Short answer: No — religious people are not more likely to have near-death experiences (NDEs). But religion can influence how the experience is interpreted afterward.
Here’s what research generally finds:
1. Prior religiosity doesn’t predict who has an NDE.
Studies summarized in the Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality report that NDEs occur in about 10–20% of people who come close to death, and their incidence and features are not influenced by prior religious beliefs.
An older clinical study also found no relationship between religious orientation before the event and the depth of the NDE, though people often became more religious afterward.
2. Non-religious people have them too (at similar rates).
Cross-cultural research notes NDEs occur across religions, cultures, and even among non-religious individuals, suggesting they’re not tied to belief.
3. What religion does affect is interpretation.
People often describe imagery consistent with their background (e.g., light, ancestors, Jesus, karma), but the core experience is similar; beliefs shape the story afterward.
4. After an NDE, people often become more spiritual (not necessarily more religious).
Many report increased spirituality, compassion, and reduced fear of death — but not necessarily joining organized religion.
Bottom line:
- Religious people ≠ more likely to have NDEs
- Beliefs ≠ cause of NDEs
- But NDEs often increase spirituality afterward
- And beliefs shape the narrative, not the occurrence
If you’re asking because of something specific (e.g., Sam Harris discussions, Grant Brissett style arguments, or whether NDEs support religion), I can address that angle too.
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