Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a dramatic and sustained response to decades of research into near-death experiences (NDEs) - the first to credibly bridge the gap between the competing factions of science and spirituality.

Resuscitated in the OR, struck by lightning, rescued at sea - people snatched from the jaws of death from around the world tell remarkably similar stories. Many feel outside their bodies, sense a powerful "being of light," journey to a heavenly (or hellish) realm, undergo life review, and then are pulled almost cruelly back to earth. Dramatic and scholarly, "Religion, Spirituality and the Near Death Experience" is the first book to bridge the gap between science and spirituality in the study of death. Placing the latest research from psychology, sociology, and neuroscience within the framework of current philosophy and theology, Fox reveals what the hard evidence can tell us about God, the afterlife, and the meaning of human existence. Drawing on nearly 100 never-before-published near-death accounts, Fox rigorously reviews the claim that a "common core" of experience exists across cultures, assessing what this means for varying religious traditions. He also scrupulously examines the fantastic claims made by some returnees, such as the congenitally blind who at the brink of death were able to see. Neither a religious argument touting near-death experiences as proof of God nor a scientific treatise that tries to explain them away, "Religion, Spirituality and the Near Death Experience" thoughtfully integrates theological theory with scientific evidence in a fascinating work that will captivate skeptics and believers alike.

'Fascinating, the analysis/explanation, drawing on cognate research into religious and mystical experiences, is of a sophisticated order clear, lucid, engaging and to the point. Highly recommended!' - Paul Heelas, Lancaster University'Encyclopedia and scholarly; it pushes the boundaries further than any work on this topic in the last few years. There hasn't been anything quite like this for a long while.' - Allan Kellahear, La Trobe University, Australia"A fascinating overivew ... extremely illuminating for those interested in the question of NDEs ... the value of this work is in bringing together a range of different perspectives." - Jeremy Carrette, University of Stirling"The most exciting study of NDE's that I have seen in 10 years." - Allan Kellehear, La Trobe University, Melbourne'Research into NDEs constitutes a fascinating and fast-growing field. In Religion, Spirituality and the Near-Death Experience, Mark Fox has admirably brought together a mass of this research carried out over the past thirty years ... This he presents in a clear and unbiased fashion, leaving the reader to make up their own minds on the issues.' - Russell Stannard, Times Literary Supplement'Mark Fox ... has written the most sensible, accessible and helpful books so far on near-death experience' - Rt Revd David Atkinson, Church Times'In Religion, [Mark Fox] attempts to connect the latest research in near-death experiences to philosophical musings. His efforts yields plenty of compelling first-person yarns, culled from more than 100 survivors.' - Psychology Today'His treatment is a model of interdisciplinary investigation, mapping out evidence coherently and even-handedly ...' - Milltown Studies'Religion, SPirituality and the Near-Death EXperience is the most sophisticated philosophical and theological analysis of NDE to appear to date.' - Network 'In short, Religion, Spirituality and the Near-Death Experience provides an excellent introduction and overview of research on near-death experiences, with a special emphasis on the religious implications thereof.' - Studies in Religion '[Fox] has written a comprehensive guide to a subject which has been growing over the last twenty-five years ... a welcome standby for serious students of the subject.' - Christian Parapsychologist