People who have near-death experiences often report encounters with spiritual beings. But are these beings similar to the Holy Spirit described in the Bible? German researcher Thomas Fuhrmann compared Christian texts with testimonies given by individuals who survived clinical death. He identified five points of convergence: personal encounters, the expression of unconditional divine love, the transmission of profound knowledge, guidance and support in life, and spiritual rebirth.
The author emphasizes that both the Holy Spirit in Christianity and the beings encountered in near-death experiences are perceived as persons (as opposed to abstract energies). Survivors of comas describe these entities as sources of boundless love, which aligns with biblical teachings. Moreover, spiritual beings reveal hidden truths about life and help people understand the meaning of life, echoing the role of the Holy Spirit in enlightenment and guidance.
The article pays special attention to the fact that both the Holy Spirit and “otherworldly” beings offer support during difficult moments, provide direction, and are even capable of healing, as cases of miraculous recoveries after near-death experiences have been documented. Such “journeys” often lead to profound inner change and spiritual renewal (here, the author draws a parallel with Jesus’s teaching about the need to be “born again” through the Holy Spirit).
It’s worth noting that in one REMspace experiment, a group of lucid dreamers intentionally induced a classic near-death scenario—a flight through a tunnel toward the light—while in a lucid dream (another phase state). So, these parallels may not be surprising. Perhaps at the edge of death, people see exactly the visions they expect to see.
Have you heard near-death stories that describe the afterlife in non-Christian terms?
The article was published in May 2025 in the European Journal of Theology and Philosophy.
Get all the latest news about lucid dreams via our channels on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter
