The Sacred Art of Dying: How the World Religions Understand Death

Distinct from most books in the field, The Sacred Art of Dying presents the story of death in its comparative religious context. Whereas many texts focus on psychological questions, sociological case studies, health care systems, medical ethics, the structure of wills, and sundry death issues (e.g., suicide, abortion, the death penalty, and the nuclear shadow), this text focuses primarily on religious attitudes toward death, dying and afterlife. What do Hindus, Buddhists and the Chinese do about death? What do they believe happens after death? How do Jews, Christians and Muslims approach death? How do they prepare for death? To address these questions: * Primary source materials and pertinent sacred texts from each tradition are studied. * Images of physical, psychological and spiritual death are explored in literature and Scripture. * Comparative religious attitudes toward death and dying are studied. Each chapter includes a story or stories which are central to each tradition, conceptual teachings about spiritual death and afterlife, and death rituals. Together, these three form a dynamic constellation which crystallizes each tradition's views. * Eastern and Western viewpoints on death are presented through their creation stories. The Eastern view of reincarnation is juxtaposed with the Western view of the resurrection of the body. * A common factor in each tradition is explored—a self-surpassing death-and-rebirth experience. Dr. Kenneth Kramer is an Associate Professor, Religious Studies Department at San Jose State University. He is the author of the popular World Scriptures: An Introduction to Comparative Religions (Paulist Press, 1986). COVER HALF TITLE IMPRINT CONTENTS PREFACE BEGINNING: DIALOGUE WITH DEATH 1 THE THREE FACES OF DEATH (Physical, Psychological and Spiritual) 2 HINDU ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Reincarnation and Moksha) 3 BUDDHIST ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Region of the Deathless) 4 ZEN ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (The Great Death) 5 TIBETAN ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (The Clear Light) 6 CHINESE ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Veneration of Ancestors) 7 MESOPOTAMIAN AND EGYPTIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Weighing of the Soul) 8 GREEK ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Immortality of the Soul) 9 HEBRAIC ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Messianic Hopes) 10 CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Resurrection of the Body) 11 ISLAMIC ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (The Day of Judgment) 12 AMERICAN INDIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH (Keeping of the Soul) 13 DYING ALL DEATHS (Reincarnation and Resurrection) 14 DYING BEFORE DYING: THE EXPERIENCE OF REBIRTH (Confession, Conversion and Confirmation) ENDING: LAST WORDS BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX: SELECTED JOURNAL WRITINGS

examines How Each Of The Major Religions Looks At Death By Including Stories, Teachings, And Rituals Which Present A Comparative Religious Meaning Of Death And Afterlife. Written In Textbook Style With Journal Exercises At The End Of Each Chapter.

Examines how each of the major religions looks at death by including stories, teachings, and rituals that present a comparative religious meaning of death and afterlife. Written in textbook style with journal exercises at the end of each chapter.