Atheist Engineer Transformed by Near-Death Experience
Jose Hernandez's near-death experience (NDE) transformed his life in unexpected ways, shifting him from skepticism to spiritual belief.
According to Mail Online, Jose Hernandez, once a staunch atheist, shifted to deep spirituality after a vivid NDE following a critical car accident.
On January 6, 2000, Hernandez's ordinary day as an electrical engineer turned perilous. While he repaired roadside power lines, his colleague, overly focused on electrical safety, accidentally drove their utility truck into a tree.
The collision left Hernandez with multiple injuries, including several broken ribs that made breathing difficult. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital, where his condition rapidly worsened. He clinically died for three minutes and, shortly after, for another two minutes.
The Journey Through a Dark Portal
Hernandez described traversing a dark portal during these critical moments, entering a realm filled with light and indescribable colors. He had an out-of-body experience, watching the frantic medical team’s resuscitation efforts from a corner of the room.
"I started thinking about God," Hernandez shared about his ordeal, signaling a pivotal moment in his former atheist convictions. The traumatic experience was both terrifying and enlightening, planting the seeds of spiritual awakening.
The encounter included visions of a spirit-like, shadowy figure, which seemed to guide him through his journey in the NDE. This figure's presence was puzzling yet comforting, adding to the profound mystery of his experience.
An Encounter With the Beyond
Hernandez’s NDE transformed his life profoundly when he encountered his deceased father. "When I met my dad on the other side, I realized sometimes we may not be able to say something here, [but] we're gonna be able to say it somewhere else," he reflected, recalling their emotional reconciliation.
He also engaged in a broader dialogue with a mysterious voice that used metaphors to describe life and existence, likening his body to a heavily worn vehicle beyond repair. "Okay, it's time for us to move on," the voice eventually urged, pushing Hernandez toward acceptance.
His survival and revival in the hospital marked the start of a new path. After the accident, Jose embraced a "deep sense of love" that reshaped his outlook and significantly influenced his life decisions.
A New Path Unfolds
The profound impact of his NDE led Hernandez away from engineering and towards a completely new sphere: art and public speaking. He became an active speaker, sharing his NDE and its consequential transformation in spiritual and philosophical terms on various platforms, including popular channels like YouTube’s Shaman Oaks and the Next Level Soul podcast.
His discussions often reflect on the innate conflicts about belief in his upbringing. His mother, a Catholic, and his father, an indigenous man, provided conflicting spiritual guidance that initially nourished his atheism. "My mother said, Go find God in church, my father said, look out the window. God is everywhere, right?" he used to recall during interviews.
This divergence in parental beliefs had once shaped his atheist views but became part of his broader reflective journey post-NDE.
Insights From the Edge of Death
Research into NDEs like Hernandez's is ongoing, with institutions like the University of Liege actively examining the commonalities among those who have reported similar transformative experiences. These studies aim to shed light on the nature of consciousness and its potential transcendence of physical death.
Meanwhile, Hernandez's story serves as a vivid example of how personal crises can usher in not only profound personal insights but also potential shifts in collective understanding. Indeed, his experience challenges the boundaries of what is currently known and accepted in the realms of life, death, and what might lie beyond.
Furthermore, in recounting his NDE and the lessons he garnered from it, Hernandez continues to inspire and provoke thought, bridging the gap between science and spirituality in profound ways. Ultimately, his journey from skeptic to believer encapsulates a broader narrative of human resilience and the quest for meaning, making his story resonate deeply with diverse audiences around the globe.