A man of medical science reconsiders more than just his life on earth

Dr. Eben Alexander is a neurosurgeon. The son of a neurosurgeon, he grew up in a scientific world. He followed his father's path and "...became an academic neurosurgeon, teaching at Harvard Medical School and other universities. I understand what happens to the brain when people are near death, and I had always believed there were good scientific explanations for the heavenly out-of-body journeys described by those who narrowly escaped death."

A 7-day coma turned his beliefs about an afterlife completely around. It's an interesting story.

(Photo illustration by Newsweek; Source: Buena Vista Images-Getty Images)