KHARON

Thanatology Review

Electronic Journal

Content

Volume 24

Number 4 · 2020

Short article


 ÁGOTA VINCZEFFY
ÁGOTA VINCZEFFY

fordító,
hospice-önkéntes - László Hospice,
szociális asszisztens - Nyírő Gyula OPAI

nemcsak.anna.35@gmail.com

Consciousness Beyond Life? Near-Death Experiences and Consciousness Phenomena as Interpreted by Pim van Lommel

Abstract · This review of the book Consciousness Beyond Life. The Science of the Near-Death Experience by Dutch cardiologist and NDE-researcher Pim van Lommel describes the phenomenon of near-death experiences, their typical elements and common consequences. It touches upon international retrospective NDE research and presents in more detail the Dutch NDE research of 1988-1996.In the latter a prospective research method was used recording all medical data of 344 patients with a cardiac arrest. After they regained consciousness, 62 patiens reported an NDE, recorded in each case. The study was repeated 2 and 8 years later, whereby the long-term consequences of NDE were examined. Beyond NDE’s, the main focus of the book is the relationship between the human brain and consciousness. Based on various consciousness phenomena including NDE’s, Van Lommel comes to the conclusion that human consciousness is not produced by the brain, and supports this theory of nonlocality based on parallels from quantum physics.He also examines the practical everyday relevance of his theory and calls for more openness and awareness raising in health care to faciliate a better integration of the NDE. Van Lommel’s work is a milestone in our attitude to our functioning as humans and to death, and should be considered for a more comprehensive understanding of ourselves and the vital issues of human existence.

 BETTINA BENCE
BETTINA BENCE

Kurátor és művészeti szervező

bettiinabence@gmail.com

Memento mori photo exhibition by Noémi Szécsi

Abstract · Noémi Szécsi's project revolves around the concept of death: it focuses on why we deny so much and interpret the idea of passing, experiencing and processing loss in a negative way. The weakening of religion, the development of medicine, and pop culture have all influenced the relationship between man and death, these may be the formative causes of this behaviour. On the other hand, however, death gives meaning to our earthly existence. At the heart of Noémi Szécsi’s work, Memento mori, there are the workers of the death industry. They encounter this concept every day in the course of their work, in which the seriousness of the subject and absurd humour are present at the same time. This ambivalent mood is also reflected in the photo series.