1. Websites on NDEs and other Spiritually Transformative Experiences
a. The Alister Hardy Trust – (studyspiritualexperiences.org)
The function of the Religious Experience Research Centre is the study of contemporary spiritual and religious experience. The Research Centre was founded by Sir Alister Hardy in 1969 as the Religious Experience Research Unit at Manchester College, Oxford. It moved to Lampeter from its previous home at Westminster College, Oxford in July 2000. The Centre’s aim is to study, in a disciplined and as scientific a manner as possible, contemporary accounts of religious or spiritual experiences and to publish its findings.
b. University of Virginia Medical School Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) – (virginia.edu)
This is the premier facility for research into life after death. DOPS was founded as a research unit of the Department of Psychiatric Medicine at UVA by Dr. Ian Stevenson in 1967. It is a unit of the Psychiatry and Neurobehavorial Sciences of the University of Virginia’s Health System headed by Dr. Bruce Greyson. Utilizing scientific methods, the researchers within DOPS investigate apparent paranormal phenomena, especially: (1) children who claim to remember previous lives (reincarnation), (2) near-death experiences, (3) out-of-body experiences, (4) apparitions and after-death communications, (5) deathbed visions, (6) psychophysiological studies of altered states of consciousness and psi, and (7) EEG Imaging Lab: experimental research of psi effects and altered states of consciousness.
c. International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) – (iands.org)
IANDS focuses most of its resources into providing the highest quality information available about NDE-related subjects. It is the only such membership group in the world. In addition to maintaining this information-rich website, IANDS publishes a peer-reviewed scholarly journal and a member newsletter, sponsors conferences and other programs, works with the media, and encourages the formation of regional discussion and support groups. IANDS’ purpose is to promote responsible, multi-disciplinary exploration of near-death and similar experiences, their effects on people’s lives, and their implications for beliefs about life, death, and human purpose.
d. Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF) – (nderf.org)
Dr. Jeffrey Long is a radiation oncologist in Tacoma, Washington and serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS). Dr. Long is actively involved in NDE research and recently published the a New York Times bestseller Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences. His wife, Jody Long is also a researcher and was on the Board of Directors for Seattle Friends of IANDS group. Jody is also the webmaster of this site. The Long’s also have other research sites relating to the NDE including: The Out-of-Body Experience Research Foundation (OBERF) and the After-Death Communication Research Foundation (ADCRF).
e. Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife – (near-death.com)
Webmaster Kevin Williams maintains his website devoted to near-death experiences and the afterlife. NDE-related phenomena is also presented such as (1) NDE articles by the Webmaster, P.M.H. Atwater and an online book by Dr. Ken R. Vincent; (2) NDE archives; (3) profiles of NDE experts; (4) triggers of NDEs; (5) NDE skeptical arguments; (6) Religious NDEs; (7) Biblical support for NDEs; (8) Christian Universalism (universal salvation) (9) evidence of life after death; (10) out-of-body experiences; (11) reincarnation; (12) the paranormal; (13) after-death communications; (14) the Edgar Cayce revelations; (15) and other resources. This website also hosts the Survival After Death Information website.
2. Websites on Universalism
a. Christian Universalist Association (CUA) – (christianuniversalist.org)
The CUA is an ecumenical organization uniting people and churches around the world with a vision of God’s all-inclusive love. They are active in evangelism and outreach to the public, spreading the Good News of God’s victorious plan of salvation for all people. They educate and ordain ministers, hold conferences, encourage networking and church planting by believers, and create new resources to deepen and reform Christianity and bring people together from various denominations and traditions in a shared discovery of truth. The CUA affirms in their Statement of Faith (1) the Golden Rule, (2) divine justice and life after death, (3) universal salvation, (4) human nature and destiny, (5) the mystery of faith, (6) divine revelation and the pursuit of truth.
b. The Universalist Herald – (universalist-herald.org)
The Universalist Herald is the oldest continuously published liberal religious periodical in North America. It is devoted to a living religion and vital faith that motivates individual responsibility and positive action. Their Universalist doctrine is about love, their sacrament is the quest for Truth, their prayer is service, to dwell together in peace, to seek knowledge in freedom, to serve humanity in fellowship, and to the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with the Divine, to covenant with each other and with God. They provide (1) biographies and interviews of notable Universalists; (2) book reviews and editorials on Universalism; (3) articles on Universalism, Universalist theology, mysticism, social justice, the history of Universalism, (4) articles to reflect upon, the holidays, and Universalist hymns.
3. Websites on Zoroaster
a. Zoroaster (aka Zarathushtra) – (zarathushtra.com)
This website is dedicated to promoting the Spiritual Philosophy of Zarathushtra and Zoroastrianism. They provide (1) information about Zarathushtra; (2) articles and books for sale about Zarathushtra and Zoroastrianism; (3) various translations of the Gathas; (4) an online book entitled “Homage Unto Ahura Mazda”; (5) a Zoroastrian cyber-temple; (6) discussion group archives; (7) a picture gallery; and (8) a links page to other Zoroastrian resources.
b. The Zoroastrian Connection with Judaism and Christianity – (fezana.org)
This is a book available through the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) website. For more information about this book please contact Roshan Rivetna (email address). Donations for costs of printing and postage can be made. FEZANA serves as the coordinating body for 27 Zoroastrian Associations in the United States and Canada. Other resources include: (1) the FEZANA Journal and Journal archives; (2) administration and activities; (3) a Zoroastrian Youth of North America (ZYNA) website; (4) Bulletin archives; (5) an events calendar; (6) important messages from the FEZANA President; (7) and a links page to other resources.
4. Websites on the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
a. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam _ (omarkhayyamnederland.com)
Edward Henry Whinfield (1836-1922) (see Wikipedia article) published an initial series of 253 quatrains in 1882, as “The Quatrains of Omar Khayyám.” One year later 500 quatrains were published in a bilingual edition: a Persian text with the English translation. This time eight collections of quatrains were used. A selection of 267 quatrains were selected from this edition, for a new edition, in 1893, with the English text only. In 1901 the collection of 1883 was corrected and enlarged in a second edition in 1901, to which eight quatrains were added. The final version can be downloaded as a PDF file. On this website you can search their library and English e-library; search the Rubaiyat; read their articles; and bibliography. And much more.
b. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam – (gutenberg.org)
The Project Gutenberg website offers over 58,000 free eBooks. Browse their Catalog for free ebooks. Here you will find the world’s great literature here, with focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired. You can access a variety of versions of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: read the book online; download the EPUB with images; download the EPUB with no images; download the Kindle ebook with images; download the Kindle ebook with no images, download a plain text file version; and more.
