HONS 391 Life After Death
(Spring 2011, 2:00-3:15, MW, MBK 320)
Dr. Lee Irwin, Religious Studies Department
4-B Glebe Street, Room 201
E-Mail Address: IrwinL@cofc.edu (send a message!)
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 3:30-5:00
(or by appointment)
Course Description:
This course is a comparative exploration of religion organized around the theme of death,
soul, and various beliefs about life after death. The course in organized into three areas: a
survey of afterlife beliefs, eschatology, and postmortem life in the traditions of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. In the section on Christianity we will read one esoteric Christian writer
on sacred cosmology. The second area will focus on Asian religious traditions of Hinduism,
Buddhism and Chinese religion and we will read a well-known Hindu philosopher on evolution,
science, death and rebirth. The third area will be on contemporary theory in parapsychology,
philosophy, and transpersonal theory; we will read selected articles on contemporary research
to amplify the discussion. This course is interdisciplinary and draws on perspectives from
religion, philosophy, psychology, history, and parapsychological research on postmortem life.
The purpose of the course is for the student to develop a better understanding of comparative,
interdisciplinary theory on the subject of life after death. I will also highlight some of the
ontological tensions between theories in the areas of science and religion.
Books (Required):
Aurobindo, Sri. Rebirth and Karma. Louis Light Publications, 1991.
Moreman, Christopher M. Beyond the Threshold: Afterlife Beliefs and Experiences in World
Religions. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008.
Markides, Kyriacos C. The Magus of Strovolos: The Extraordinary World of a Spiritual
Healer. Penguin Books, 1985.
Storm, Lance and Michael Thalbourne, eds. The Survival of Human Consciousness.
McFarland & Company, 2006.
Requirements:
Students are expected to attend all classes and participate in class discussions, failure to
do so will result in a lower final grade (two missed classes permitted). Requirements are as
follows: FIVE 500 word summaries (4% each = 20%); TWO exams (each 15% = 30%); TWO
short papers (10% each = 20%); final synthesis paper (20%); and participation (10%).
No excuses will be accepted for missed assignments, such as oversleeping, lost books, or
being stuck out of town. Assignments and tests are due on the day they are assigned. If you
have a legitimate excuse, please talk to me before the scheduled assignment. Students must
make up any missed assignments within one week (or receive an F); if you miss more than two
assignments you will receive an automatic WF and be dropped from the course.
Classroom Electronics:
Students must TURN OFF all electronic devices before class starts; you are not permitted
to engage in texting or reading electronic mail (etc.) while class is in session. If you have a
computer for taking notes, you must ONLY take notes (no jumping to read email or surf the
web). Every violation of this code will result in a deduction of points from your final grade
average; repeated violations will result in a failing grade for the course.
Honor Code: Lying, cheating, and plagiarism (failure to cite sources used in a paper) are
violations of the Honor Code. Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly
to the Dean of Students. A student responsible for academic dishonesty will receive a XF in the
course, indicating failure based on dishonesty. Students should be aware that unauthorized
collaboration--working together without permission-- is a form of cheating.
Disabilities: If you have a disability that qualifies you for academic accommodation, please
present a letter to me from the Center for Disability Services at the beginning of the semester.
Please discuss with me any special needs you may have. For more information regarding
accommodation and the SNAP program, see: http://www.cofc.edu/~cds/index.htm
Grading Scale: Numerical/letter grades: A+ = 100-97; A = 96-93; A- = 92-90; B+ = 89-87;
B = 86-83; B- = 82-80; C+ = 79-77; C = 76-73; C- = 72-70; D+ = 69-67; D = 66-63; D- =
62-60; F = 59 or lower.
Reading Assignments: Each weekly assignment is in two parts, the first part due on Monday,
the part second due by Wednesday. Please do the readings by the due date (not later), that
way you will be prepared for the lecture and discussion.
I. Week One, January 10, 12: Introduction, Afterlife and Denial of Death
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 1-34; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 9-30; 94-106
B. SUMMARY ONE DUE, January 12 (Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 9-30)
II. Week Two, January 17 (NO CLASS), 19: Afterlife in Judaism & Islam
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 35-51, 77-96
III. Week Three, January 24, 26: Afterlife in Christianity
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 53-75; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 107-126
B. SUMMARY TWO DUE, January 26 (Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 107-126)
IV. Week Four, Jan 31, February 2: Daskalos and Esoteric Christian Afterlife
A. Readings: Markides, 1-46; 47-111; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 207-221
V. Week Five, February 7, 9: Daskalos and Esoteric Christian Afterlife
A. Readings: Markides, 112-158; 159-209;
B. PAPER ONE DUE, February 9
VI. Week Six, February 14, 16: Afterlife in Hinduism
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 97-116; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 47-74
VII. Week Seven, February 21, 23: Afterlife in Buddhism
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 117-137; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 75-93
B. SUMMARY THREE DUE, February 23 (Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 75-93)
VIII. Week Eight, Feb 28, March 1: Mysticism and the Afterlife
A. Readings: Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 31-46; 278-283
B. EXAM ONE, March 1
IX. Week Nine, March 7-11: SPRING BREAK, NO CLASSES
A. Read Aurobindo!
X. Week Ten, March 14, 16: Aurobindo, Karma and Rebirth
A. Readings: Aurobindo, pp. 1-36; 37-68
B. SUMMARY FOUR DUE, March 16
XI. Week Eleven, March 21, 23: Aurobindo, Karma and Rebirth
A. Readings: Aurobindo, pp. 68-108; 111-140
B. PAPER TWO DUE, March 23 (Aurobindo)
XII. Week Twelve, March 28, 30: Chinese Afterlife; Mediumship
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 139-158; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 127-141
XIII. Week Thirteen, April 4, 6: Mediumship and Apparitions
A. Readings: Moreman, 161-206; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 142-173
B. EXAM TWO, APRIL 6
XIV. Week Fourteen, April 11, 13: Near Death and Out of Body Experiences
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 207-241; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 242-261
XV. Week Fifteen, April 18, 20: Heart Strings and Afterlife Synthesis
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 245-267; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 174-193
B. SUMMARY FIVE DUE, April 20
XVI. Week Sixteen, April 25: Afterlife Synthesis
A. Readings: Moreman, pp. 269-282; Storm & Thalbourne, pp. 285-300
B. FINAL SYNTHESIS PAPER DUE, APRIL 25 (as Final Exam)