Assessment of Clergy Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Near-Death Experiences Lori J. Bechtel, Ph.D. Alex Chen, Ph.D. Richard A. Pierce, Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University Altoona Campus Barbara A. Walker, Ph.D. Eastern Illinois University ABSTRACT: The results of a questionnaire distributed to 2,722 clergy from Pennsylvania and Illinois (320 usable questionnaires returned) showed the respondents had limited knowledge of the near-death experience (NDE) but had a moderately positive attitude toward the subject. Using Nina Thorn burg's (1988) Near-Death Phenomena Knowledge and Attitudes Question naire, respondents' mean score for knowledge questions was 7.8 out of 18, and mean score for attitudes questions was 49 out of 85. Approximately 98% of the clergy had heard of NDEs; 85% of the clergy had counseled parishioners who had had NDEs; nearly 40% had had personal contact with an experiencer; and 10% reported having had NDEs themselves. Respondents were most familiar with the near-death element of "peace," and with experiencers' greater appre ciation for life and belief in an afterlife. Lori J. Bechtel, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Health Education, Alex Chen, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems, and Richard A. Pierce, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Human Development at the Pennsylvania State University Altoona Campus. Barbara A. Walker, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Health Studies at Eastern Illinois University. Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Bechtel at the Department of Health Education, Pennsylvania State University Altoona Campus, 206A Adler Building, Altoona, PA 16601. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 10(3) Spring 1992 1992 Human Sciences Press, Inc. 161