Chapter 8 "Seeing a Place" Summary and Analysis

Many dying people speak of a place, which is not visible to anyone else. They often describe this place as their immediate destination. Usually they describe the place as beautiful or lovely. Often it is a place full of bright, white light. When asked for additional details most dying people will be unable to comply—they might try to describe it further but will usually be unable so to do. For example, one dying person was surrounded by a supportive but agnostic family when he reported seeing a distant but bright and inviting light. Such descriptions seem universally similar and are often interpreted by survivors as conformant with personal religious belief systems. The authors suggest that the dying person's description of such a place beyond death is, ultimately, perceived as their final...