Death is the horizon against which our lives unfold. Knowledge of mortality has inspired much of human activity-religion, philosophy, the arts, and science have all been driven by our understanding of death. Many cultures have learned to see death as a window into the meaning of life. Embark on an uplifting, meaningful, and multidisciplinary exploration of life's only certainty with this modern memento mori.
Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures
Explore how great faiths, philosophies, and cultures all over the world perceive death (and life), guided by a religion scholar and award-winning professor.
Rated 4 out of
5
by
DaGeek from
A Non-morbid Presentation of the Subject
Death and dying, something we all face and have to deal with along our way there. Questions on the existence and form a possible existence post this trip on Planet Earth, is something most folks ponder on… at least a little.
While the subject matter could have been very morbid, Professor Berkson kept it from being so. Both I and my wife found the course very engaging. We both appreciated how he approached the subject from many different religious and philosophical traditions.
He expanded the course to include topics one would not have typically thought of as falling under this rubric, such as capital punishment, the consumption of animals, immortality, etc.
He ends the course with a more or less Existentialist point of view that death is what gives meaning to life.
Professor Berkson has very nice style, obviously has thought long and hard about this subject, and was very engaging. I definitely recommend this course.
Date published: 2024-07-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
dennis1947 from
Wonderful Guide to Understanding Death
The professor is both an excellent lecturer and very knowledgeable on the subject. He holds your attention and leaves you contemplating what he shares.
Date published: 2023-09-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
padma from
Excellent - highly recommend
Thoroughly enjoyed this excellent in-depth course. Found it very interesting and especially how well delivered it was to hold my interest. Highly recommend.
Date published: 2022-05-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
AZ Dry Humor from
A Very Balanced Presentation
This course covers a lot of different subjects related to death, starting with the biology of death and life and ending with such topics as the near death experience and the killing of animals. In between are laws concerning burial, different religious beliefs on the death experience, capital punishment and many more. Because of that there are many opportunities to slant the course to one side or another on any subject that is hotly debated. Given Professor Mark Berkson's position as a professor of religious studies I was expecting that he might bias the course to a particular religion's point of view. I did not detect that. If the subject was being debated he did an excellent job of presenting both sides. Those times where he did take a stand, he clearly stated that that was his position.
I have viewed several hundred courses by the Great Courses and my interests are mainly science, history, law and how various religions came to be, so this course fit my varied interests and offered much I had not heard before anywhere else.
Date published: 2021-10-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
datadoc2 from
Fascinating discussion of Death and the Afterlife
This was by far, one of the best courses I have taken in the Great Courses library. It covers the topic of death and afterlife from many perspectives, many religions. The course content far exceeded my expectations and I found the content both informative and enthralling. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants a better perspective on these topics!
Date published: 2021-07-16
Rated 4 out of
5
by
phoenixinvictus from
Condense and informative
Mark Berkson manages to explain a difficult topic through a very light-hearted and humane lens. He takes us on a journey that views different cultures, religions and beliefs on what it means to die and how those people cope with loss. I would certainly recommend this.
Date published: 2021-05-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Thrilling from
Liberating
As a skeptic I am used to many not in agreement with my thoughts of life, death, religion and responsibility but I have found in this course many concepts and ideas that provide validation. While I'm still young at 88 yo, the subject has imminent meaning as there is yet much of life to live better with these insights.
Most unusual I find little bias in the presentation and was comfortable with his thoughtful considerations.
Date published: 2021-03-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DrMikeNC from
Excellent Presentation and value
The professor presents information in an enjoyable way, despite the course title. I am teaching a class with students who have "experience" with the subject, and the lectures are well-received.
Date published: 2020-09-20
Overview
About
Dr. Mark Berkson is Professor of Religion at Hamline University. He earned a B.A. from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, an M.A. from Stanford University in East Asian Studies, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in Religious Studies and Humanities. He has twice received Faculty Member of the Year awards and has received multiple fellowships for his work in Asian religions. A world traveler, he has lived in China and visited religious and pilgrimage sites in countries such as India, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Greece. Professor Berkson has given well over 100 presentations at conferences, universities, community meetings, and churches, and he has also appeared on radio and television news shows in segments dealing with religious issues. His scholarly work has addressed topics such as comparative religious thought, religious ethics, death and dying, and interfaith dialogue and has appeared in books and in such prestigious journals as the Journal of Religious Ethics, Teaching Theology & Religion, and Buddhist-Christian Studies.
Trailer
01: Death's Place in Our Lives
Start your exploration of this profound topic with a helpful overview of how we, as human beings, think about death. What place does it occupy in our lives? How have our attitudes about it changed over time? What symbols and euphemisms do we use to talk about it?...
32 min
02: Defining Death
To truly understand the subject of death, you have to be able to define it. Here, discover how the definition of death exists on multiple levels and how each of these levels-the religious, biological, philosophical, cultural, legal, and political-determines when a living being becomes a dead one....
29 min
03: Death, Illusion, and Meaning
Explore how it's possible for us to find meaning in life-even when confronted with the finality of it. Drawing on the work of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker, discover how forms of death denial serve to allay fears about our insignificance, and how we can cultivate meaning in the face of mortality....
30 min
04: Is It Rational to Fear Death?
Should death be considered "bad"? Should we even bother fearing it? As you reflect on philosophical arguments by the ancient Epicurus (who thought death wasn't bad for the dead) and the modern Thomas Nagel (who believes we should fear death), you'll consider the possibility that both sides are right....
29 min
05: Understanding and Coping with Grief
In this lecture on what Professor Berkson calls "an inescapable part of the human condition," unpack the feelings and behaviors of the grieving process. Topics include the evolutionary benefits of grief, the five stages of grief laid out by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, and the three categories of grieving identified by psychologist George Bonanno....
30 min
06: Death Rituals and the Corpse
Since the dawn of humanity, corpses have held lasting significance for us. In this lecture, probe the various ways human civilizations have "disposed" of corpses-from burial (the oldest method for which evidence still exists) and mummification to cremation and natural exposure (known as "excarnation")....
30 min
07: American Death Rituals
In America, death rituals display a remarkable diversity and range from the minimalist to the extravagant. Chart the evolution of American funerals by looking at three major periods: the traditional (exemplified by Puritan burial rites), the modern (characterized by professionalization), and the post-modern (where loved ones play a more active role)....
30 min
08: Approaches to Dying Well
None of us can avoid dying. But some believe we can learn how to die well. Professor Berkson introduces you to ways that others have faced death (with regret, dignity, even rage) and also considers some of the practical ways we can make the best of our deaths when our time comes....
31 min
09: Judaism on Death and the Afterlife
In the first of several lectures on how major world faiths approach death, the focus is on Judaism. From the importance of mourning and burial rites to the recent resurgence in American Jewish belief in an afterlife, go inside the evolving views on death and the afterlife in Jewish history....
31 min
10: Death and Hope in Christianity
For Christians, death does not have the final say; in fact, the living have the hope of victory over death. Investigate Christian views of death, including the possibility of physical bodies in the afterlife; the concepts of hell, purgatory, and limbo; and the similarities and differences between Catholic and Protestant practices....
32 min
11: Islam on Returning to God
Many Muslims consider life on earth as a test to determine one's eternal fate, making existence just one part of an infinitely greater story. Consider how the primary forms of Islam-Sunni, Shia, and Sufi-approach the concept of paradise and hell, the four main practices of treating a corpse, and more....
32 min
12: Death, Rebirth, and Liberation in Hinduism
In Hinduism, death is part of a grander cycle of rebirth and suffering-with the ultimate goal of liberation (moksha). Here, ponder the concept of the Atman (one's immutable soul); meet the Hindu gods who personify death and, relatedly, time; and learn what rituals can prevent a spirit from becoming stuck between worlds....
32 min
13: Buddhism on Impermanence and Mindfulness
Professor Berkson notes that the Buddhist tradition was established, in part, as a response to the realities of sickness and death. The Buddha's response to the experience of dying, as you'll learn, involves seeing past the illusion of self, recognizing the concept of impermanence, and practicing mindfulness....
32 min
14: The Process of Dying in Tibetan Buddhism
Continue a look a Buddhist approaches to death, this time focusing on Tibetan Buddhism's deep, extensive teachings on the actual process of death and rebirth. Central to this lecture: the fascinating Bardo Thodol (or the Tibetan Book of the Dead), whose lessons are applicable both to Buddhists and non-Buddhists....
32 min
15: Confucian Remembrance, Daoist Forgetting
Unlike other faiths, Confucianism and Daoism focus almost entirely on life in this world, not the next. So how do followers find meaning and consolation in the face of their deaths? The answers can be found in the distinct approaches of the great Chinese thinkers Confucius and Zhuangzi....
32 min
16: Death and Syncretism in China
First, look at Chinese traditions involving spirits of the dead and other supernatural beings. Then, visit some of the many possibilities for a soul's destination in Chinese traditions (including a Pure Land, an underworld, and rebirth). Finally, discover how conflicting views of the afterlife accurately capture our ambivalent feelings about death....
31 min
17: Suicide Examined
In the last half-century, suicide rates have increased nearly 60% worldwide. This is your opportunity to investigate ways to think about this stigmatized subject. You'll examine what great philosophers and holy books say about suicide, and consider the numerous factors that sometimes compel people to take their own lives....
33 min
18: The Choice of Euthanasia
Examine another controversial subject: euthanasia, or the deliberate ending of a life to ease suffering. By exploring the actual experiences of suffering people, the three kinds of euthanasia, and the religious and non-religious policy arguments for and against the practice, you'll be better prepared to join the debate yourself....
31 min
19: Killing in War and the Pacifist Challenge
Is deliberate killing justified when it happens during wartime? Consider this powerful question by looking at how depersonalization helps soldiers become more comfortable with killing; how civilizations and religious traditions have morally justified war; and arguments for (and criticism of) a pacifist approach to life....
32 min
20: Considering Capital Punishment
In this lecture, Professor Berkson discusses the nature of capital punishment, the moral arguments for and against it, and whether or not the practice accomplishes its intended purposes. Specifically, you'll focus on capital punishment as it's practiced in the United States, where debate has long been intense....
32 min
21: Killing Non-Human Animals
From euthanizing a sick dog to slaughtering cows for food, how do we reconcile our feelings about killing when it comes to the non-human animals around us? Ponder the moral and spiritual dimensions of the death of other animals-and what that might reveal about our views of our own mortality....
32 min
22: Near-Death Experiences
Explore the mysterious topic of near-death experiences (NDEs). You'll encounter fascinating stories told by survivors themselves; explore the scientific studies behind - and possible explanations for - this increasingly common phenomenon; survey the four major types of NDEs; and join the passionate debate between NDE believers and skeptics....
32 min
23: The Pursuit of Immortality
For as long as we've been aware of death, we've searched for ways to avoid it. Examine a few of the many methods people have used to attempt immortality, including Daoist alchemical methods, empirical approaches by early Muslim scientists, and cutting-edge concepts such as gene manipulation and downloading one's consciousness into a computer....
31 min
24: The Value of Death
Does death offer us something of value? In this last lecture, continue examining the idea of immortality. You'll cover the negative implications of immortality (like boredom), examine issues that Jorge Luis Borges raises in a tale about immortality, and ponder how death, surprisingly, might make a meaningful life possible....
36 min
