Essential Encounters Sessions at ESU to Continue with "Death: Is there Life after Death?"

"Is there Life after Death?" is the title of the newest in the Essential Encounters non-credit lecture series which has been offered at East Stroudsburg University over the past five years. The new set of "Encounters" lectures, which are open to the public at no cost, will take beginning Thursday, September 17, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Room 422 of Stroud Hall at East Stroudsburg University followed by four other sessions on Tuesday, September 22nd, Thursday, September 24th, Tuesday, September 29th, and Thursday, October 1st, at the same time and location.

Dr. Peter Roche de Coppens will present the first three sessions and co-presenter, Mr. Ray Starner will present the fourth, with the fifth and final session being co-presented by Roche de Coppens and Starner. Prof. Roche de Coppens is a retired ESU Professor of Sociology, and author of more than 70 books dealing with topics related to spirituality, education and healthcare. Ray Starner is senior vice president and financial adviser at Smith Barney in Stroudsburg, Pa., and is also very interested in religion and spirituality.

Dr. Roche de Coppens said, "The basic questions we will present, debate, and seek to answer together are: is there life after death?, do we retain our identity, sensibility, and consciousness after the demise of our physical body? In other words, is a human being a mortal or an immortal being? Raymond Moody and many other world-renowned thinkers have come to the conclusion that this is the most important of all questions which people have raised and reflected upon in all times and places. Can the question be answered? What implications does it have for our health, well-being, and creativity for how we live our lives?"

Drawing from their personal experiences, from spirituality and religion as well as science and psychology, the presenters will raise, analyze and discuss with the audience the following basic points:

 I. "Epistemology": What constitutes valid knowledge?

II. Basic assumptions underlying and structuring our topic.

III. The religious perspective.

IV. The spiritual perspective.

V. The scientific perspective.

VI. The work of Dr. Raymond Moody.

VII. Conclusion

"This series will endeavor to show how important the question of life after death really is and attempt to dispel fears and anxieties about death and dying and about the death of our loved ones, thus bringing inner peace and serenity and enabling us to live better, be healthier and much more fulfilled," said Dr. Roche de Coppens.

Interested participants in the Essential Encounters summer sessions should simply come to the lecture at the appointed time. For further information contact Dr. Roche de Coppens at 570-422-3276 in the ESU Sociology Department, or Cheri Burbank, at 570-422-3453.