Talk 01: Near-Death and Out-of-Body Experiences

In almost any bookstore or library, as well as online and on television, one can find numerous accounts of “near-death experiences”—first-hand experiences of people who have died or nearly died and then returned to life. Such people often describe meeting a “being of light” that is non-judgemental and full of love, as well as many other pleasant encounters and sensations. These accounts have greatly influenced public opinion on matters relating to death and the afterlife, even among many Orthodox Christians.

In this talk, Father Kosmas discusses how many people today feel that this new teaching offers a more enlightened and humane attitude towards death and dying. He describes how these accounts are even promoted as a helpful way to prepare the dying for the transition from this life to the next. It is claimed that these accounts remove the ...