Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures
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Narrated by:
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Mark Berkson
About this listen
After thousands of years of pondering it, we still find death one of life's most perplexing mysteries. Many cultures view death as a window into the true meaning of life.
These 24 lectures looking at this often feared subject are an uplifting, meaningful, and multidisciplinary exploration of life's only certainty. Bringing together theology, philosophy, biology, anthropology, literature, psychology, sociology, and other fields, they are a brilliant compendium of how human beings have struggled to come to terms with mortality. You'll encounter everything from ancient burial practices, traditional views of the afterlife, and the five stages of grief to the question of killing during wartime, the phenomenon of near-death experiences, and even 21st-century theories about transcending death itself.
With personal and cultural enlightenment as the overarching goal, Professor Berkson provides you with eye-opening answers to several major questions surrounding death, including: How do we think about death? How do religions approach death? When (if ever) is it justified to take a life? You'll also hear a chorus of voices from multiple disciplines, cultures, and ages as they offer sometimes shocking and sometimes refreshing perspectives on death. These voices include the Buddha, St. Paul, Albert Camus, Dylan Thomas, and Elizabeth Kübler-Ross.
"Many religious traditions teach that a form of regular death reflection can deepen one's appreciation for life," Professor Berkson notes. "And in some traditions, it can actually lead to spiritual transformation or awakening. As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, 'Whoever rightly understands and celebrates death at the same time magnifies life.'"
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLCWhat listeners say about Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Natasha Kenney
- 29-05-2020
Brilliant! Highly recommend
As someone who is about to lose a loved one and looking for answers I founds this such compelling listening. It may not have answered all my questions but it did offer some perspective and insights and it was so interesting to learn what different cultures and religions have to say about death, dying and the afterlife as well as poets, researchers and philosophers.
Aside from this, Mark had a very engaging teaching style and I would be intereseted to check out this other courses if he has any. Fantastic series.
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