Abstract
Kenneth Ring (1991) argued that near-death experiences (NDEs) act as compensatory gifts helping individuals cope with and understand life's difficulties. He saw NDEs as conferring “amazing grace” on individuals whose lives were spinning out of control toward self-destruction. Expanding on Ring's contention that NDEs can be seen as healing gifts, this study presents evidence of seven categorical situations where participating in or knowledge of NDEs and nearing-death awareness experiences serve as healing agents in facing one's own death or the death of a significant other. NDEs and nearing death awareness seem to free persons from paralyzing death anxiety and, consequently, allow them to focus on additional ways to help each other face dying and grieving.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atwater, P. M. H. (1988). Coming back to life: The after-effects of the near-death experience. New York, NY: Dodd, Mead.
Atwater, P. M. H. (1992). Is there a hell? Surprising observations about the near-death experience. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 10, 149–160.
Atwater, P. M. H. (1994). Beyond the light: What isn't being said about the near-death experience. New York, NY: Birch Lane Press.
Bush, N. E. (1994). The paradox of Jonah: Response to “Solving the riddle of frightening near-death experiences.” Journal of Near-Death Studies, 13, 47–54.
Callanan, M., and Kelley, P. (1992). Final gifts: Understanding the special awareness, needs, and communications of the dying. New York, NY: Poseidon.
Drumm, D. L. (1992). Near-death accounts as therapy [Letter]. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 11, 67–70.
Drumm, D. L. (1993). Near-death accounts as therapy: Part II [Letter]. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 11, 189–191.
Grey, M. (1985). Return from death: An exploration of the near-death experience. London, England: Arkana.
Greyson, B. (1992). Reduced death threat in near-death experiences. Death Studies, 16, 523–536.
Greyson, B., and Bush, N. E. (1992). Distressing near-death experiences. Psychiatry, 55, 95–110.
Horacek, B. J. (1992). The darker side of near-death experiences. Forum of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, 17(5), 3 and 19–20.
Moody, R. A. (1975). Life after life. Covington, GA: Mockingbird Books.
Morse, M., and Perry, P. (1990). Closer to the light: Learning from the near-death experiences of children. New York, NY: Villard.
Morse, M., and Perry, P. (1992). Transformed by the light: The powerful effects of near-death experiences on people's lives. New York, NY: Villard.
Ring, K. (1980). Life at death: A scientific investigation of the near-death experience. New York, NY: Coward, McCann and Geoghegan.
Ring, K. (1984). Heading toward omega: In search of the meaning of the near-death experience. New York, NY: Morrow.
Ring, K. (1991). Amazing grace: The near-death experience as a compensatory gift. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 10, 11–39.
Ring, K. (1994). The riddle of frightening near-death experiences: Some testable hypotheses and a perspective based on A course in miracles. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 13, 5–23.
Ring, K. (1995). The impact of near-death experiences on persons who have not had them: A report of a preliminary study and two replications. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 13, 223–235.
Sabom, M. B. (1982). Recollections of death: A medical investigation. New York, NY: Harper and Row.
Wallace, A. (1992, April 12). “Head-on crash kills comedian Sam Kinison.” Los Angeles Times, pp. 1 and 3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Horacek, B.J. Amazing Grace: The Healing Effects of Near-Death Experiences on Those Dying And Grieving. Journal of Near-Death Studies 16, 149–161 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025062032501
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025062032501