Some still do. Over the years, however, and with the attention Near Death Experiences have been receiving in the media, scientists have turned their focus to spiritual events. These theories are taught in public schools as if they were truth despite the logical holes, gaps, and missing links they contain. These tools are designed to study the physical world, not the spiritual one. So it is understandable spiritual events can not be measured by the research tools of science, and therefor believed to be nonexistent.
Feelings play a large part in accessing spiritual knowledge.
Some researchers think spiritual tools unimportant because spiritual events can't be duplicated or measured. However, ignoring feelings is to leave out a very large part of life. So how can knowledge of life be attained by ignoring a principle part of that life. The real truth of life will contain all parts intact. The ultimate truth is found in unconditional love, and the knowledge it holds for us.