We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Our aim
We explore a variety of experiences and phenomena related to death wherein mind operates independently of the biological process of the body. They include near-death experiences (NDEs), death communication, reincarnation, end-of-life experiences (ELEs) and similar spiritual and religious experiences occurring in the ordinary state of consciousness. We consider death, both as an incident and a process, to be a phenomenon as difficult as grasping and drawing an elephant blindfolded, with humble acknowledgement that the complete knowledge of it may be eternally beyond human reach. This has led us to believing that only when we take an interdisciplinary approach, can we hope to see a glimpse of it, if any. In order to establish a picture of death in a more comprehensive way, Oxford Humans aims at integrating the following three sets of intellectual and practical orientations into a balanced whole.
We bring together…
Scientific Reasoning and Human Experiences
Contemporary empirical research into death-related phenomena—particularly data from the fields of medicine and psychology—has significantly advanced our understanding of what occurs after death, achieving an unprecedented depth of insight. Equally vital, however, is the contribution of scholars from the human sciences, who bring the ability to interpret this data within holistic and meta-theoretical frameworks.
Deeper insights into the nature of death are likely to emerge when these two streams of intellectual inquiry—empirical science and humanistic interpretation—are allowed to complement and enrich one another in a synergistic dialogue.
The West and the East
Our understanding of death owes much to the rigorous scientific methodologies developed in modern Western research. At the same time, the rich traditions of Eastern spiritualism—particularly those rooted in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism—offer an invaluable repository of knowledge, amassed over millennia through meditative practices and the contemplation of death.
By integrating the wisdom born of these distinct cultural and historical paradigms, we can achieve a more profound and nuanced understanding of the phenomenon of death, drawing upon the strengths of both empirical inquiry and timeless spiritual insight.
Knowledge and Action
Life compels us to consider death as a fundamental factor in our everyday decisions, even in the absence of a complete understanding. Death is not merely a concept for intellectual study but a profound guiding principle for how we live. Its practical significance has become increasingly urgent as humanity confronts unprecedented environmental crises and the mounting death tolls they bring.
Deeply aware of the tangible and potential impacts of death at both individual and species-wide levels, Oxford Humans advocates for elevating death to a matter of serious public discourse. We aspire to create effective platforms that inspire collaborative and meaningful action in response to this critical challenge.
Oxford Humans is run by…
Oxford Humans was founded by Dr. Young-hae Chi, alongside his theologian and scientist colleagues at Oxford, UK. The organization emerged from a series of in-depth discussions on the nature of human consciousness, the escalating environmental crises, and their implications for humanity’s future. It operates through a global network of scholars and field researchers, who contribute voluntarily to its mission by exploring human consciousness, death, and socio-cultural initiatives surrounding death.
Dr. Eben Alexander, the President, and Dr. Young-hae Chi, the current Executive Director, have united to pursue a shared vision: cultivating a society where individuals, freed from the fear of death, can live with greater authenticity and purpose. The organization’s capacity to connect with the public has been further enhanced by the expertise of Louise Green and Jules Sealby, who joined the management team as resident counselors, and Myongjin Agnes Cho, who now serves as Research Director.
Eben Alexander, President
Dr Alexander, renowned as an academic neurosurgeon with over 25 years of clinical experience—including 15 years at Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital—has profoundly reshaped our understanding of death.
His life transformed dramatically following a rare bacterial meningo-encephalitis in 2008, which plunged him into a seven-day coma. Emerging with extraordinary memories of a vivid journey beyond conventional reality, Dr Alexander has since passionately explored the intersections of neuroscience, consciousness, and spirituality. His bestselling books, Proof of Heaven (2012), The Map of Heaven (2014), and Living in a Mindful Universe (2017, co-authored with Karen Newell), have gained global acclaim and significantly impacted modern perspectives on spirituality and the nature of consciousness.
Today, Dr Alexander dedicates himself to sharing insights from his transformative experiences, advocating for deeper scientific research into consciousness and the integration of science and spirituality. His pioneering contributions continue to inspire dialogue and exploration, guiding Oxford Humans to a new vision.
Young-hae Chi, Executive Director
As one of the founders of Oxford Humans, Dr. Young-hae Chi now serves as its Executive Director. Since the mid-1970s, his research has spanned a wide range of subjects, with a particular focus on thanatology, including Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) in relation to environmental crises. Over the past two decades, his work has concentrated on uncovering the implications of these extraordinary phenomena, particularly how they challenge the prevailing reductionist and materialist scientific paradigm.
Young-hae’s intellectual journey is rooted in the interdisciplinary nexus of political philosophy, international relations, and theology. The founding of Oxford Humans in 2022 provided him with a platform to initiate a social movement aimed at overcoming the fear of death, grounded in a renewed understanding of mortality, particularly within English-speaking communities.
Currently, he is actively engaged in the Well-Dying Project in collaboration with medical professionals and scholars of medical humanities in South Korea. He is also spearheading a cultural initiative to introduce death education for children.
Young-hae is a lecturer at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master’s degree in International Relations and a doctorate in Theology.
Louise Green, Liaison Officer/Counsellor
Louise Green, DPLTA MPLTA, serves as our Liaison Officer and one of Oxford Humans’ resident counselors. In 2006, she founded A Guiding Light to provide spiritual counseling, foster awareness, and share knowledge with the broader community.
Certified in Soul-Centered Healing, past life regression, and spirit-release work, Louise helps individuals address personal challenges by uncovering the spiritual roots of their struggles. She trained under Dr. Thomas J. Zinser, a pioneer and internationally renowned teacher in Soul-Centered Healing.
As a qualified tutor, Louise offers a certificate course in psychic awareness, empowering adults to develop their own intuitive abilities. Recently, she launched Louise’s Lantern for Oxford Humans KOREA, an online platform where she regularly delivers talks and provides counseling to audiences in Korea.
Jules Sealby, Counsellor
Jules Sealby, BEd, PG Cert Psych Counselling (Oxon.), PG Dip Psych Studies (Oxon.), is a psychotherapist and educator who studied psychology and psychotherapy at the University of Oxford. She now serves as one of Oxford Humans’ two resident counselors.
As a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, Energy and Sound Healer, and educator, Jules is the founder and Clinical Director of a multi-modality therapy center based in Deddington, Oxfordshire, UK. Her approach integrates traditional psychotherapeutic methods with Energy and Sound Medicine to support individuals in achieving emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual balance.
Jules is also a certified Rebirthing Breathwork Practitioner, guiding clients into deep meditative states where transformative healing can occur. In addition to her clinical work, she has extensive experience in educational settings at both national and local levels.
Myongjin Agnes Cho, Research Director
As a palliative care physician and a scholar specializing in death education and Death and Life Studies, Dr. Myongjin Agnes Cho has pursued advanced studies in palliative care and Death and Life Studies at Durham University, King’s College London, and the University of Oxford. She is currently a fellow at the Institute for Medical Humanities at Durham University.
Agnes’s primary focus is on transforming the culture of excessively medicalized and painful end-of-life care in hospitals. Drawing on the wisdom of death contemplation found in philosophy, religion, and spiritual traditions, she seeks to develop compassionate approaches to care. Deeply inspired by Eastern traditions— especially Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism—she is working to establish a theoretical framework for whole-person care tailored to the needs of terminally ill patients.
Her long-term vision is to enrich the philosophical and spiritual understanding of death among healthcare professionals and to foster a medical culture that embraces death as a natural and integral part of life.
Current Projects
Online Death Forum
Oxford Humans hosts regularly, weekly or monthly, forums featuring researchers and experts in areas such as near-death experiences (NDEs), reincarnation, death communication, end-of-life experiences, and related religious and spiritual phenomena. Our forums bring together professionals from diverse backgrounds, including universities, hospitals, hospices, private and public research institutions, as well as independent researchers from around the globe.
In addition to these regular monthly forums, we organize ad-hoc online and offline colloquiums, lectures, and interactive discussion events, fostering meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange.
Click here to explore our upcoming events and here past events.
Schools Death Education
Oxford Humans is committed to promoting death education for young people. We organize online and on-site lectures, as well as small group discussions, led by medical doctors, hospice workers, and researchers. These sessions are designed for schools where educators aim to encourage students to reflect more deeply on the meaning of life from an early age.
In parallel with efforts to introduce death education at the institutional level, Oxford Humans also hosts regular monthly meetings for parents. These meetings provide guidance on helping children develop a better understanding of death and effectively cope with the fear associated with it.
Research Networking
We believe that we can have any glimpse of the true knowledge of death only through collective efforts between researchers. To promote the exchange of resources and information, Oxford Humans offers a platform of regular meetings between researchers.
Oxford Humans’ next project is to set up a researchers’ network where researchers in the Trans-Atlantic and the Far Eastern regions are brought together to discuss common research methodologies, to share data and experiences, and to build a support community. Oxford Humans is particularly interested in developing strategies of cultural acclimatization to make death an acceptable public discourse.