Is There Life After Death? | Episode 201 | Closer To Truth

Do we survive bodily death? Can our personal awareness transcend physical decay? There are no bigger questions and there are no shortages of answers. Some claim to have evidence. Featuring interviews with Stephen Braude, Michael Tooley, J.P. Moreland, Nancey Murphy, David Shatz, and Hsing Yun.

Season 2, Episode 1 - #CloserToTruth

Closer To Truth host Robert Lawrence Kuhn takes viewers on an intriguing global journey into cutting-edge labs, magnificent libraries, hidden gardens, and revered sanctuaries in order to discover state-of-the-art ideas and make them real and relevant.

Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[gunnargunnarmandeln]

My mother passed away six years ago at the general hospital in my hometown Gothenburg Sweden. I got a phonecall from the hospital that I have to hurry up if I wanted to say goodbye to her, when I got there she already had passed away. So I stayed in the room for an hour or so and then I took the elevator down to the ground floor where there were no people in that long corridor. suddenly a white light turned up about ten meters up to my right it was the size of a golfball and it came towards me, when it touched my right shoulder I could actually feel some weight. I instantly turned around and I could see it fade away. I felt like it was my mother wanted to say Im fine...

[missfriscowin]

When my son was 3 he described exactly what happened the day he was born, he described the very distinct chair his father was sitting in, I was asleep, he said he looked down and said yes, that’s my mom and dad, and my husband says I woke up and began to push and the dr barely got in the room to catch him coming out. He told me that story twice. I can never forget this close to the truth. 🙏.

[FergieFerg]

I don’t know who this will help but this is some food for thought: My grandfather passed away last year and I never got to say goodbye to him. We’d always talk about family history at the diner (he gave me an old scrapbook in the event he passed). A few months after he died I dreamt that I was with him in a diner, and he had the scrapbook and told me to open it because “I left something for you.” When I woke up I opened it and found a hidden letter from him, at the bottom it said my name. I sent this to all my family. To this day, I wonder “Was it really Grandpa?” I choose to believe it was.

[sonyavincent]

I had a profound visit from my late husband when I was away staying in a motel with my best friend to mark the one year anniversary of his passing. It was comforting and wonderful. His energy was powerful and sort of triumphant. Basically, look what I can do!

[seascape]

Kudos to Lawrence for the respectful demeanor he has for everyone he interviews.

[aperson]

I really like how simple yet profound the questions that make up the titles of the episodes are.

[kahome]

I have a story when i was 7 years old. When my grandfather died he visited me in my dream. I saw him cutting woods. He was wearing white clothes. We talked but i dont remember exactly what we did talked about. I do remember him leaving and asked if i can go with him. He then told me its not my time yet. As im older now i still remember that dream. It stucked with me. Im an atheist but i still do think there is something after death.

[THECOMPANY]

In 2003, I was comatosed for several weeks. I was only on life support then. Haven't seen any white lights, angels nor demons. Nothing. But it was such a moment that I realized that death is something that is not to be feared, it is something that we must embrace.

[chrisgarret]

Most interesting theory I have heard is that the brain is simply an antenna for consciousness. That also explains any brain injury, disease or condition that impacts people. This theory holds that it’s the same for all animals and their more limited brains result in a more limited consciousness.

[jessedavid]

I held my 84yo Dad as he was dying. Suddenly his eyes opened and they had turned brilliant sky blue!!! He pointed weakly at something past me in cnr of room then exhaled and was gone, his eyes returned to faded instantly.

[jessedavid]

My 2 yo son accompanied me to visit my mum's grave. I sat quietly crying, he waddled over to me and put his arm around my shoulder and gazed at the grave with me, strangely mature, he said " it's ok, it's ok, my 7 people died, it's ok" 😲

[hazardousmaterials]

Robert says a few times that people would want to live forever. Not me. I feel joy that my body will die, and my existence will end then. I feel a certain bond with every other living thing throughout creation, with my being and ending. From each star in the sky, to every microbe, to a little lizard climbing the trees in the Triassic - I’m a temporary part of creation. I’ve had an okay existence; I don’t need to hold onto it.

[davidjohnston]

NDEs: there are vivid NDEs of experiences in and around hospitals, conversations of relatives several rooms away from the OR, things spoken by surgeons, 360 degree spherical visual field with a perspective outside the body, and in some cases while the brain is under the influence of ANESTHESIA! The point is that there usually is NO recollection of ANY experiences while the brain is anesthetized - no experience or dreaming, no recollection of time passing, is the norm. You’re out and back. So, how do you explain the NDE experiencer’s recollection of time and validated experiences early in the NDE if the brain is anesthetized? What is the origin of vision and hearing perception, and awareness of weightlessness? Where is the memory for these experiences stored if the brain biology is shut down?
*
In Brain injury, there is indeed loss of components of function, BUT, these are losses of either the perceptual apparatus that takes in our 3D material world, or, the loss of neural areas responsible for motor movements, including speech. If the brain is like a computer, it has certain processing centers that function like subroutines or macros for such things as walking, breathing, reflex motor responses, chewing, speaking, etc., all related to the material machinery of the body. Volition to make a movement or speak or walk, for example, does not originate in the brain - brain center damages removing the ability to express volition does not destroy volition. It would be wrong to think that the lack of ability to speak what is on one’s mind, due to damage to the Brocca’s area, means that the mind and volition to speak is now absent. Many patients in comatose conditions who recover report that they still sensed their existence and even heard the conversations of relatives who visited their hospital bed, even though they could not speak or move.
*
Another example: consider the amputee who can feel a phantom limb and desires to move it - the volition is there but not the motor mechanism of muscles. Even if stimulating certain neuronal regions in the brain can produce certain experiences of sensation (colors, emotions, e.g.), this does not account for the occurrence of volition, and such mental mindful things, like planning one’s future or selection of various options or activities to participate in (as in writing a comment on YT, e.g.). The brain material is not likely to initiate any optional higher level activity through spontaneous neuronal activity. However, involuntary motor movements can occur in such abnormalities as Tourette’s Syndrome and various Seizure disorders. Oddly, some part of the person having the seizure or random motor actuation is aware that they are having the movement, but that they did not ask it to occur. That portion of their consciousness remains in a normal state, while the brain circuitry misfires electrical signals - but again this is related to the machinery of the body, while a “soul” in communication with the body remains aware. My point: The inability of the body to express the volitions of the mind, does not cancel the presence of the mind. If the mind is tied exclusively to, emerges strictly from, neuronal sources, it couldn’t initiate the higher functions requiring volition. So, where does volition reside? When I decide to move my arm, what is deciding?
*
As for a Benevolent God should prevent pain and suffering in the world: I think it’s a mistake to believe that if there was a God, that “he” would intervene and remove all sources of pain, even though he could. That is relegating to God what we, in the mind of God, should be responsible to eliminate. We are assigned the task of feeding the world, eliminating hunger, eliminating murder through moral training, seeing to it that peoples basic needs are met to eliminate crime. Believing there is no God because he hasn’t acted to do this is a stretch. In fact, Christians could argue that God has acted to influence us toward our responsibilities for this, through the teachings of Jesus, and through moral laws like the 10 commandments (to include Judaic foundations). The free will argument is applicable here, because love of God and love of neighbor requires it. Humans are permitted “free will” because the very nature of genuine love requires it. God cannot coerce people to love Him or their neighbor, but it surely could make a difference. Genuine Love, by definition, is absent of coercion and must originate in the one expressing love.
*
Atheists have often been bludgeoned in their childhood with messages of guilt from religion and churches. Or, contrarily, have been criticized by their “scientific” peers and colleagues for wandering into “unorthodox beliefs”. This can seem an assault on one’s self-esteem. This repugnance for organized religion develops (and who can blame them), but it would be an over-reaction to completely dismiss other characterizations of God - throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak. Repugnance is an emotional response, not an argument against God based on logical assertions. Ask an atheist if they experience any hint of repugnance. Their foundational arguments can be rationalizations that function to hide the emotion, though they will likely not admit it.
If there are other “spiritual dimensions”, or the existence of the soul, there might possibly be another invisibility we call God. Can’t have either one, because the atheist is repulsed. Or maybe they just prefer to be secure in knowing only that which is physically knowable and testable in materialism, to avoid criticism or speculative thoughts - it’s just a lot less complicated to see a more limited scope of scientifically verified assertions and observations.
*
I also point to the mere complexity of physical organisms and the complex interdependencies of various living things as evidence of a God. Plants and animals gas exchange, DNA molecule and its ability to store the instructions for assembly of a complete human being or other life form, Sexual reproduction - the interdependence and fit of male and female and how this is more advantageous than asexual methods like parthenogenesis. It all seems too complex and statistically improbable to have “evolved” in a synchronous way through random mutations and processes. Thus I believe there is an intelligent designer behind the natural material world. How has matter emerged from, and particles and their properties come to be what they are? It is important to remember that just because you can describe the composition of matter, doesn’t mean you can create it ex-nihilo (from nothing). Only a “Creator” who sets the laws of physics in motion could have done it (intelligent design).
*
In the end, I am a dualist.

[kt]

Robert Lawrence is a superb host..When intrigued by the prospect of an after life, you can see the genuine concern, hope and sincere interest on Roberts face (albeit in a casual manor) when statements are given. Its comforting to know he is as wide eyed interested as his viewers. Smooth & sharp interviewer. His Follow up questions & statements are always spot on. His balance must be appreciated. Kudos to you fine sir!

[MyITRcom]

3 things prove it to me personally, knowing all the people who were important and I was destined to meet, their names were very clear when I was 4., Constantly wondering if I would get it right this time, as if I had done this all before. Having an OBE and meeting my buddy who had died in a car accident, letting him know it was his time to move on to the next world. And then a few weeks later learning about his accident and how it happened, exactly what I saw in the OBE, and just having OBE's, how it seems that we tune into different realities based on frequency, like tuning a radio to a station. And experiencing other bodies that are not of physical form, yet being just as concious or even more concious during these kinds of experiences.

[eftixismeni]

I got a kick out of the atheist guy. Coming from someone who has had a near death experience. This guy is in for a rude awakening. Not only do we exist on a conscious level after our physical death, but any ailments that we are suffering from whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, or all healed in the afterlife. It’s both a blessing, and a curse to have this knowledge, while still alive here, and have people like this guy, close, minded, and unwilling to accept that anything could possibly exist beyond his ability to know.

[bluelotus]

We're so concerned with the afterlife that we forget about the beforelife, even though it is the beforelife that determines our present condition.

[hajnalipo]

Appreciate your work! Interesting questions and high quality content. It would be interesting to know why some of us think that this few moments in time (60-80 years of a lifetime) is all and there was nothing before and will be nothing after. Just look at a baby. Is he looks like it's coming from nowhere and going to nowhere? Is it possible to think that we and everything that surround us exist without any purpose? Every single particle of this creation is shaped based on precise laws and high mathematics. How could anyone believe that all this exist without reason?

[jdc]

If there is some kind of existence after biological death, by definition it would be a different sort of existence. Some different mode of existence, existence on some different plane, or in some different world. What evidence would you expect to find of that while still in our present world?

[josecalvers]

I don’t understand why he dismisses NDEs as evidence so easily.