Course Outline for RE Grief, Death and Dying Winter 2012 Christopher Ross

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1 1 Course Outline for RE Grief, Death and Dying Winter 2012 Christopher Ross Office Hours: Tuesdays 1 to 1.30 p.m., Thursdays 5.30 to 6 p.m., and Fridays 9.15 to 9.40 a.m., or by appointment. Office location: Woods Building, W 2-111; Telephone: , ext These are the times when nd I can be reliably contacted. At these times I shall give 1st priority to face-to-face meetings, 2 priority rd to your telephone inquiries, and 3 priority to communication sent that week. If you me also include your telephone number. The objectives of this course are (1) to examine the role of loss, grief, and death in human lives, through an exploration of psychotherapeutic and religious responses to these issues; and (2) to provide you with an opportunity to create your own framework to deal with death and loss in your life. TEXTS "CP" refers to Course Package. N. B. Page numbers in the syllabus refer to the original book not the Course Package pages. "S" refers to Stearns: Living Through Personal Crisis "RM": R. Morrone: Death. Mourning and Caring [ ] indicate optional readings. OPTIONAL TEXTS Bowker, J. The Meanings of Death (on death in world religions). NY: Canto Books Myers, I. Briggs. Introduction to Type. (booklet) Palo Alto,: Consulting Psychologist Press, Oates, Joyce Carol. A widow s Story: A Memoir Ecco 2011 ALSO RECOMMENDED Weiss, B. Many Lives Many Masters. [evidence of past lives]. (RSV) means 'On Reserve': Callwood: Twelve Weeks in Spring Harper: Life After Death Class # 1 Jan. 3 (1) Introduction to the Course and its perspectives (i) Loss frames individuals approaches to death. (ii) Religion frames social responses to death. (2) Film: Truly Madly Deeply (Part 1) 1b Jan. 5 Processes of Grieving a Loss S: 1-54; RM ch.1 (for Film: Truly Madly Deeply (Part 2) overview and background), 2a Jan 10 Tasks of Grieving a Loss (2) RM Ch 4 Film: Truly Madly Deeply (Part 3) 2b. Jan 12 Factors in Grieving a Loss (3) S:55-86; RM ch. 12 Film: Truly Madly Deeply (Part 4)

2 2 3a Jan. 17 Blocks in Grieving Processes S: ; RM: b Jan 19 Variations in the Grieving Processes S: [Briggs Myers: Introduction to Psychological Type. The full Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) may be completed at the Counselling Centre]. [1% for all in a single group that has pictures for all group members by this time] 4a Jan 24 Death and Children (1) Developmental influences on children s concept RM: ; and experience of death. 4b Jan 26 (2) The death of children RM: 153, 157, Film: A Grief Shared [Take-home exam given out (15%)] 5a Jan 31 The Death of Parents and Grand Parents RM: ch.7: , 220; ch.8: ; CP: C. Ross: "Mourning Mother, Mourning Father. 5b Feb 2 (2) The Death of Partners RM: ,254, [C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (RSV) or view video: Shadowlands] Film: Thunder in my Head [Take-home exam is due] [Group members have the chance to confirm or change their group] Distribution of orientation to your project. Oates, Joyce Carol. A Widow s Story: A Memoir Ecco 2011; Didion, Joan. The year of Magical thinking 6a Feb. 7 Causes and patterns of suicides: RM: 55-61, b Feb 9 Dealing with suicide RM: ; S: Film: A Promise Broken. Reading Week: Feb a Feb. 14 Ways of Dying: Home, Hospice & Hospital. RM:43-54, Film: The Dying Person (25 min.) [Callwood: Twelve Weeks in Spring

3 3 (RSV)]. 7b Feb 16 Funerals and Burial Rituals RM: CP: How different religions pay their respects, [40 word reviewed project proposal is due by this time or earlier] 8a Feb 28 Christian Approaches to Grief, Loss and Death RM: ; CP: 65-68: Kramer, Sacred Art of Dying, ch. 10: Christian Attitudes To Death. 8a Mar 1 Jewish Beliefs About Death: RM: ; CP: : When a Jew Celebrates ; Film: A Plain Pine Box; Grollman: Concerning Death: "The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning"; In preparation: List the distinctive features and The Jewish Catalogue: Death and practices related to Jewish approaches to death. Burial. 9a Mar 6 Beliefs and practices about death in Islam CP Muslim Ways of Death RM: 384. [project is due] 9b Mar 8 Beliefs and practices about death in Hinduism. CP: Contemporary Hindu approaches to death: living with the. dead ; RM: a Mar. 13 Buddhist Approaches to Death (1) The Philosophy CP: 44-51,Kramer ch. 3 10b Mar 15 Buddhist Approaches to Death (2) Tibetan Buddhist CP: 53-58, Kramer ch. 5. Beliefs. Film: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Part 1[a] CP: : Geshe Kelsang Gyatso: Introduction to Buddhsim 41-3, Joyful Path of Good Fortune ; 11a Mar. 20 Buddhist Approaches to Death (3) Tibetan Buddhist RM: 383; Practices. CP , Thurman & Sogyal on The Tibetan Book of the Dead: 1-28 Film: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Part 1[b].

4 4 11b Mar 22 The role of religion and spirituality in palliative and hospice RM: care. Film excerpt Spirituality in Palliative Care. 12a Mar. 27 Evidence for Life After Death (1) CP: Kastenbaum Do We Survive Film excerpts: Beyond Life and Death and Death? Reincarnation in America. 12b Mar 29 Evidence for Life After Death (2)Near Death Experiences RM: ; Film excerpts including the NDEs of children: [Harper: Life After Death (RSV)] Back from the light th Final take-home examination distributed (and due Tuesday April 24 ; only hard copies will be marked). Grading : 20% Participation, 15% Take home exam; 35 % Project, and 30% final exam. Responsibilities 1. If you anticipate being absent from any class please submit on the front table the dates and details on paper of the conflicting commitment by week 2. If emergencies arise which make it impossible for you to be in class, leave a note regarding the emergency at the end of the next class you attend. Do not leave voic messages. 2. Supply a passport size photograph [it may be cut from another photo] and attach it to the group sheet with your name beneath. Remember: 1% bonus for all in a single group that has pictures for all group members by class 3! 3. Collect your name tag (yours only) and return it at class end, to ensure participation credit. Participation There are two aspects to contributing to the process of the class. One is 'being there' so that you can pick up on the additional information available in the lectures and issues raised in the large and small group discussions. The other aspect is active participation through responding to the issues raised by class-mates and presentations and audio-visual material. I like to acknowledge individual variations in learning style and so if you would like to eliminate the 10% grading for small group participation, you may opt in writing, no later than the end of class 2, to write a 750 word type written book review, due at class 9. If you wish your contribution to class process to not count at all toward your grade you may submit two book reviews of 750 words each, both being due at week 9. Notice of this must also be given by the end of class 2. A book review (as distinct from a book report) should have these components: (i) Place the topic of the book in a broader field of knowledge, (ii) succinctly summarise the substantive theme(s) of the book, (iii) evaluate and document the strengths and weaknesses of the book, especially in regard to (a) the avowed aim of the book, and (b) its contribution to the relevant field as indicated in (i). A tip: it will be easier to successfully complete task (i) after writing the summary involved in task (ii). You will then proceed to complete task (iii); be sure to provide evidence from the text.

5 Project: 1. The focus and method of the project is a matter of your choice, but should fall within the scope of the course. A list of possible topics will be available at week 5, but do not feel restricted to these. 2. The project is due by week 9a. A proposed title and 40 word description is required by class 7b, bring this for review to a scheduled hour between week 5 and 7. Academic misconduct 1. Plagiarism. Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. Students may be required to submit their written work in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism. 2. Operation of electronic devices unrelated to the class material disrupt participation and learning processes in the class. If this rule is violated, your grade will be penalised and may result on you being place on a central register for academic misconduct. See the Undergraduate Calendar for a complete definition of academic misconduct, (detailed procedures available on request). Students with disabilities or special needs are advised to contact Laurier s Accessible Learning Office for information regarding its services and resources. Students are encouraged to review the Calendar for information regarding all services available on campus. FOOT PATROL After class call 886-FOOT for a walk or drive home - No Walk is Too Short or Too Long 5 Best wishes for a successful and meaning -filled course, Christopher Ross, Ph. D., C. Psych. Course Instructor