Near-death experiences are very common today and have been throughout history. We hear common phrases like “my life flashed before my eyes” and “do not enter the light,” in movies, books, and stories. Hollywood films like the 1990s film Flatliners and the 1983 film Brainstorm bring to light some truths behind near-death experiences in a fun way. What are near-death experiences? Near-death experiences are phenomena that are experienced in a state of death or near-death. These experiences baffle the minds of scientists, even in today's society. This must be attributed to the fact that it is not fully understood even by our medical advances. It is also a complicated topic that brings with it the never-ending battle between science and religion. This article, written specifically to bring to light the effect of near-death experiences on individuals, also delves into the history, fields of study, theories and all related controversies. Understanding near-death experiences normally leads to the debate between science and religion. Science provides many theories about how near-death experiences occur. On the other hand, religious people believe that near-death experiences are proof of the afterlife and proof that the human mind, also known as the soul, can exist without the functioning of the human body. Both present notable arguments for why one is right, but both are, to put it plainly, hypotheses. Until more studies are done on near-death experiences and technological advances in the field of study, it will be safe to say that this debate will most likely have no winners. Rather than take the easy way out and present both sides of the story, and declare a stalemate, I decided to consider another yes... middle of paper... auditory death experience as a compensatory gift. Journal of Near-DeathStudies, 10(1), 11-39. doi:10.1007/BF01073294Ring, K., & Rosing, C. J. (1990). The Omega Project: An Empirical Study of the NDE-Prone Personality. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 8(4), 211-239. doi: 10.1007/BF01074276 Ritchie, G. G., & Sherrill, E. (1978). I'll be back tomorrow. Old Tappan, NJ: F.H. Revell.Sutherland, C. (1995). Children of Light: The Near-Death Experiences of Children. Sydney, Australia: Bantam Books. van Lommel, P. (2010). Consciousness beyond life: The science of near-death experience. New York, NY: Harper Collins.Waxman B., The Aftereffects of Near-Death Experience and Communications Perceived During Near-Death Experiences. After Effects of near-death experiences and more. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/2640195/Aftereffects_of_Near-Death_Experiences