Howard Storm: My Descent Into Death
What Researchers Found
The Story
Howard Storm was an atheist art professor at Northern Kentucky University. In June 1985, he suffered a duodenal perforation during a trip to Paris and passed out in the hospital while awaiting surgery. During his NDE, Storm left his body and felt more alive with heightened senses. He followed beings he thought were hospital staff into a gray hallway that led to darkness after a long walk. The beings turned hostile, attacked him physically and emotionally, causing great pain. A voice told him to pray to God. As an atheist, he recited patriotic lines and then parts of the 23rd Psalm and Lord's Prayer, which drove the beings away. He reflected on his selfish life and called out to Jesus from childhood memories. Jesus appeared as brilliant light, healed his wounds, held him in love, and took him to heaven. There, Jesus showed him a vast place with all good things, loving people, and God at the center. After the NDE, Storm joined the church, entered seminary, became an ordained pastor, served a church for 13 years, and continues as a pastor, artist, and author.
“the true love of god and the true love so do you think if and i think i believe”
This NDE transcript contains no veridical perception claims of real-world events during unconsciousness, focusing instead on otherworldly encounters with beings and Jesus. The absence of any specific, verifiable physical details or confirmations severely limits evidential strength, despite a medically serious condition.
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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These accounts were gathered because death may not be the end. Thousands of people have experienced something beyond — and come back to tell us about it.
What Researchers Found
This NDE transcript contains no veridical perception claims of real-world events during unconsciousness, focusing instead on otherworldly encounters with beings and Jesus. The absence of any specific, verifiable physical details or confirmations severely limits evidential strength, despite a medically serious condition.
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.