Spiritual Encounters with Unusual Light Phenomena

Fox Mark

Description

This book is a study of unusual light phenomena, based on almost 400 unpublished accounts of modern-day encounters with strange lights collected over a period of thirty years, held at the University of Wales, Lampeter. It is an original and perennially topical book that goes beyond existing studies of unusual light phenomena - such as lights encountered during angelic experiences, near-death experiences, 'after death communications' - in a number of ways. It shows, for example, that experiences of unusual, spiritual, religious and paranormal lights are cross-cultural, trans-historical, and are reported widely in the present day: but not necessarily experienced when near to death. It also demonstrates that these experiences share to a remarkable degree a 'common core', showing by drawing on a large number of vivid, unpublished and dramatic testimonies that unusual lights typically manifest at times of crisis, and are overwhelmingly benign and loving, producing 'turning-points' in the lives of experients and typically setting them in new spiritual and creative directions.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Body (disambiguation)
• Spiritualism
• Spirituality
• Religion

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 15 juin 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780708326244
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Religion, Education and Culture

Spiritual Encounters with Unusual Light Phenomena: Lightforms

Mark Fox

University of Wales Press

Spiritual Encounters with Unusual Light Phenomena: Lightforms

Religion, Education and Culture

Series Editors: William K. Kay (Bangor University, UK) Leslie J. Francis (University of Warwick, UK) and Jeff Astley (Durham University, UK)

This series addresses issues raised by religion and education within contemporary culture. It is intended to be of benefit to those involved in professional training as ministers of religion, teachers, counsellors, psychologists, social workers or health professionals while contributing to the theoretical development of the academic fields from which this training is drawn.

Spiritual Encounters with Unusual Light Phenomena: Lightforms

MARK FOX

UNIVERSITY OF WALES PRESS CARDIFF 2008

© Mark Fox, 2008

British Library CataloguinginPublication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9780708321577

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to The University of Wales Press, 10 Columbus Walk, Brigantine Place, Cardiff, CF10 4UP.

www.wales.ac.uk/press

The right of Mark Fox to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Printed in Wales by Dinefwr Press, Llandybïe

Dedicated to the memory of my mother, Irene Fox. She gave light to all who knew and loved her.

Contents

Acknowledgements Author’s note

Lightforms – a mystery posed

1

2

3 4

5

6

7

8 9

Part I A sacred ‘something’: the spiritual odyssey of Sir Alister Hardy Visions, awakenings and illuminations: unusual lights across cultures

Part II Sharing the fire: unusual lights with multiple witnesses A light when alone: solitary experiences of unusual light

Enfolded and infused: unusual lights that embrace and fill

Transformations and auras: strange illuminations of landscapes and people

Shining in the darkness: lights seen during neardeath experiences

Out of this world? Visionary encounters with light

Beams, rays, shafts: penetrations by light

ix x

1

11

34

57

78

94

114

125 143 155

10 Brighter than the sun: flashes of light

Part III 11 Throwing light on lightforms – a mystery solved

Bibliography Index

163

169

198 201