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

Course Overview

Explore how great faiths, philosophies, and cultures all over the world perceive death (and life), guided by a religion scholar and award-winning professor.

Course Description

After thousands of years of pondering, death remains one of life’s most perplexing mysteries. Many cultures view death as a window into the true meaning of life. This course consists of 24 engaging lectures that delve into this often-feared subject, providing a multidisciplinary exploration of mortality and its implications. You’ll learn from theology, philosophy, biology, anthropology, literature, psychology, and sociology to understand how human beings have grappled with the concept of death.

The series addresses core questions around death, including the various religious attitudes, grief, rituals, and even controversial subjects like euthanasia and capital punishment. You will hear perspectives from historical figures like the Buddha, St. Paul, and modern thinkers such as the Dalai Lama.

Professor Berkson’s goal is to provide you with enlightening answers about the nature of life, death, and everything in between.

Video Lectures

1. Death’s Place in Our Lives (32 min)
   The significance of death in human life and how attitudes have evolved.
2. Defining Death (29 min)
   Understanding the multi-dimensional aspects of death.
3. Death, Illusion, and Meaning (30 min)
   Finding meaning in life in the face of mortality.
4. Is It Rational to Fear Death? (29 min)
   Debating whether fearing death is rational.
5. Understanding and Coping with Grief (30 min)
   The processes and dimensions of grieving.
6. Death Rituals and the Corpse (30 min)
   Historical practices surrounding death and corpses.
7. American Death Rituals (30 min)
   The evolution of death rituals in American culture.
8. Approaches to Dying Well (31 min)
   Exploring various philosophies on how to die well.
9. Judaism on Death and the Afterlife (31 min)
   Insights into Jewish beliefs regarding death and mourning.
10. Death and Hope in Christianity (32 min)
    Christian perspectives on death and the afterlife.
11. Islam on Returning to God (32 min)
    Understanding Islamic views on death and the afterlife.
12. Death, Rebirth, and Liberation in Hinduism (32 min)
    The Hindu perspective on death as part of the cycle of rebirth.
13. Buddhism on Impermanence and Mindfulness (32 min)
    Concepts of impermanence in Buddhism related to death.
14. The Process of Dying in Tibetan Buddhism (32 min)
    Tibetan views on death and the teachings in the Bardo Thodol.
15. Confucian Remembrance, Daoist Forgetting (32 min)
    How Confucianism and Daoism approach the subject of death.
16. Death and Syncretism in China (31 min)
    The blending of beliefs surrounding death in Chinese culture.
17. Suicide Examined (33 min)
    Examining the moral and philosophical aspects of suicide.
18. The Choice of Euthanasia (31 min)
    The ethical considerations surrounding euthanasia practices.
19. Killing in War and the Pacifist Challenge (32 min)
    Moral implications of killing during warfare.
20. Considering Capital Punishment (32 min)
    Legal and ethical discussions on capital punishment.
21. Killing Non-Human Animals (32 min)
    Exploring ethics surrounding the death of animals.
22. Near-Death Experiences (32 min)
    Investigating the phenomenon of near-death experiences.
23. The Pursuit of Immortality (31 min)
    Cultural and philosophical pursuits regarding immortality.
24. The Value of Death (36 min)
    Understanding how death can add value to our lives.