S2 #64 / Dr Gregory Shushan on Near-Death Experience in Ancient Civilizations

In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by Dr. Gregory Shushan, a pioneering researcher on near-death experiences (NDEs). He has spent over 25 years studying historical accounts of NDEs, uncovering their profound influence on religious beliefs, mythologies, and cultural understandings of the afterlife. His research, as explored in his book Near-Death Experiences in the Ancient Civilisations; The Origins of the Worlds Afterlife Beliefs, reveals striking parallels between modern NDEs and accounts from historical cultures, shedding light on how early societies interpreted these extraordinary events.

In the show we explore what ancient texts reveal about encounters with the dead, the journey of the soul, and how different civilisations—from Egypt and Mesopotamia to India and Mesoamerica—understood these experiences. Gregory shares fascinating insights into how NDEs may have shaped early ideas of judgment, reincarnation, and the soul’s transition into the next world. His work also investigates the connections between NDEs, shamanism, initiation rites, and visions of the Otherworld, questioning whether these universal phenomena influenced the development of religious traditions across cultures.

Show Notes:

Dr Shushan's Website https://www.gregoryshushan.com
Get the book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Near-Death-E...

Near-Death Experience in Ancient Cultures

Rebel Spirit Podcast

In this episode, I'm joined by author and scholar Dr. Gregory Shushan to delve into the fascinating world of near-death experiences (NDEs) and their influence on afterlife beliefs across various ancient civilizations. Dr. Shushan, an esteemed scholar affiliated with several universities and an award-winning author, discusses his latest book, Near Death Experience in Ancient Civilizations. The conversation covers intriguing insights from cultures such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, and Mesoamerica, and explores how NDEs may have shaped religious thought and afterlife imagery. Dr. Shushan provides a unique perspective on near-death experiences, shamanic visions, and their cultural implications, making a compelling case for why these phenomena deserve more attention in the academic study of religions.