E103 COAS TOPICS COURSE: The Living and the Dead (3 cr.) MW 9:30-10:45
TV251 (Campany)

Members of human societies, when they die, do not completely and
immediately disappear.  From the perspective of living persons, the
dead live on in various ways, and the living interact with them from
the moment of death onward.  Religious traditions have sought to
characterize the state of being of dead persons and have often
provided ways for the living to relate to them.  The main question to
be asked in the course is: How are the dead conceived of in religions
and cultures?  Other questions follow from this one, such as: What
sorts of relations have the living engaged in with the dead?  How are
conceptions and images of the dead related to other aspects of
religions and cultures?  How have religions and cultures expressed
their views of the dead?  Is there an explanation for the main
similarities in the conception and treatment of dead humans across
cultures and religions?  What sorts of data, and what sorts of
approaches, would allow us to pursue these issues fruitfully?  This
course seeks answers to these and similar questions. Readings are
drawn from many sources and assembled into one modest-sized course
packet.  Visual materials are incorporated.  Requirements center on
short (2-3 page) writing assignments.