Dr. Raymond Moody, a leading authority on near-death experiences and the current holder of the Bigelow Chair of Consciousness Studies at UNLV, will present "On Matters of Life and Death: New Enigmas of the Near-Death Experience" 7-9 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 26) in the Flora Dungan Humanities Building, Room 109.

Moody, who holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Virginia and a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, has authored several books. In his best-selling book "Life After Life," he coined the phrase "near-death experience."

He is the second person to hold the title of Bigelow Chair of Consciousness Studies.

In his upcoming lecture, Moody will discuss the phenomena of near-death experiences and offer an update on the latest research findings on the subject, including cases involving individuals who experience empathetic near-death phenomena at the bedside of their dying loved ones.

According to Moody, in the past 25 years, hospitals typically ushered family members out of the room of the dying patient in his or her final moments. Now, he says, the hospital staff moves to the background and family members remain in the patient's room, where some of them,reports indicate, have had profound spiritual experiences.

Moody's presentation is cosponsored by the College of Sciences. For more information on his presentation, call Linda Jones in the consciousness studies office at 895-1970.