Culture and Near-Death Experiences

People who have near-death experiences often report a similar set of symptoms: they levitate above their body while being slowly pulled towards a bright white light. Nevertheless, the details of this experience - the particular afterlife that lies beyond the light - reveal a tremendous amount about the culture you exist in. From the Mental Floss Blog:

Many Africans interpret near-death experiences as somewhat evil, a bad omen or a sign that they were somehow "bewitched."

Among 400 Japanese NDErs that participated in a study, many reported seeing long, dark rivers and beautiful flowers, two common symbols that frequently appear as images in Japanese art.

East Indians sometimes see Heaven as a giant bureaucracy, and frequently report being sent back because of clerical errors.

Americans and Brits often say they are sent back for love or in order to perform a job or task.

Natives of Micronesia often visualize Heaven as a large, brightly lit American city with loud, noisy cars and tall buildings.

One assumes that the East Indians excluded from Heaven because of a clerical error could always bribe the gatekeeper.