Abstract: Extraordinary spiritual experiences (ESEs) events that appear to be direct perception of spiritual facts, have a history in Western societies of being stigmatized and pathologized except within very limited religious contexts. That negative view has caused real harm to many "visionaries." But in the latter 20th century, social science research began to show that ESEs are actually common in the general population and that they are normal. Near-death experiences are a well-known example. The growing body of research literature suggests that many conventional theories about spirituality are empirically mistaken and that ESEs may have the potential to be powerfully health promoting. This emerging evidence creates both a great ethical obligation and a research opportunity.

This article discusses spiritually transformative experiences and how they differ from psychotic experiences, including the context, content, how the experience is remembered, and effect on the individual.

Editorial statement introducing the contents of the journal issue and providing other relevant notes.

Brief paper discussing the origin and workings of Spiritist Centers and Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals in Brazil.

Brief paper discussing the use of induced after-death communication to help resolve grief.

Brief paper discussing the results of a phenomenological study to evaluate spiritual crisis and emergency among Christian women.

Brief paper discussing after-death communication with children and how it affects their relationships with their parents.

Brief paper discussing correlations between near-death phenomena and quantum theory in relation to consciousness.

Review of a book titled "Revealing Heaven: The Eyewitness Accounts that Changed How a Pastor Thinks About the Afterlife" written by John W. Price, an Episcopal priest, about his experiences with parishoners' accounts.