Some commenters, on the two threads on Near-Death Experiences, have mentioned Eben Alexander and how good his book is etc. Firstly, they need to read the robust repsonses:
Sam Harris – This must be heaven
Why Evolution is True – Eben Alexander’s bogus trip to heaven
The Wire / The Atlantic – The ‘Proof of Heaven’ Author Has Now Been Thoroughly Debunked by Science
Daily Mail – ‘Proof of Heaven’ doctor faced a $3million malpractice lawsuit when he fell into a coma
which has the subheadings –
- Dr Eben Alexander was tied for the highest number of medical malpractice suits at the time that he fell into a coma following an E. coli infection
- He wrote a book in 2012 about his experience ‘seeing the other side’
- He touted the book as the work of a neurosurgeon, but he hadn’t practiced surgery- let alone neurosurgery- for four years prior to the publication
I am thinking that Eben Alexander’s case is on pretty damned shaky ground.
Aside from that, here is a debate Eben Alexander and debating partner had against the superb Sean Carroll and Steve Novella:
See Steve Novella’s write up of the debate here.