Unpacking Survival of Human Consciousness

In this prize-winning essay for the 2021 Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies essay contest, Dr. Ruickbie examines the evidence for the survival of consciousness after death (“life after death”). Initially skeptical, he found that there was sufficient evidence from a wide variety of sources, including apparitions, reincarnation, near-death experiences, after-death communication, and premonitions, that met the contest’s criteria of being “beyond reasonable doubt.” Such claims are often dismissed as contravening the laws of physics; however, Ruickbie takes the ground-breaking approach of organizing the evidence as eye-witness testimony to the "block" universe (in which past, present and future exist at the same time) described by Albert Einstein and Hermann Minkowski; and finds further support in the latest theories and findings of Quantum Physics for what Ruickbie calls “timetanglement” and “cloud consciousness.” Using a novel framework inspired by Charles Dickens, this is a readable and convincing account of a complex and highly debated subject. Bio Dr Leo Ruickbie, FRHistS, FRAI, ARPS, PhD (Lond), MA, BA (Hons), ACIQ, Associate of King’s College London, is a Visiting Fellow in Psychology at the University of Northampton, where he is a member of the Exceptional Experiences and Consciousness Studies research group. Described as a ‘leading historian and sociologist of the paranormal’ by the Daily Express newspaper (print) and ‘a leading expert on the paranormal‘ (express.co.uk online), Dr Ruickbie specialises in controversial areas of human belief and experience, sometimes called ‘exceptional human experiences’. A phrase coined by Rhea White in 1990, exceptional human experience is ‘an umbrella term for many types of experience generally considered to be psychic, mystical, encounter-type experiences, death-related experiences, and experiences at the upper end of the normal range, such as creative inspiration, exceptional human performance’ (White, 1994:5). Dr Ruickbie is closely involved in the work of the Society for Psychical Research as a member of Council, former Editor of its Magazine and a member of its Spontaneous Cases Committee. Established in 1882, the Society for Psychical Research is the world’s largest, oldest and most reputable organisation for the scientific study of what we now call ‘the paranormal’. He is also a Professional Member of the Parapsychological Association. Established in 1957, the Parapsychological Association is affiliated to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In recognition of his contribution to scholarship sustained over the course of his career, Dr Ruickbie has been elected a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Anthropological Institute. Dr Ruickbie’s PhD is from King’s College, London, for his thesis on contemporary witchcraft and magic use, building on research that won him an MA with distinction from Lancaster University. He is the author of several books, all based on rigorous research: Witchcraft Out of the Shadows (2004 and 2011), Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician (2009), A Brief Guide to the Supernatural (2012), A Brief Guide to Ghost Hunting (2013), The Impossible Zoo (2016) and Angels in the Trenches (2018); as well as numerous articles and chapters in scholarly publications. https://ruickbie.com/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRMN4D41/ https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/ https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife My book 'Verified Near Death Experiences' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXKRGDFP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.