Seminar

Perspectives on Death

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An intellectual journey to unravel the multifaceted tapestry of human perceptions of death.

During the seminar, we delved deep into the complex terrain of human understanding of death. We examined how these understandings have evolved across diverse cultures and through the passage of time, tracing our explorations from the pages of the Epic of Gilgamesh to the complexities of our modern world.

Key questions that permeated our discussions included the intimate connection between death and morality, the profound psychological effects that the awareness of mortality has on individuals, the elusive nature of consciousness, and the profound influence of religious and technological transformations on our evolving outlooks regarding death.

Throughout this seminar, a diverse array of perspectives were presented, offering insights into our ever-evolving comprehension of death and its role in the human experience. From ancient texts to contemporary insights, our exploration of this universal theme provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Participants

Nils Billing

Associate Professor of the History of Religions in the Department of Theology, Uppsala University; PhD in Egyptology, ThD in Theology

Per Faxneld

Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Södertörn University, Stockholm

Joel Halldorf

Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University

Patrick O’Sullivan

Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Visiting Fellow at University College, Oxford

Per Snaprud

Medicine Editor at Forskning & Framsteg (“Research & Progress”)

Sheldon Solomon

Professor of Psychology at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs

Angela Sumegi

Dr., Adjunct Research Professor of Humanities and Religion at Carleton University, Ottawa

Martin Worthington

Al-Maktoum Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Trinity College Dublin

Andrei Znamenski

Professor of History, Department of History, University of Memphis