Dr Chris Deacy, Reader in Theology and Religious Studies, in the Department of Religious Studies, has been interviewed by the American-based arts website Cosmoetica on the topic of death and the afterlife.
Cosmoetica was founded in 2001 by the American poet and literature and film critic, Dan Schneider. The interview with Chris Deacy forms part of the Dan Schneider Video Interviews series which discuss art, science and intellectual pursuits, which are also available on YouTube.
The 90-minute interview with Chris talks about his research into death and immortality. In the video, Chris argues, ‘death itself is a subject we often fear, we all have our own perspectives or views on death and we all know someone who has passed away, but in terms of what happens after… – the post-mortem journey – we are far less interested’.
‘What really interests me’, he continues, ‘is trying to formulate some understanding of how the afterlife might take shape, what it might look like or feel like… we are never going to get an answer to this, in a way it is the most perfect, ultimate, absolute [and] necessary question, but we are often too afraid to properly encroach on’ the question of what happens to us after we die. He also said ‘one of the most important things in life is the development of relationships born out of kindness, compassion and not causing people harm and if that template is good enough for whatever is in the afterlife, if there is one, that is the best we can do.’
This interview is part of a trilogy on death which includes an interview with philosopher Julia Assante and social psychologist Sheldon Solomon. All three interviews can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTwKY0XeFydMX5Qdwzv1AYPtMg5ltLwO9