Salem/Independence (Oregon) IANDS in the News

Here is an interesting article about the Salem/Independence Friends of IANDS group.

What's especially interesting is that this appears in a mainstream (albeit small) newspaper.

Since the newspaper that published it has removed the article from easy linking, I'll provide it here:

Group offers support
Story by: Erin Zysett
Date Published to Web: 10/5/2005

INDEPENDENCE -- Statistics show that the number of Americans who believe in some sort of afterlife is between 75 and 80 percent.

It is estimated that more than eight million people in this country claim to have had a near-neath experience (NDE) in which they claim to have seen "the other side."

Ron Parks of Independence is one of those believers. He doesn't claim an NDE himself, but he does head the local chapter of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS).

Once a month Parks facilitates a discussion/support group for people who have had a near-death experiences or are interested in them.

Many of the people he talks to, or has read about, have trouble readjusting to earthly life after brushing shoulders with the afterlife.

"These are life-changing experiences, and ones that are intensely personal to the people who have them," Parks said.

"They quickly find that they have to be very careful about who they share their experiences with. People sometimes wonder if they are "crazy" or just imagining things ... you can imagine having this profound experience and nobody wants to talk to you about it ... your family is -- understandably -- scared. They don't want to talk about when you nearly died," he said.

According to Parks, IANDS and FOI (Friends of IANDS) were created in 1978 to provide sources of information for people interested in NDEs.

The organization also provides forum where people can discuss their experiences without fear of ridicule or other negative reactions.

Parks stresses that "IANDS is not a religious organization, in any sense of the word, although it is definitely a "spiritual" organization because many people consider the experiences as a proof of the survival of the spirit and the existence of an afterlife."

The idea that something exists beyond this life is appealing. It makes coping with the death of loved ones and our own mortality much easier.

Researcher Dean H. Hamer argues in his book, "The God Gene," that humans are hard-wired to believe in something bigger and wiser than themselves. Something spiritual.

"Spirituality is one of our basic human inheritances. It is, in fact, an instinct," Hamer said.

"A lot of people try to discredit NDEs by asking "why aren't they all the same?' Well, it's not like going to Toledo. Yyou're dealing with the spiritual realm," Parks said.

Two main types of NDEs are reported: pleasurable NDEs and distressing NDEs. Pleasurable episodes comprise the majority or experiences with "Being of Light," "Long Tunnel," and reunions with deceased loved ones being common themes.

A small percentage of experiencers report black voids, hellfire and the devil.

It is interesting to note that many fundamentalist and orthodox Christians are alarmed at the increasing number of people who believe in NDEs -- not because of their implications of an afterlife, but because of the high number of people who claim to have had positive NDEs who have never been "saved."

Many Christians believe that these NDEs are quite real, but originate, not from God, but from the devil.

David Ritchie, an orthodox theologian, wrote in an article for "Orthodox Life: "New Agers presume that the 'being of light' is God, or Christ, or perhaps a holy angel. The orthodox Christian ... must reach just the opposite conclusion. Enlightened by both Scripture and the Patristic writings, orthodox Christians can attribute many commonly reported NDE elements only to the deceits of the devil, who is perfectly capable of appearing as an angel of light when it suits his purpose to do so (II Corinthians 11:14; Galatians 1:8)."

People who promote and believe in the life-affirming quality of near-death experiences argue that the orthodox view of judgment and hellfire is incorrect.

"What the religious traditions of the world perceive to be 'sins,' NDE testimonies reveal to be 'mistakes' which God allows humans to make for the purposes of their higher education and spiritual evolution," Kevin Williams, an NDE researcher and believer said.

Parks doesn't get into the theological debate. He has one rule for his group: respect. He said he realizes many people don't agree with his view of the afterlife, and he can respect that. He simply asks for the same courtesy.

"We don't promote any one theological ideal here. We just create a safe place for people to discuss these ideas," Parks said.

The Independence IANDS group meets on the second Sunday of each month.

For more Information: www.iands.org, or Ron Parks at 503-838-3436 or FOISalem@aol.com.