The mind and the out-of-body

Wow, this could be hugely important in the potential impact on new [and old] spiritualities and on Christian apologetic responses to them. For example, the claim that the nature of OBEs demonstrates the post-mortem existence of a 'soul' or somesuch is problematised. I don't have a problem with that as a Christian believer in resurrection but I know that there are some whose eggs are in that basket [like the Easter ref?]. So watch that space. And if you've had an Out of Body Experience add it to the research at the site given in the article. Here's the research background in summary.
"David Wilde, the researcher running the project, said: 'There are several theories as to why people have OBEs. A common link between them is the idea that in certain circumstances the brain somehow loses touch with sensory information coming in from the body. This triggers a series of psychological mechanisms, which can lead to someone having an OBE. In this study we aim to take the theory a stage further, by looking at the way people see and experience their bodies, and how - through perfectly ordinary psychological processes - these images and experiences may create the impression of seeing their bodies from the outside.'"
Of course there may still be the matter of NDEs showing up info that should not have been knowable by the experiencer ... but who knows what may transpire, we should be wary of a 'soul of the gaps' approach.
EducationGuardian.co.uk | Research | The mind and the out-of-body:[:OBEs:]