The Plowboy Interview: Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

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PLOWBOY: Elisabeth, I don't mean to deny any of what you are saying—actually I feel unqualified to judge any of it—but it does seem clear that our discussion has now moved into the realm of personal religious beliefs. Do you have a name for your spiritual views?

KÜBLER-ROSS: Yes, practicing Christianity.

PLOWBOY: I'm sorry, but I never thought of Christianity as including reincarnation and spirit guides.

KÜBLER-ROSS: Oh yes. Reincarnation was taught in Christianity for hundreds of years. The teaching of it was eventually forbidden by the First Ecumenical Council, for purely political reasons. And the Bible is full of references to guardian angels!

PLOWBOY: But most orthodox Christians also have a vision of damnation in their picture of the universe. In fact, Jesus himself referred to the fires of hell.

KÜBLER-ROSS: I believe that was symbolic language! It was meant to describe the fact that you will be so sorry when you review your life and see how many times you were given chances to live, to give to share ... but looked away. It's my contention that God is all love: made up of so much love you cannot even conceive of it.

Yet many so-called Christians judge other people. And many churches use fear and guilt to fill their pews. Why? Christianity teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It does not discriminate or condemn. Christ, by his example, was the best teacher of unconditional love imaginable. He accepted and loved and healed and worked ... everywhere he went. He didn't ask people whether they attended such and such a church before helping them!

PLOWBOY: I'm sure you've taken abuse from many people, religious and otherwise, for some of your spiritual views.

KÜBLER-ROSS: Oh yes. But I remember that, back in 1968, I was spat at in the hallways of hospitals for helping dying patients . . that my work was considered "horrible" then. And look how that's changed ... there are now more than 100,000 courses being taught on death and dying!

PLOWBOY: Does it bother you that some people may reject your insights about living and dying because of your unusual opinions concerning an afterlife?

KÜBLER-ROSS: Let people believe what they're ready to believe. It's not my place to tell them what to think. I have a practical mission in life to love my neighbor as I do myself... and by my example, I try to teach that. If people can't accept something I say, they can throw it out and claim, "It's a pity she became kooky later on." They'll know the truth, anyway, when they make the transition themselves!

In addition, I believe that the fact that I'm willing to discuss my psychic and spiritual happenings and beliefs in front of crowds of 15,000 people also helps others get the courage to share their experiences. Now, I can go to Southern Baptist country and hear a minister who attempted suicide describe how he can no longer be the minister of his church because he was enveloped in such total love upon encountering the divine light that he can no longer teach condemnation.

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