Short Essay Assignment

For Chapter 14: Beyond Death/After Life, discuss two of the six questions below. In your submission, identify by number which questions you are answering.

1. Compare Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato with respect to their views of life after death.

2. Summarize the main elements of Islamic belief about life after death.

3. Describe the Buddhist perspective of death, paying particular attention to the different meanings of karma, the two types of death, and transmigration.

4. Describe what is meant by the secularization of death, and give at least three examples of a secular understanding of immortality.

5. Describe the composite picture of NDEs and discuss the frequency with which the various elements are experienced.

6. Evaluate the "wall/door" metaphor and its implications. Which seems more correct to you? Explain your answer.

7. Describe the impact of religious or spiritual beliefs on the care of the dying.