Death

Undergraduate / Graduate

We die. That may be the meaning of life." - Toni Morrison This course is an exploration of death as understood by various religious traditions as depicted in popular culture. Through an exploration of primary and secondary materials, we will explore and discuss topics such as heaven, hell, ghosts, personifications of death and death rituals--comparing contemporary American rituals and narratives about dying with those from ancient China, the Indian subcontinent, Latin America, South Africa, Viking-era Northern Europe, and ancient Egypt. Along the way, we will consider questions like whether it would be preferable to live forever and what role death plays in giving life meaning.