PHI 532 - Conceptions of the Afterlife - James Santucci: University of Philosophical Research

Website: http://www.uprs.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

What happens when you die? Scholars and theologians throughout history have sought the answer to this question. This course will explore the afterlife as described by the major religious traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism), the Greek philosophers and religionists, the Eleusinian and Orphic Mystery schools, and the teachings of spiritualism and Theosophy.

Questions about heaven, hell, and purgatory will be addressed; as will some phenomena associated with the afterlife, such as reincarnation, resurrection, the survival of the disembodied soul, and intermediate post-mortem states as described by the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and folklore surrounding vampires and zombies. The possible communication with the dead as detailed in spiritualism will be contrasted with the more scientific method of "cross-correspondence" as an advance in establishing the possibility of life after death.

Session 1 | Personal Immortality and Post-Mortem Survival
Introduction to beliefs, trends, and evidence of life after death

Session 2 | Concepts and Definitions
From rebirth to xenoglossy to near-death experiences and
resurrection

Session 3 | The Soul
Plato, Augustine, Aquinas, William of Auvergne, the Upanishads

Session 4 | Conceptions of the Afterlife in the Jewish Tradition: Book of Daniel; the Pharisees

Session 5 | Conceptions of the Afterlife in the Christian Tradition: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, resurrection, martyrdom

Session 6 | Conceptions of the Afterlife in the Islamic Tradition: The Martyr (shahid); Fana' ("annihilation"); Islamism

Session 7 | Conceptions of the Afterlife in the Hindu Tradition: Karma and reincarnation

Session 8 | Conceptions of the Afterlife in the Buddhist Tradition: Karma, rebirth, and afterdeath states

Session 9 | Emanuel Swedenborg's Heaven and Hell

Session 10 | Spiritualism and Theosophy:
Spirits, the Spirit World, the Ministry of Spirits; the Septenary
Person, the Monad, Devachan, Karma


ABOUT THE PROFESSOR

James Santucci, Ph.D. -- (Asian Civilizations, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia). Chair & Professor of Comparative Religion at California State University, Fullerton. Author of over 45 articles and five books, including: An Outline of Vedic Literature; La società teosofica; and An Educator's Classroom Guide to America's Religious Beliefs and Practices.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• philosophy
• university
• afterlife
• heaven
• hell
• reincarnation
• santucci
• prs
• upr
• spiritual
• karma
• hinduism
• buddhism
• judaism
• christianity
• islam
• sweedenborg
• spiritualism
• immortality
• nde
• neardeathexperience
• resurrection
• JamesSantucci