Exploring Implications of Near Death Experiences

12211 Memorial Drive,Houston TX 77024

23 April, 2022

Description

What can Near-Death Experiences tell us about consciousness? This symposium will provide some of the current thinking on this question. "NDEs are transformative experiences that people report after returning to life following a period of clinical death, coma, or traumatic occurrence. NDEs have occurred across cultures throughout history, and include several common features of both the experience itself and the aftereffects on personality and perspective. More often than not, those who have had an NDE consider them to be the most spiritually significant experiences of their lives. They are much more common than suspected, with one Gallup poll reporting that 5% of the population has had an NDE, yet they are often kept hidden or dismissed because of their challenging implications.” Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) are probably the best known of phenomena that call materialism into question and raise profound questions about the mind, consciousness, and reality itself. Innumerable NDEs have been well-documented and such phenomena and their possible implications are being studied by scholars at prestigious academic institutions such as Rice University and the University of Virginia. This symposium will describe the basic properties of NDEs and the important questions they might help answer. Elizabeth Krohn, the co-author of Changed in a Flash, will describe her unusually detailed NDE and the effects it had on her life. Elizabeth will then be interviewed about the conclusions she and Prof. Jeff Kripal of Rice University drew from her NDE. A panel representing four distinct faith traditions will react to Elizabeth's presentation and share their own viewpoints on NDEs. Robert Hesse, a Roman Catholic deacon and author of the forth-coming book Faith and Science - A Journey into God's Mystical Love, will talk about his own scientific research as well as other work being done in this area. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions of the presenters and panelists and to add comments of their own. Lunch is included in registration fee. PRESENTATON SPEAKERS ELIZABETH GREENFIELD KROHN was a wife and mother of two young boys when she was struck by lightning in the parking lot of her Houston synagogue in 1988. Her most fundamental understandings of what the world is and how it works were completely transformed. Following their meeting at a program at ISH, Elizabeth and Dr. Jeffrey Kripal coauthored a book, Changed in a Flash. She has since become a frequent guest on podcasts and radio shows discussing her extraordinary experience. Elizabeth and her husband live in Houston where they spend most of their free time with their nine grandchildren and their puppy Charlie. Robert J. Hesse, Ph.D. is a permanent Catholic deacon in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He is Cofounder, President and CEO of Contemplative Network, dedicated to teaching interdenominational Christian contemplative prayer, scientific research and interfaith dialogue. He was inspired by Trappist Monk, Fr. Thomas Merton, while on retreat at Gethsemani Trappist monastery. Later Hesse was appointed by Trappist Fr. Thomas Keating, Commissioned Presenter of Contemplative Outreach Ltd. (COL) and Keating’s emissary to the first COL dialogue with the Mind & Life Institute, in response to an invitation by The Dalai Lama to Keating. Hesse has given numerous international and interfaith presentations, retreats and courses on contemplative prayer and Faith and Science, having degrees in both. He teaches a graduate course on faith and science and is available for live or Zoom interviews, presentations and interfaith and science seminars. PANELISTS Anne Carolyn Klein/Rigzin Drolma, is Professor and a former Chair of the Department of Religion, Rice University, where she helped developed a contemplative studies concentration for graduate students. Co-founder of the Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhism. She is a Lama in the Nyingma (ancient) Buddhist tradition. Elias Bongmba - Harry & Hazel Chavanne Chair in Christian Theology; Professor of Religion, Faculty Assoc. Wiess College; Department Chair, Religion. Elias Kifon Bongmba combines his teaching of African religions and his research in theology and philosophy of religion working with African philosophical ideas and Continental philosophy. He is author of four books, three edited books, and has authored 60 peer reviewed essays and book chapters. Cyrus Wirls has served as ISH’s Director of Programs since 2015. In this role, Cyrus interfaces with clinicians, faith leaders, scholars, practitioners, and spiritual seekers to design educational and experiential programs around the many intersections of spirituality and health. Joshua Duffy started his career in ministry in 2006 as the Director of Student Ministries at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas. In 2011, he and his wife Mallory moved to St. Louis where he attended Concordia Seminary to become a pastor. During their time in St. Louis, they were trained in the Malagasy (Madagascar) Lutheran Church Rite of Exorcism. This particular training and subsequent experiences from 2012 to the present, have proven to be useful, necessary and needed in his ministry current context. Upon graduating from Concordia Seminary in 2015, they accepted a Call to Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas as the Senior Pastor.