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Bart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity, and former evangelical Christian known for writing about how the Bible was transmitted, edited, and interpreted over time.
He is especially known for arguing that:
The biblical texts were copied and changed over centuries by scribes.
There are contradictions and historical tensions within biblical manuscripts.
Many traditional Christian beliefs developed gradually rather than appearing fully formed in the earliest texts.
Historical study of Jesus can be separated from theological belief.
He teaches (now emeritus) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Some of his best-known books include:
Misquoting Jesus — on how scribal copying changed biblical manuscripts.
Jesus, Interrupted — explores tensions and differences within the Bible.
How Jesus Became God — argues beliefs about Jesus’ divinity developed historically.
Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife — traces how ideas of the afterlife evolved in Judaism and Christianity.
Lost Christianities — discusses early Christian diversity and competing beliefs.
A significant part of his personal story is that he moved from being a committed evangelical Christian to identifying as agnostic/atheist after wrestling with biblical criticism and the problem of suffering.
People tend to react strongly to him:
Supporters appreciate his emphasis on historical evidence and textual scholarship.
Critics, especially some Christian scholars and apologists, argue he overstates uncertainty or presents contested views too confidently.
If your interest connects to NDEs, the soul, or the “silver cord,” one book of his you might find especially relevant is Heaven and Hell, because he examines how ideas about the afterlife changed across centuries rather than assuming a single fixed biblical doctrine.
Are you asking about Ehrman generally, or his views on consciousness, the soul, and the afterlife?
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