Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures
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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, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nic
- 18-08-16
inspiring!
I thought this might be a bit of a morbid read but it's actually truly fascinating and life affirming.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Lisa Howard
- 30-01-23
Fascinating
Not the usual thing I am drawn to listen to, but I really enjoyed it. Very informative and enlightening.
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- Olga Raine
- 24-08-22
I keep going back to it
One of the best things I've ever read/listened to.
I go back to it every couple of years and every time the effect on me is deep, profound, soothing and lasts for a while. Every time I find new thoughts and ideas to keep analysing and thinking over for weeks and months after the course is over.
Mark Berkson's delivery is full of acceptance, knowledge, compassion and mild humour. I'm very grateful to him.
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- Amanda Horner
- 08-10-20
amazing
bloody brilliant. a must listen, so good in every possible way really enjoyed all of it
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1 person found this helpful
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- Rhiannon
- 30-10-19
important topic interestingly discussed
whistle stop tour around the beliefs and understanding of death. very enjoyable and can be useful to many
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1 person found this helpful
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- Claire M.
- 06-02-23
Thought-provoking
I really enjoyed this book - it touches on a variety of topics surrounding death in an engaging way and never felt like a chore to listen to. It manages to avoid any sense of despair or the macabre and gave me a lot of food for thought.
Narration was also very good.
The only negative for me is that a couple of chapters were very America-focussed, such as the one on capital punishment, but I can’t blame him for relating the content to his own cultural context.
Would definitely recommend for anyone who is wishing to think more deeply about the one certainty that awaits us all. And not feel like there is no point in living afterwards.
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- Mary Jackson
- 21-08-16
Very informative lectures on death and dying
I was looking for an audio book on the subject of death and dying to inform my practice as I am training to become a bereavement counsellor and I found this great courses book! It explains death from many cultural traditions and talks of issues around suicide and immortality, all of which I found to be very helpful and informative, I can't recommend this book highly enough :)
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6 people found this helpful
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- Andrew UK
- 04-01-24
Profoundly insightful and thought provoking
With gentle curiosity, an open mind, open heart and insights, this book explores a subject that touches all of us. One of the best books I've experienced with Audible. And clearly and engagingly narrated.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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- E. Hughes
- 04-04-17
Lengthy piece of work for not much content
What disappointed you about Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures?
It was interesting in general, some parts more than others but it did go on a bit too much. I have worked in palliative care, (hence my interest) I but did not learn as much as I had hoped. Good facts but the narration dragged. I am not religious myself and found it a bit hard going in places as a result.
Would you recommend Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures to your friends? Why or why not?
Yes those who work in the field of palliative care in particular
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Professor Mark Berkson?
Narrator was ok byt the subject matter is hard to deliver well I guess
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?
Yes I enjoyed some subjects but felt that there was just too much written about religious rights, these parts could have been condensed I think.
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7 people found this helpful