Ultimate Journey: Death and Dying in the World's Major Religions: Death and Dying in the World's Major Religions

Like taxes, death is inevitable. Everyone experiences it sooner or later. This book offers perspectives on death and dying from all major religions, written by experts in each of those religions. Focusing on the major world traditions, it offers important information about what death and dying means to those practicing these faiths. The second part of the book adds a necessary and truly unique perspective - a personal look at how people actually die in the various world religions, as told by a hospital chaplain, with anecdotes and experiences that bring the death process to life, so to speak. Each chapter engages the theology of each religion, giving quotes from the literature of their respective scriptural traditions, to explain the process of dying, death, and the afterlife. In doing so, each author draws on the history of his respective tradition and looks at real-life figures, exemplars of the tradition, showing how practitioners view death and hope to one day engage the death process themselves. About the Author Steven J. Rosen is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies and Associate Editor of Back to Godhead, the magazine of the Hare Krishna movement. His recent books include Holy Cow: The Hare Krishna Contribution to Vegetarianism and Animal Rights, Essential Hinduism (Greenwood, 2006), and Krishna's Song: A New look at the Bhagavad Gita (Praeger, 2007). Like Taxes, Death Is Inevitable. Everyone Experiences It Sooner Or Later. This Book Offers Perspectives On Death And Dying From All Major Religions, Written By Experts In Each Of Those Religions. Focusing On The Major World Traditions, Ultimate Journey Offers Important Information About What Death And Dying Means To Those Practicing These Faiths. The Second Part Of The Book Adds A Necessary And Truly Unique Perspective - A Personal Look At How People Actually Die In The Various World Religions, As Told By A Hospital Chaplain, With Anecdotes And Experiences That Bring The Death Process To Life, So To Speak. Each Chapter Engages The Theology Of Each Religion, Using Quotes From The Literature Of Their Respective Scriptural Traditions, To Explain The Process Of Dying, Death, And The Afterlife. In Doing So, Each Author Draws On The History Of His Respective Tradition And Looks At Real-life Figures, Exemplars Of The Tradition, Showing How Practitioners View Death And Hope To One Day Engage The Death Process Themselves.--jacket. Introduction / Steven J. Rosen -- Judaism : The Journey Of The Soul / Arthur Seltzer -- Preparation For Eternal Life : Christian Teachings On Death And Dying / Francis V. Tiso -- Death And Dying In Islam / Hussam S. Timani -- Awakening To Mortality : Buddhist Views Of Death And Dying / John M. Thompson -- Hindu Models Of Enlightened Death / Peter Medley -- Conclusion: A Shepherd In The Trenches : One Chaplain's Work With The Dying / David Carter. Edited By Steven J. Rosen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 6 Introduction 8 1 Judaism: The Journey of the Soul 12 2 Preparation for Eternal Life: Christian Teachings on Death and Dying 32 3 Death and Dying in Islam 70 4 Awakening to Mortality: Buddhist Views of Death and Dying 94 5 Hindu Models of Enlightened Death 126 Conclusion: A Shepherd in the Trenches—One Chaplain’s Work with the Dying 166 Index 198 A 198 B 198 C 199 D 199 E 200 F 200 G 200 H 201 I 201 J 201 K 201 L 202 M 202 N 202 O 202 P 202 Q 203 R 203 S 203 T 204 U 204 V 204 W 204 Y 204 Z 204 About the Editor and the Contributors 206 Introduction Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism.