This document outlines the schedule for a series of classes on death and dying from a religious perspective. It discusses how modernity has affected views of death through disenchantment, rationalization, and secularization. It also outlines the stages of death from an apparent death to biological death. Finally, it discusses the five stages of grief and how views of life after death have changed in recent years.

2. Candy Chang, Before I Die Project

3. September 7 - Class #1 - Death as an Entry into Light?
September 14 - 2nd Sunday Breakfast
September 21 - Class #2 - The Hereafter - Wishful Thinking?
September 28 - Class #3 - Models of Belief in Eternity in Religion
October 5 - Episcopal School Sunday
October 12 - 2nd Sunday Breakfast
October 19 - Class # 4 - Resurrection of the Dead?
October 26 - Class #5 - Difficulties with the Resurrection of Jesus
November 2 - Class #6 - Between Heaven and Hell
November 9 - 2nd Sunday Breakfast
November 16 - Class #7 - Dying with Human Dignity
November 23 - Class #8 - Presentation from Funeral Home
November 30 (Advent 1) - Class # 9 - Heaven on Earth?
December 7 - Class #10 - The End of the World and the Kingdom of God

4. Modernity and how it affects our understanding of
death and dying.
How do we define death?
Stages of dying
Insights

5. The Modern World (1800 – present)

6. Disenchantment of the world--the loss of sacred and
metaphysical understandings of al facets of life and
culture.
Rationalization--the world can be understood and
managed through a reasonable and logical system of
objectively accessible theories and data.
Secularization--the loss of religious influence and/or
religious belief at a societal level.
Alienation--isolation of the individual from systems of
meaning--family, meaningful work, religion, clan, etc.

7. The modern self assumes an autonomy that seeks to
reject the claims of authority, tradition, or community.
The modern self has moved from an emphasis on
redemption of character to liberation from social
inhibitions.
Identity is self-constructed through self-consumption
of products of desire.
Adapted from Gay, Craig M. The Way of the (Modern) World: Or, Why It's
Tempting to Live As If God Doesn't Exist. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

8. Atheism had great influence on medicine in the 19th
century. God was to have no part to play in explaining
the world, or in natural science,
medicine, or health care.
For many physicians, science
replaced religion. The questions
of life after death was now
considered unscientific, beyond
the realm of logic and reason.

9. Apparent Death – temporary cessation of breathing
and heartbeat.
Clinical Death – Suspension of breathing heartbeat
and brain activity. Resucitation is possible between 5
– 30 minutes.
Biological Death – Irreperable brain damage due to
lack of oxygen. No possibility of reanimation or
resucitation. Irrevocable stoppage of all vital
functions.

10. 1. Denial: Initial reaction to the news of an impending death
is one of shock and disbelief, coupled with a tremendous feeling
of isolation.
2. Anger: This is followed by irritation, resentment and envy
directed toward doctors and nurses, family members, etc.
3. Bargaining: The third stage involves the hope that the
individual can somehow undo or avoid a cause of grief. Usually,
the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power
in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Other times, they will use
anything valuable as a bargaining chip against another human
agency to extend or prolong the life they live. Psychologically,
the individual is saying, "I understand I will die, but if I could
just do something to buy more time…"

11. 4. Depression: "I'm so sad, why bother with
anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the
point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"
During the fourth stage, the grieving person begins to
understand the certainty of death. The idea of living
becomes pointless. Things begin to lose meaning to
the griever. Because of this, the individual may become
silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time
crying and sullen.

12. 5. Acceptance: "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight
it, I may as well prepare for it."
In this last stage, individuals begin to come to terms
with their mortality or inevitable future, or that of a
loved one, or other tragic event. This stage varies
according to the person's situation. People dying can
enter this stage a long time before the people they
leave behind, who must pass through their own
individual stages of dealing with the grief. This
typically comes with a calm, retrospective view for the
individual, and a stable mindset.

13. 1. New Possibilities:
In 2014, eternal life is no longer considered
scientifically impossible – a change from recent past
when the possibility of eternal life was long dismissed
because it could not be proven scientifically or
medically. Since medicine alone cannot answer the
question of eternal life, many are turning back to
religion in search of meaning:
Is there life after death?
Is there life BEFORE death?

14. 2. Purpose:
Experiences of dying and living are very connected.
The way a person has lived is as important as the way
they cope with their death.
Purposeful living and purposeful dying are in
relationship with one another.

15. 3. Peacefulness:
Dying is something we normally face with
apprehension and fear. Positive experiences of the
dying process, particularly in the near death stage,
create hope that the last stage of life may in fact be less
fearful than we might presume it to be.