What does the Bible say about an out of body experience / astral projection?

Response

Information regarding the “out-of-body” experience is extensive and subjective. As per Wikipedia, one in ten individuals asserts to have encountered an out-of-body experience (OBE). These experiences vary from involuntary occurrences following trauma or accidents, known as near-death experiences, to “astral projection,” where individuals willingly attempt to separate from their physical bodies and ascend to a spiritual realm seeking truth and clarity.

Several well-known Christians, such as the apostle Paul, have had what could be described as an out-of-body experience in modern terms. In 2 Corinthians 12:1–4, Paul mentions, “I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.” Preceding this passage, Paul lists his “boasts,” which would supposedly secure his salvation if relying on works and good deeds. Although he appears to be referring to someone else, scholars concur that he is speaking of himself in the third person. Paul includes this apparent out-of-body experience in his list of boasts. While out-of-body experiences are remarkable, Paul emphasizes, “There is nothing to be gained by it.” This does not negate the reality of his out-of-body encounter but signifies that he does not depend on it for personal or others’ benefit.

An involuntary out-of-body experience or near-death experience should be regarded similarly to a dream in a Christian’s life—an unexplained phenomenon that may.Make a compelling narrative, but it does not provide us with truth. The only place where we encounter absolute truth is in the Word of God. All other origins are simply subjective human testimonies or interpretations based on what we can comprehend with our limited minds.

A voluntary out-of-body experience, known as an “astral projection,” poses spiritual risks. An individual engaging in astral projection or attempting to achieve an out-of-body experience to connect with the spiritual realm is dabbling in the occult. There are two variations of this practice. The first is referred to as the “phasing” model, where the individual seeks to uncover new spiritual truths by accessing a part of the mind that remains dormant in everyday life. This concept is associated with Buddhism or postmodernism, suggesting that enlightenment is attained through introspection. The other variation, known as the “mystical” model, entails the individual striving to depart from the body entirely, with their spirit journeying to a mystical realm detached from the physical world.

The Bible explicitly cautions against occult activities, including sorcery, a warning that extends to voluntary out-of-body experiences and astral projection (see Galatians 5:19-20). God’s directives are always for our benefit, and He instructs us to steer clear of occult practices. When attempting to access the spiritual realm, there is a significant risk of exposing oneself to demons who may deceive us about God and cloud our judgment. The phasing model of out-of-body experiences is also fruitless, as stated in Scripture. Jeremiah 17:9 declares, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure; who can understand it?” It is futile to seek boundless wisdom within the limited human mind.

Involuntary out-of-body experiences have been featured in some recent books and films. One instance is the well-known book “90 Minutes in Heaven” by Pastor Don Piper. Piper recounts an out-of-body experience he encountered following a serious car acci

Incident, during which he believes he died and went to heaven for ninety minutes. Whether or not Piper did actually see heaven or spend time there is debatable, and in the end nobody but God knows. However, there is a serious problem, theologically speaking, with the conclusion Piper draws from his experience. He tells the reader that, now that he has been to heaven, he can speak comfort to grieving people at funerals “with more authority” than he could previously. Piper’s motives are good: he wants to give people hope. However, it is dead wrong to say that his own subjective experience will give him more authority to administer the hope of heaven to others. Scripture, by itself, apart from our experience, is the authority.

In conclusion, an out-of-body experience will give us neither truth nor knowledge. If an involuntary out-of-body experience occurs in the life of a Christian, the best approach would be to consider it in the same category as a dream—interesting, perhaps, but not a reliable source of truth. Christians should not seek to have out-of-body experiences or practice astral projection. We are to find truth only in the words of God, as Jesus prays in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”