Thinking about religion, Clergy visit, human nature

What do you see as the role of religion in our lives?  Ancient relics, modern ritual devoid of real meaning, ties that bind people together, answers to questions about life after death, .....?  Comment based on your readings, blogging, and insight gained from our guests.

27Feb15 A Death Row Inmate Finds Common Ground With Theologians
An interesting tie to class
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/us/a-death-row-inmate-finds-common-ground-with-theologians.html

27Feb15 Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, Ex-President of University of Notre Dame, Dies at 97
By ANTHONY DePALMA 

He stood up to the White House and the Vatican as he transformed Catholic higher education in America and raised a powerful moral voice in national affairs

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/us/rev-theodore-hesburgh-influential-ex-president-of-notre-dame-dies-at-97.html?referrer=

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Q&A about Ash Wednesday 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/hell-lent-ash-wednesday/

Do you follow the practice of giving up something for Lent?  Discuss why or why not.  

Suicide

Can anyone rationally choose suicide?  Don't we have a self-preservation instinct?  How should we account for cultural variation in types and rates of suicide?
 
FRONTLINE's The Suicide Plan.  Aired: 11/13/2012 running time: 01:23:41 http://video.pbs.org/video/2304058290/   This directly pertains to our class discussions.  Does anyone want to watch it and perhaps summarize for class?

9Feb15. Congress tries to help with suicide prevention for vets
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/09/opinion/congress-acts-on-veteran-suicides.html?referrer=
"The legislation addresses an urgent problem, as the V.A. works to make improvements after last year’s scandal. An estimated 22 veterans kill themselves each day on average, according to the latest government data. "

Current Events - Feb

28Feb15. Ebola almost gone, but retains its grip on Sierra Leone

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/world/africa/nearly-beaten-in-sierra-leone-ebola-makes-a-comeback-by-sea.html?emc=edit_th_20150301&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=25414714&_r=0&referrer=

27Feb15 tragic killings in small Missouri town
Tiny Missouri Town Is Reeling After Gunman Kills Seven Neighbors

By ELI YOKLEY, RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA and JOHN ELIGON 

The suspect, who was found dead after the shootings, is believed to have killed his victims in four different homes
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/us/gunman-kills-7-people-in-tyrone-missouri.html?referrer=

19Feb15  My Own Life - NYTimes.com
Oliver Sacks, the great writer and researcher, is facing death.  Read his brave words.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/19/opinion/oliver-sacks-on-learning-he-has-terminal-cancer.html?referrer= 

18Feb15 California: Lawsuit Seeks to Exempt Doctors From Assisted Suicide Ban - NYTimes.com
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/us/california-lawsuit-seeks-to-exempt-doctors-from-assisted-suicide-ban.html?nlid=25414714&src=recpb&_r=0&referrer=

16Feb15 Look how trendy we are, class!  http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304104504579377160102817476

13Feb15 decision-making about end-of-life care
http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2015/02/09/know-the-hard-choices-prolonging-life-entails/?emc=edit_tnt_20150209&nlid=17549218&tntemail0=y&_r=2&referrer=

"The kinds of questions doctors should be asking:

■ What gives your life meaning and joy?

■ What are your biggest fears and concerns?

■ What are you looking forward to?

■ What goals are most important to you now?

■ What trade-offs or sacrifices are you willing to make to achieve those goals?"

11Feb15  self, right to refuse food, & dementia
I heard this story driving home from class last night - it touches much of what we were discussing!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/02/10/382725729/if-you-have-dementia-can-you-hasten-death-as-you-wished

11Feb15   Lynching as Racial Terrorism - NYTimes.com

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/11/opinion/lynching-as-racial-terrorism.html?referrer=

10Feb15  Forgiveness
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/10/opinion/david-brooks-the-act-of-rigorous-forgiving.html?referrer=

6Feb15. People find comfort in being with people like themselves at end of life
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/02/06/384043496/being-with-people-like-you-offers-comfort-against-deaths-chill?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=science