Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures

De: Mark Berkson, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Mark Berkson

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, LLC

Death is what makes life so precious!

Taking this lesson was an awakening life event for me. I highly recommend it! Thank you Dr. Berkson.

excellent

loved it. the narrator was excellent
very interesting subjects and I would recommend it to all.

Need to know

Lectures were very insightful. The more you find out about Death and Dying, the more you release to live a fuller life.

Thought provoking

Going from avoiding thinking about death to actively contemplating the ideas about death present in this course is both surprising and educational.
I'm very glad I chose to explore the topic and had it presented in an insightful and absorbing manner.

Excellent and thought provoking

Bought this on a recommendation from someone and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very thought provoking.

Wonderful course.

This course was very interesting and informative. And it was very well presented. Would recommend gif anyone interested in death or different religions.

Amazing book!

This book brought a great amount of information from all over the world about different ideas of death that I had never considered. I was fascinated by the story and how it unfolded throughout and was kept entertained and informed. Thanks!

thought provoking

loved this book, the narrator was easy to listen to. Lots of information I didn't know about different traditions surrounding death and I found myself feeling more open to different possibilities

Mostly good, a little preachy

Overall, I learned quite a bit, and enjoyed the dive into various cultures' treatment of the dead.

Once the lecturer moved into discussing suicide and euthanasia, however, he ceased providing information on global historical and cultural viewpoints and instead rigorously defended his own beliefs on the topics. Frankly, I looked around my apartment and couldn't find a single person who asked.

Very thought provoking!

Loved the all encompassing scope of the lessons. The instructor kept this difficult subject matter interesting while not making it creepy. Very well balanced approach. Loved it!