“The bookends of time”
Thomas Moynihan writes for Aeon: Just under 500 years ago, Nicolaus Copernicus initiated a string of discoveries eventually proving our planet is not the centre of a tidy, manageable cosmos. Instead, Earth pirouettes around a mediocre star within an ungraspably vast Universe. It took generations for people to start noticing – and giving names to … Read more“The bookends of time”
Tom Robbins (July 22, 1932 – February 9, 2025)
Petals fell, poetry was spoken and honey tasted to commemorate the life and death of American author Tom Robbins: The search for meaning is not a whole lot different than the yearning for certainty, which is to say, an unsuitable pursuit for any who might aspire to nimbleness of mind, amplitude of soul, or freedom … Read moreTom Robbins (July 22, 1932 – February 9, 2025)
“Death and Her Compass”
Documentarist Annie Marr created this short feature on death doula Andrews ‘Bones’ Nelson, who reflects on matters of grief, mortality and the meaning she finds in giving comfort to the dying.
“What Tolstoy Knew About a Good Death”
Arthur C. Brooks writes for The Atlantic: So what if we were able to realize the benefit of facing death without it actually being imminent? Or, put another way: How can we use a positive acceptance of death to help us be more alive while we still have the most life left? In theory, we … Read more“What Tolstoy Knew About a Good Death”
Death and Dying According to the Church of Reality
The nontheistic Church of Reality offers words of practical wisdom regarding mortality, including the following principles of decisions involving death: Every Death is Unique – Every death is individual and unique. Rules and policies around death should be flexible to accommodate the wishes of the dying person and the person’s family. Wisdom should Prevail – … Read moreDeath and Dying According to the Church of Reality
“Why We Fear Death”
The Two Dudes Philosophy YouTube channel offers a cogent summary and analysis of Ernest Becker’s “Denial of Death” thesis.
Erik Davis on the Fact of Death as a Liberator
The reason you don’t know is because you’re going to die, and nobody is going to wrap their heads around death. You can’t do it. It’s impossible. You can’t conceive of your own death. You don’t know what it means. Any religious person who tells you, “Well, this has what happens when you die. When … Read moreErik Davis on the Fact of Death as a Liberator
The Sicilian Feast of the Dead
A short, informative presentation on the Festa dei Morti traditions of Sicily.