People in White Sheets

[juvenissun]

On May 24th, my Grandmother passed away after about three weeks of kidney failure. She was 87 and a wonderful, wonderful human being. Three weeks prior to her death we were informed that she had six hours to live due to the kidney failure, however, a 1/1000 chance medication did cause her kidneys to function at a tremendously low level allowing her three more weeks of life.

Upon her regaining consciousness from the last ditch medication, she informed my cousin that she saw people in white sheets in her room. Now my grandmother had dementia, and had lost the mental capacity for creative hallucinations such as this. My cousin, who is not religious just like me, asked her if she saw "pappaw" with the people. She replied, "No, I'm the only one with white hair." My cousin asked, "Are you going to go with them?" My grandmother replied, "No, I think I'm going to stay here a little longer." She then went back to sleep.

This experience has caused me to reflect more on the afterlife. Whereas I thought it possible before, I now see it as more likely than not. This hasn't changed my position on Christianity, but it has caused me to reflect more on what lies beyond the veil. Is it quantum archaeology, the result of our universe being simulated, a traditionally accepted afterlife with a personal being? I don't know, and none of you do either. But I wanted to share this with all of you -- me being a deist, I think this anecdote is more trustworthy. This is is not satire, parody, etc... this truly happened. It made the passing less difficult for sure. I guess I'll just have to trust the mysterious people in "white sheets" to care for my loved ones until we begin to understand it better.

Best regards, BL

This is serious and do not just stop there. Once you start to "believe" the life after death, then there MUST BE many questions that naturally follow. These questions are not hard to ask, and I am sure you can come up with a few to start. If you start to search for the possible answers, then you advanced from being deistic to religious.

Thanks for sharing the experience. It is encouraging.

 

[Ana the Ist]

It could be. Just given her specific conditions, it's less likely than other answers. I think sometimes we let our biases tell us what the most likely answer is: in this case a complete skeptic such as myself, fully aware of the situation, had to step back and rethink my position. You have to consider, I have years of experience with this lady that I can't fully convey in short posts or even long posts. Her statement caused a person who you have ask watched be highly skeptical take a step back. And previously I was fine with the idea of no afterlife (still am if that's the case).

I think it's okay to ponder the idea of an afterlife. I certainly don't view it as religious. Perhaps 20,000 years from now we gain the ability to resurrect the dead through the manipulation of space and time. Perhaps the universe is simulated and consciousness in some form continues on. Perhaps not.

Ana, I think this answers what you have asked as well. I just wanted to share. Perhaps we rationalists should take another look at qualia and consider that we don't know enough about it yet to declare it's constraints. I look forward to the future and learning much more about ourselves and the cosmos. =)

Well then, you have my condolences. I'm sure she was loved.

 

[juvenissun]

Well, given that I find the Bible to be lacking in many areas, I doubt that is true. That said, maybe there's a more beautiful truth out there. =)

No. The Bible provides answer to ANY of the question you ever possibly have.
Try one.

 

[juvenissun]

It could be. Just given her specific conditions, it's less likely than other answers. I think sometimes we let our biases tell us what the most likely answer is: in this case a complete skeptic such as myself, fully aware of the situation, had to step back and rethink my position. You have to consider, I have years of experience with this lady that I can't fully convey in short posts or even long posts. Her statement caused a person who you have ask watched be highly skeptical take a step back. And previously I was fine with the idea of no afterlife (still am if that's the case).

I think it's okay to ponder the idea of an afterlife. I certainly don't view it as religious. Perhaps 20,000 years from now we gain the ability to resurrect the dead through the manipulation of space and time. Perhaps the universe is simulated and consciousness in some form continues on. Perhaps not.

Ana, I think this answers what you have asked as well. I just wanted to share. Perhaps we rationalists should take another look at qualia and consider that we don't know enough about it yet to declare it's constraints. I look forward to the future and learning much more about ourselves and the cosmos. =)

Who said dying people has no power and has no purpose? She was so powerful that she made you pause and think seriously. Pray for her.

 

[Paradoxum]

It could be. Just given her specific conditions, it's less likely than other answers.

Well why? I suspect that hallucination is possible for anyone who has experiences. Hallucinations are pretty much just fake experiences. So if you are capable of one, you are probably capable of the other.

I think sometimes we let our biases tell us what the most likely answer is: in this case a complete skeptic such as myself, fully aware of the situation, had to step back and rethink my position. You have to consider, I have years of experience with this lady that I can't fully convey in short posts or even long posts. Her statement caused a person who you have ask watched be highly skeptical take a step back. And previously I was fine with the idea of no afterlife (still am if that's the case).

I'm not going to believe you just because you say you're skeptical. No offence.

Why don't you think it's a dream or hallucination? We know those things happen.

I think it's okay to ponder the idea of an afterlife. I certainly don't view it as religious. Perhaps 20,000 years from now we gain the ability to resurrect the dead through the manipulation of space and time. Perhaps the universe is simulated and consciousness in some form continues on. Perhaps not.

Maybe, but I see no reason to believe in an afterlife just because someone had a vision. 'Dreams' are pretty common.

 

[Crandaddy]

My paternal grandfather had a brother who, as just a young boy, fell into a fire and was severely burned. Shortly before he died a few days later, he supposedly claimed that he saw "angels" surrounding his bed, which no one else could see.

Was he just hallucinating? Maybe he was, I dunno. It's still interesting...

 

[juvenissun]

My paternal grandfather had a brother who, as just a young boy, fell into a fire and was severely burned. Shortly before he died a few days later, he supposedly claimed that he saw "angels" surrounding his bed, which no one else could see.

Was he just hallucinating? Maybe he was, I dunno. It's still interesting...

How young? Young boy is less likely to make up thing in dying process.

 

[Crandaddy]

How young? Young boy is less likely to make up thing in dying process.

I'm not quite sure, and there's no one I can ask right now. I want to say 6 or 7, but I can't guarantee that's accurate.

 

[juvenissun]

I'm not quite sure, and there's no one I can ask right now. I want to say 6 or 7, but I can't guarantee that's accurate.

That is good enough.

 

[bhsmte]

On May 24th, my Grandmother passed away after about three weeks of kidney failure. She was 87 and a wonderful, wonderful human being. Three weeks prior to her death we were informed that she had six hours to live due to the kidney failure, however, a 1/1000 chance medication did cause her kidneys to function at a tremendously low level allowing her three more weeks of life.

Upon her regaining consciousness from the last ditch medication, she informed my cousin that she saw people in white sheets in her room. Now my grandmother had dementia, and had lost the mental capacity for creative hallucinations such as this. My cousin, who is not religious just like me, asked her if she saw "pappaw" with the people. She replied, "No, I'm the only one with white hair." My cousin asked, "Are you going to go with them?" My grandmother replied, "No, I think I'm going to stay here a little longer." She then went back to sleep.

This experience has caused me to reflect more on the afterlife. Whereas I thought it possible before, I now see it as more likely than not. This hasn't changed my position on Christianity, but it has caused me to reflect more on what lies beyond the veil. Is it quantum archaeology, the result of our universe being simulated, a traditionally accepted afterlife with a personal being? I don't know, and none of you do either. But I wanted to share this with all of you -- me being a deist, I think this anecdote is more trustworthy. This is is not satire, parody, etc... this truly happened. It made the passing less difficult for sure. I guess I'll just have to trust the mysterious people in "white sheets" to care for my loved ones until we begin to understand it better.

Best regards, BL

Sorry to hear about your grandmother.

It is quite common during the dying process, for one to experience hallucinations and there is a natural explanation for the same.

 

[RhaegarTargaryen]

snip

Actually, I think that what is more likely, is that it was your grandmother's brain beginning to shut down.
I do not rely on such experiences (my own or anyone else's) to believe that there is something after death. I actually tend more towards the "sleep"-theory: That those who die, are gone until the last day where God shall raise everyone from the dead.

Sorry for your loss. I know exactly how you feel.