The Phenomenology of Iranian Near-Death Experiences

Summary

Accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs) from seventeen Iranian Shia Muslims show both similarities and differences compared to Western NDE narratives. The thematic analysis reveals that while core elements such as out-of-body sensations, meeting deceased relatives, and a life review appear across cultures, the Iranian accounts uniquely incorporate Islamic religious imagery, including encounters with figures like Imam Ali and descriptions of heaven and hell aligned with Shia eschatology. These findings suggest that cultural and religious background shapes the content and interpretation of NDEs, indicating that the experience is not universal in its details but is filtered through the experiencer's worldview.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Article describing the findings regarding thematic analysis of seventeen near-death experience accounts provided by Iranian Shia Muslims to determine how these experiences overlap or diverge from accounts given by experiencers from Western cultures.