According to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, near-death experiences ______.

• A. Are experiences that occur only in non-terminal patients
• B. Do not provide conclusive evidence of the existence of an afterlife
• C. Provide conclusive evidence of the existence of an afterlife
• D. Are purely physiological phenomena

Answer: (C)

Near-death experiences, for Kübler-Ross, are more than unusual brain events; they are vivid, meaningful experiences reported as people approach death that suggest continuity of consciousness beyond physical life. She viewed these experiences as evidence pointing toward the existence of an afterlife, and she emphasized their transformative impact on how people understand death. That perspective is why describing near-death experiences as providing conclusive evidence of an afterlife best captures her stance.

The idea that they occur only in non-terminal patients isn’t consistent with her view, since NDEs are reported in various contexts of dying or danger, not restricted to those who are not terminal. Saying they are purely physiological ignores the significant spiritual and existential dimensions she highlighted. And arguing they do not provide evidence at all contradicts her emphasis on their meaningful, life-altering implications regarding what death may mean.