"I Thought: Lord, Here Am I – And Wanted to Face the Judgement" | Werner Barz' Near-Death Experience
What Researchers Found
The Story
Werner Barz, a Bavarian master roofer and company owner, had a near-death experience in 1986 during a holiday in Italy. He suffered from a high fever of 40 degrees, later diagnosed as severe hepatitis. While driving home, he collapsed in the car, stopped breathing, and fell out near a petrol station. A diving instructor resuscitated him. During the NDE, Barz expected God's judgment and thought, 'Jesus, here I am.' Instead, a curtain lifted like a spotlight, bringing security and vastness. He felt omniscient knowledge with no sense of time. His awareness expanded beyond Earth, the solar system, the universe, and further into boundlessness, which frightened him. He then returned and woke in the ambulance, knowing the instructor's name without being told. After the NDE, Barz transformed from an authoritative boss to a humble, empathetic person. He built trusting relationships with employees and clients, leading to business success. He explored religions, seeing them as one with love at the core. Despite family strain causing divorce, he found purpose in leading an NDE self-help group and counseling, facing death with serenity.
“He addressed me like that and I was afraid he was going to send me home again. And then he said, “Go to your room.””
The account features one veridical claim of knowing a rescuer's first name without it being verbally shared, confirmed by the rescuer's puzzled reaction during resuscitation; however, ordinary sensory access (e.g., overhearing) was potentially possible, no report timing is provided, and absence of additional corroborated perceptions or detailed OBE elements limits overall evidential strength.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.
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What Researchers Found
The account features one veridical claim of knowing a rescuer's first name without it being verbally shared, confirmed by the rescuer's puzzled reaction during resuscitation; however, ordinary sensory access (e.g., overhearing) was potentially possible, no report timing is provided, and absence of additional corroborated perceptions or detailed OBE elements limits overall evidential strength.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.