Truth and Love
The reality of near death experiences and the reunion of science and faith
by Paul Redekop

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Drawing on decades of research, Paul Redekop examines near-death experiences: remarkably consistent accounts in which people report leaving their bodies, encountering deceased loved ones, travelling through darkness, and being drawn into a radiant light filled with overwhelming, unconditional love. Reported across age, culture, gender, and belief systems, these experiences challenge accepted ideas about the nature of consciousness, the foundations of faith, and what happens when we die. Truth and Love bridges science and spirituality to explore what these experiences may truly reveal. Some experiencers see Jesus; others meet God, angels, spiritual beings, or simply an all-knowing, all-loving presence that conveys a profound message: we are all connected, we are all known, and we are all loved. The book examines how NDEs both affirm and question Christian doctrine, pointing toward a more compassionate, inclusive understanding of spirituality. It also considers what NDEs suggest about consciousness itself—and why they cannot easily be dismissed as hallucinations or wishful thinking. Whether you’re curious about life after death, grieving a loss, or searching for spiritual understanding, Truth and Love offers a new way of looking at life’s biggest question.

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Paul Redekop is a sociologist and longtime professor whose career has focused on understanding human experience, community life, and conflict transformation. He earned his doctorate in sociology from York University and taught sociology for many years and then later in the field of conflict resolution studies at Canadian Mennonite University. His academic work has included research on family interaction, voluntary organizations, Mennonite identity, and the philosophy of science, providing a strong foundation for his thoughtful exploration of near-death experiences. The inspiration for this book began during the final years of Paul’s mother’s life, when their conversations often turned to faith, loss, and what might await beyond death. Wanting to offer her comfort, he shared what he had read about near-death experiences. After her passing, he set out on a deeper study to understand the reality of these experiences and to determine whether the reassurance he offered her was justified. His research left him feeling grateful: the evidence strongly supports the consistency and transformative power of these experiences across cultures, identities, and beliefs. Paul lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with his wife of more than fifty years, Sheilah. They live near the historic junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, and close to their daughter, her husband, and their three grandchildren, and also in daily contact with their son and daughter-in-law who live in Santiago, Chile. Truth and Love is Paul’s third book, following Changing Paradigms: Punishment and Restorative Discipline (2008) and Inner Peace Through Conflict Transformation (2015).

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Paul Redekop