which is purely a survival mechanism) and this was when accounts of “souls” and “heaven” came into the world

Could you possibly pick a lamer article?

Could you possibly pick a lamer article?

And besides, this entire blog has turned into a Palin mock-a-thon…that is not lame?

What’s lame about near death experiences? I find them fascinating

I had a terrible car accident when I was 18. I flatlined once in the ambulance and again at the hospital. No tunnels. No lights. No out of body experiences. In fact, I have no memory prior to about day three, when I woke up in the ICU with tubes coming out of all types of unmentionable places.

If you are so fascinated with NDE, might I suggest you place a plastic bag over your head and wait?

And besides, this entire blog has turned into a Palin mock-a-thon…that is not lame?

No need to mock Sarah Palin. She is a mockery all by herself. She makes Dan Quayle seem imminently qualified to be president.

I think we will also be leaving Iraq because our dollar is about to take a crap due to rising govt d e b t…