“The purpose of a funeral is not to uplift the audience,” [Thomas Long] says, “but to transform the cast.” .…
Death creates chaos on every level . . . Out of this vandalized shalom emerges ritual–the orderly, tradition-based, formal performances…
This image links the notion of ‘shalom’ (written here in Hebrew) to what is described in the chapter as “vandalized…
The suggestion that the dead would eventually come alive again in restored bodies was not some peripheral, secondary belief. According…
“Almost everyone becomes religious when they are dying.” Perhaps this is an overstatement–at least in a New England university town.…
The figure is an erect, humanized form of the hybrid creature from the Isenheim Altarpiece . . . if compared…
And there he was. That anguished man on the cross, larger than life, bearing all the marks of ergotism. His…
The Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald: The Antonites ‘prescribed’ viewing the altarpiece to those in their care who were suffering…
Dr. Dugdale’s comments on this image are interesting. She calls it disturbing and indicates that previous drafts were even more…
In physiology . . we say that fear triggers a “flight or fight” response. When we feel threatened, we either…
In my comments this week, I am going to skip over the initial pages of this chapter in which Dr.…
In different ways, this image seems both realistic and unrealistic. The man, the wheelchair, and the sign are depicted is…
Not only did hospitals entice with medicine and procedure; they also offered a welcome respite to families and community members…
Does it matter where we die? Page 71 As Dr. Dugdale suggests, there are several ways this question could be…
Dr. Dugdale tells us that this image depicts Mrs. Ito and evokes the Japanese danchi where she lived and where…
Our communities of support do not have to be perfect, but they should feel hospitable. We should feel safe among…
Was Mr. Bell lonely? . . . It is entirely possible, however, that Kleinfield’s title [“The Lonely Death of George…
Here is Michael W. Dugger’s ink rendering for chapter 2: Here is the vanitas painting of Philippe de Champaigne that…
[According to the original Ars Moriendi,] we have to acknowledge the possibility of death while we are still healthy [and]…
She declined to discuss it. In her mind, the question she faced was whether she should choose to live a…
One of the earliest versions of the Ars moriendi was illustrated. The art of human finitude provokes anticipation and preparation…
In this post, I will quote passages in Dr. Dugdale’s text that I find especially discussion worthy, pose questions about…
In this post, I will quote passages in Dr. Dugdale’s text that I find especially discussion worthy, pose questions about…