Life after Death in Western History

Examination of the many ideas of heaven, hell, purgatory, and other afterlives and post-mortem geographies, as they have developed throughout Western history. Survey of a range of texts, artifacts, and works of art from the ancient Mediterranean and Medieval Europe, to the Christian Reformation and early 21st century America, including theoretical questions regarding cognitive science and the imagining of invisible worlds, the socio-political uses of post-mortem damnation and/or reward, as well as the ubiquitous historical struggle to address human mortality. Provides students with critical methods for understanding the texts, artifacts, or works of art in their relevant historical, political, and religious contexts. Formerly REL 0070.