Abstract
All humans must eventually face death at the end of life in this physical world. Nevertheless, sometimes sudden death can be horrendous, especially when associated with what appears to be unbearable pain during those final moments, such as being burned alive or beaten to death. The thought of a loved one having suffered such pain at the moment of death may intensify the degree of grief. However, despite the appearance of what sometimes appears to be conscious somatic suffering in those final moments, a non-pathological dissociation from that pain may have occurred. This paper explores this hypothesis, providing evidence of this occurring from research studies and/or self-reports. It then closes with a suggestion that knowledge of this phenomenon may provide some comfort to those in grief over a loved one who has undergone a horrible death in which extreme suffering seemed to have been present in those final moments.
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Robert A. King is a minister ordained in 1998 by Calvary Chapel in Huntington Beach, California, and holds a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in bible and theology. He is a published researcher of various phenomena that occur during life-threating incidents, as well as an author of theological and inspirational articles in numerous Protestant and Catholic magazines. King also has a Facebook ministry with over 30,000 followers. He has been married for over 27 years and lives with his wife Clodagh and their two adult children.
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