RC400G - Death and Dying: Themes in Religion & Culture
Facilitator Information
Name: Grant C. Fleming D.D.
Address:
Telephone: 303-458-4371
Fax: 303-964-5456
Email Address: gfleming@regis.edu
Course Description
RC 400G. DEATH AND DYING: THEMES IN RELIGION & CULTURE (3). Focuses on
historical and contemporary attitudes toward death and dying. Discusses the impact of major
world religions and their social significance. Topics include suicide, euthanasia, hospice care,
and social and religious attitudes.
Expanded Course Overview
This course focuses on historical and contemporary attitudes and rituals, philosophical and
religious beliefs, and social and ethical concerns, across cultures, in regard to death, dying, and
death-related issues. Classic arguments in philosophy and basic beliefs in major world religions
are presented as a foundation for students’ critical examination of their personal moral and
ethical convictions around end-of-life issues, as well as for exploration of their cultural and
personal experience of loss, death, and grief.
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Materials
Required Texts
Callahan, Kelly, ed. Final Gifts: Understanding the special Awareness, Needs and
Communications of the Dying. Simon and Schuster, 1997. ISBN: 0-553-37876-7
James, John, Russell Friedman, Eds. The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for
Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Loss. Harper Collins, 1998
ISBN: 0-0609-5273-3
Kastenbaum, Robert (2004) Death, Society, and Human Experience (8th ed.) Allyn & Bacon
ISBN: 0-205-31936-X
Kramer, ed. The Sacred Art of Dying: How World Religions Understand Death. Paulist
Press, 1998. ISBN: 0-8091-2942-6
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RC400G- Syllabus
Recommended Supplemental Materials
Albom, Mitch (1999) Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest
Lesson Wheeler Publishing, Inc., ISBN: 1-5689-5967-2.
Edwards, P., ed. (1997) Immortality. Prometheus Books; ISBN: 1-5739-2130-0.
Williamson, J.B., & Schneidman, E.S., ed. (1995) Death: Current Perspectives (4th ed.).
Mayfield Publishing Company; ISBN: 1-55934-011-8.
Tolstoy, Leo (1886) The Death of Ivan Ilych: First printing 1960, Signet Classics published by
The New American Library of World Literature, Inc, New York, New York
First Day Assignment
 Read chapters 1 and 2 in Kastenbaum.
 Write a well-organized 2-3-page paper on your personal experience with death and dying.
This paper should be based on your own personal experience; it should not be a research
paper or based on anything you have read in the text. It should be typed, double-spaced,
grammatically correct, and free of errors.
NOTE: You will receive a detailed course syllabus for the course on the first day of class. The
facilitator may make changes.
Learning Topics
Learning Topic #1:
Learning Topic #2:
Learning Topic #3:
Learning Topic #4:
Learning Topic #5:
Learning Topic #6:
Learning Topic #7:
Learning Topic #8:
Classic Philosophical Arguments on Death and Life After Death
Basic Beliefs of Major World Religions on Death and Life After Death
Contemporary Attitudes Toward Death and Dying Across Cultures
Contemporary Issues in Medical Ethics Around End-of-Life Decisions
Death in Various Settings; Home, Hospice, Nursing Home, Hospital
Final Affairs In Order
The Dying Process and Near Death Experiences
Coping with Death: Funerals, Bereavement, Grief, and Loss
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RC400G- Syllabus
GRADING CRITERIA AND GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students must complete all assignments listed on the syllabus. Failure to complete all
assignments will negatively affect your final grade. Failure to turn in two or more assignments
will result in your failing the class.
GRADING CRITERIA
First Night Assignments
Second Night Assignments
Third Night Assignments
Fourth Night Assignments
Final Paper or Final Affairs
Book Response to Final Gifts
Participation
15%
15%
15%
15%
15%
15%
10%
A= 90-100%
B= 80-90%
C= 70-80%
D= 60-70%
F= 60% or lower
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RC400G- Syllabus
GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. READINGS: With the possible exception of the first day, students are expected to read
assignments prior to the days on which they are scheduled to be presented in class. Due to
the accelerated pace of the course, lectures will focus on important basic materials which
may or may not be part of the readings, and will not necessarily cover every aspect of all the
readings. Time permitting, other areas will be discussed in response to student questions.
Nevertheless, students are responsible for the materials in all assigned readings. Students
having problems with reading materials are urged to contact the instructor as soon as possible
2. WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT FORMAT: All assignments must be typed in 12 pt., doublespaced, with standard margins. Papers in larger typeface than 12 pt. will be reduced one
letter grade. Please do not use binders or plastic covers of any kind. Just label each
assignment at the top with your name, the week number (1-5), and the assignment title. Do
not staple together two assignments for the same week. Staple each separately, please. This
helps me be sure to give you credit for each assignment on my grade sheet. Be sure to put
your name on every paper.
3. ATTENDANCE: Each Class is important. There is no way to tape record or make-up for
the shared experiences of this class -- asking questions, participating in exercises and field
trips, discussing materials and journal reflections. Because the in-class experience is a vital
part of the course content, credit for the course may be denied if there is more than one
absence. Participation represents 10% of the overall grade. In case of absence, you are
responsible for obtaining all additional handouts from another class member.
4. NAME TENTS: Your Name Tent, with your phone number for an emergency, should be
turned in at the end of class. Please attach a brief evaluation of this week’s course include
any comments or questions you may have. For attendance record you will sign a roster at
each workshop.
5. MAKEUP WORK: There are NO makeup assignments for missing a class. Regular
homework for the missed class, as assigned in this syllabus, is still due regardless of class
absence, and may be turned in early if you know about your absence in advance.
6. LATE PAPERS: Late papers will not be accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to see
that all assignments have been turned in to the facilitator on time. Papers not turned in will
receive a grade of F, 0%.
7. INCOMPLETES: If you take an Incomplete, you have 10 weeks to finish work on the
Incomplete, and the course grade will be reduced one letter grade. If all assignments are not
completed within that ten-week period or credit for the course may be denied. All
assignments must be turned in by end of class session, Week 5 or an Incomplete will
automatically be given. It is the student’s responsibility to be certain that all assignments
have been received by the facilitator.
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RC400G- Syllabus
8. PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: If you wish to have an end of course paper, assignment, or
exam returned to you after the end of the class, please provide the instructor with an
appropriately sized envelope with your name, complete address, and appropriate postage on
it. The instructor will mail your materials to you. If no envelope is provided, the instructor
will dispose of your materials.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO WORKSHOP ONE

Summary Paper: 2-3 pages. Write a paper on your personal experience with death and
dying. Paper should be based on your own personal experience not from another source.
WORKSHOP TWO


Summary Paper: Two pages. For each reading assigned, briefly outline or summarize the
main thrust or ideas in each article/chapter.
Written Exercise: Length Discretionary. Answer Question 5 Page 26 in the Kramer text.
WORKSHOP THREE

Summary Paper: Two pages. For each reading assigned, briefly outline or summarize the
main thrust or ideas in each article/chapter.
.
WORKSHOP FOUR

Summary Paper: Two pages. For each reading assigned, briefly outline or summarize the
main thrust or ideas in each article/chapter.
WORKSHOP FIVE:


Book Response to Final Gifts. Two to four pages. Review and summarize the content of the
book, and offer your response to it.
Final Paper (10 pages) OR Final Affairs in Order Project
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RC400G- Syllabus
FINAL PAPER OR FINAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER PROJECT
A final paper or project must be successfully completed and turned in to fulfill the requirements
of this course.
1. Final Paper: If you choose to do a final paper, you have a choice between two types of
papers: A) a standard Research Paper or B) an Interview/Attend report. Depending on size of
class, final papers might be presented orally at class 5. Facilitator will notify class of
decision to exercise that option by Week 3.
A. Research Paper: Will follow the MLS format for research papers (see Harbrace College
Handbook, 12th ed., sections 34g-h) and must be at least 10 full pages without subtitles,
double spaced, typed, with prior approval of the instructor. Paper topics are due no later
than the beginning of class session 3 in written form with your name indicated. Papers
that do not follow the MLA format or that do not include “Works Cited” are not
acceptable and will receive a grade of “0” regardless of content. The papers are due in
final form at 6 PM on the day of class session 5. Late papers will be accepted only by
special permission, and will be reduced by one letter grade per day or portion thereof.
You are encouraged to submit rough drafts of your paper at any point. They will be
assessed and returned with comments. It is appropriate to get feedback from peers on the
format, style, and content of your paper, but it is not appropriate for someone else to
write your paper in full or in part.
B. Interview/Attend Report: In ten pages you will report on an event attended or a person
interviewed who is connected professionally or has personal experience with the field of
death and dying. Paper should describe the name and purpose of the event attended, or
the title, credentials and job of the person interviewed. Some examples for interviewing
could be a hospice employee, a Hemlock Society member, a person offering services to
the dying, such as healing touch, massage or music therapy, an employee of a local organ
bank or mortuary. Examples of events could be a presentation featuring a speaker or
debate on euthanasia or assisted suicide. The paper should identify and describe the
person or event, articulate their position, offer your personal response to their position,
and summarize with what you’ve learned.
2. Final Affairs In Order Project: SEE APPENDIX attached to this syllabus. Due at the start
of Class 5. Late projects will be reduced by one letter grade per day or portion thereof.
While this project is a major task, you will upon completion of it have an invaluable resource
for yourself and your loved ones. Using the checklists provided in the Appendix to this
syllabus, assemble a three-ring binder with divider tabs for the categories on the checklist.
Place copies of the documents in the binder, or clear instructions as to where the documents
are located. If you find that most of the checklist categories do not pertain to your life
situation, you may elect to do a paper instead. Likewise, if the information required to
complete the project is deemed too personal for you or others to share, you may choose to do
the paper.
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RC400G- Syllabus
FINAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER PROJECTS WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU IN CLASS
ON WEEK 5.
The Final Affairs project must meet the following requirements:
a. Every item on the checklist must be addressed. For items not relevant to your situation,
substitutions must be made, or added, or a statement of “Not Applicable” must be
documented.
b. The material must be presented in an organized manner and arranged for future adaptation
and easy reference.
c. The checklist indicates the minimum information required. The more relevant material
added to the project the better.
d. The checklist (including your additions or substitutions) must be inserted in the front of
your project notebook and filled out in regard to page number for each item. This must
be included in the project. You may wish to have a more thorough, detailed Index in
addition.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
Workshop 2
Kastenbaum
Chapter 3 The Death System pp. 61-88
Chapter 4 Dying pp.91-106
Kramer
Beginning - pp. 5-9
Chapter 1 - 3 Faces - Physical, Psychological, Spiritual - pp. 5-26
Chapter 8 - Greek - pp. 100-121
Workshop 3 - Soul as Substance or Self as Bundle
Kramer
Chapters 13 and 14 - Dying All Deaths, Dying Before Dying - pp. 178-197
Chapters 2 through 5 - Hindu, Buddhist, Zen, Tibetan - pp. 27-80
Chapters 6 and 12 - Chinese - pp. 81-93, and Native American - pp.169-177
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RC400G- Syllabus
Kastenbaum The Issues of Dying
Chapter 5- pp. 127-151
Chapter 6- pp. 155-172
Chapter 7 -pp. 175- 206
Workshop 4- Destruction or Resurrection of Soul and Body & How we die
Kramer
Chapter 7 - Mesopotamian and Egyptian - pp. 94-109
Chapters 9 through 11 - Hebraic, Christian, Islamic - pp. 122-168
Kastenbaum
Chapter 8- pp.211-241
Chapter 9 - pp.245-271
Chapter 10- pp.275-309
Workshop 5 - Ethical Issues and Dying Grief and Loss
Kastenbaum
Chapter 11- pp. 313-352
Chapter 12- pp. 357-393
Chapter 13 – pp. 397-428
Chapter 14 – pp. 433-448
Callanan and Kelly – Final Gifts
Final Gifts should be read over the 5-week class
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RC400G- Syllabus
RC400G - DEATH AND DYING
APPENDIX TO SYLLABUS
FINAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER
NAME
__________________________________________________DATE_____________________
PAGE NUMBER
ITEM
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
Living Will
Medical Durable Power of Attorney
CPR Directive
Organ and Tissue Donation
Values History Worksheet
18 Things Your Family Should Know Checklist
__________
__________
ESTATE PLANNING
Trust
Will
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
PEOPLE FOR WHOM YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE
Children
Spouse/Significant Other
Parents
Siblings
Pets
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
ASSETS
Real Property
Banking Matters
Stocks, Bonds, Securities
Business Interests
Personal Property
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
MONIES OWED TO YOUR ESTATE
Income Assets
Insurance
Retirement Plans and Benefits
Social Security
Veterans’ Benefits
Workers’ Compensation
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RC400G- Syllabus
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
OBLIGATIONS OF YOUR ESTATE
Funeral and Hospital Expenses
Mortgage
Credit Cards
Income Tax
Estate Tax
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
MISCELLANEOUS CONSIDERATIONS
List of Monthly Bill Payments
Residency
Simultaneous Deaths
Immigration, Naturalization
Divorce, Separation
Powers of Attorney
Cohabitation
Homosexuality
Service Professionals
Vital Statistics and Documentation
Military Service Records and Discharge Dates
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
OTHER
Document Locations
Update Schedule
Who Has Copies Of This Document
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
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RC400G- Syllabus