Class 1: What Is Death?

Question 1

What is the language of death?

Answer 1

Using euphemisms to talk about death as it is something we fear

Question 2

What are euphemisms and why do we use them?

Answer 2

Euphemisms are a substitution of an “offensive” term such as changing died to passed away. We use euphemisms to avoid describing what we fear or what we deem unpleasant.

Question 3

What are cultural symbols of death and why do we use them?

Answer 3

The Grim Reaper is an example of a symbol of death which was developed during the Black Plague. The reason we use them is to cope with and make fun of death to bury our fear.

Question 4

What is Death Positivity?

Answer 4

Death Positivity is a specific attitude towards life/death that emphasizes the normality of death.

Question 5

What are the three types of death?

Answer 5

Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual

Question 6

Briefly explain physical death.

Answer 6

Physical death is the loss of brain waves, heart and breathing functions. It is a very scientific view of death.

Question 7

Briefly explain psychological death

Answer 7

Psychological death is the loss of consciousness, emotional deadening. It is a gradual process.

Question 8

Briefly explain spiritual death

Answer 8

Spiritual death is where the “sense of self” is transformed and we “pass on” from one state to the next.

Question 9

Explain near death experiences

Answer 9

• Strange sounds
• White light
• Tunnel
  -Out of body/floating experience
• Voices of others
• Feeling calm or at peace
• Abrupt return to body

Question 10

Who is Raymond Moody?

Answer 10

He is an American Psychologist, who recorded similar experience of ~150 people who clinically died but came back to life