Summer 2020/Fuller Online

CN535

Roozeboom

CN535: GRIEF, LOSS, DEATH AND DYING. (4 Units: 165 hours). William D. Roozeboom.

DESCRIPTION: Loss is a universal human experience, and grief may be understood as a response to loss. In this course, the grief and pain associated with loss, death, and dying—the major crises of life—will be explored pastorally, psychologically, culturally, and theologically. Additionally, the nature of human suffering, the problem of theodicy, the mystery of healing, and the re/discovery of hope and meaning will be explored, as well as how one’s attachment to God shapes one’s spiritual and religious coping in times of grief and loss. The main focus will be on how to respond pastorally to grieving individuals, families, and communities.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, students will: (1) understand contemporary critiques of traditional psychological conceptualizations of grief, such as stage theory, and recognize new developments in grief theory; (2) formulate a perspective on grief and loss that integrates theological, pastoral, cultural, and psychological dimensions; (3) articulate the multiple and complex processes of grieving loss, encountering death, and supporting the bereaved; (4) face her/his own mortality and survey the dynamics of death in the current health-care environment; and (5) value pastoral care of the dying and grieving as a critical ministry of the church, particularly the role of rituals, such as funerals.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Electives fulfill the MAT PLO that states “Students will have demonstrated academic capacities appropriate to an area of focus in a theological discipline or to interdisciplinary theological study.” Addresses MAICS Area of Interest Class “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning in the online format.

REQUIRED READING: ~1,250 pp. total required reading.

Boss, Pauline. Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss. W. W. Norton & Co., 2006. ISBN: 978-0393704495, Pub. Price $35.00 [82 pp. assigned]. Available as an e-book on Amazon.

Davidson, Andrew and Evans, Sioned. Care for the Dying: A practical and pastoral guide. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2014. Available as an e-book on Amazon. [153 pages].

Gawande, Atul. Being Mortal. New York: Picador. Available as an e-book on Amazon. [258 pages].

Kelley, Melissa M. Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry. Fortress Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800696610, Pub. Price $20.00 [160 pp.]. Available as an e-book on Amazon.

Mitchell, Kenneth & Herbert Anderson. All Our Losses, All Our Griefs: Resources for Pastoral Care. Westminster John Knox Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0664244934, Pub. Price $22.00 [182 pp.]. Available as an e-book on Amazon.

Parkes, Colin Murray, Pittu Laungani, & William Young. (eds.). Death and Bereavement Across Cultures. Routledge, 2015. ISBN: 978-0415131377, Pub. Price $44.95 [93 pp. assigned]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller library.

Worden, William. Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy, Fourth Edition. Springer, 2008. ISBN: 978-0826101204, Pub. Price $64.99 [328 pp.]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller library.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. Doubleday, 2002. ISBN: 978-0767905923, Pub. Price $16.00 [224 pp.].

Attig, Thomas. How We Grieve: Relearning The World. Rev ed. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0195397697, Pub. Price $32.95 [190 pp. assigned].

Billings, J. Todd. Rejoicing in Lament: Wrestling with Incurable Cancer & Life in Christ. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press.

Cobb, John. Matters of Life and Death. Westminster John Knox Press, 1991. ISBN: 978-0664251697, Pub. Price $30.00 [124 pp.].

Devine, Megan. Its OK that You’re not OK: Meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn’t understand. Boulder, CO: Sounds True Publishing, 2017.

Fowler, Gene. Caring Through The Funeral: A Pastor’s Guide. Chalice Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0827204935, Pub. Price $23.99 [192 pp.].

Irish, Donald, Kathleen Lundquist & Vivian Nelsen. Ethnic Variations in Dying, Death, and Grief: Diversity in Universality. Taylor & Francis, 1993. ISBN: 978-1560322771, Pub. Price $53.95 [248 pp.].

Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth. On Death and Dying. Scribner, 1997. ISBN: 978-0684842233, Pub. Price $25.00 [288 pp.].

Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. Harper One, 2009. ISBN: 978-0060652739, Pub. Price $18.99 [96 pp.].

Long, Thomas G. Accompany Them with Singing—the Christian Funeral. Westminster John Knox, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233198, Pub. Price $25.00 [240 pp.].

Long, Thomas G. What Shall We Say?: Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802865144, Pub. Price $25.00 [172 pp.].

Soelle, Dorothy, Suffering. Fortress Press, 1975. ISBN: 978-0800618131, Pub. Price $24.00 [192 pp.].

Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Lament For A Son. Eerdmans, 1987. ISBN: 978-0802802941, Pub. Price $12.00 [111 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. A minimum of 1,250 pages of wide reading of theory and cases. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [65 hours].
2. Participation in course activities weekly, including: online class sessions, forum posts, responses, and individual reflection processes. Forum posts and responses are due each week throughout the course. These assignments (including the readings from #1) will makeup 20% of the final grade. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [30 hours].
3. Book Review. Students will choose one text from the selection provided (or suitable substitute) and write a review noting: the author’s main theme or argument, what principles of grief theory are evident, how the author brings them into conversation with theological understandings, and areas of connection/disconnection in the student’s own conception of pastoral caregiving with the grieving. The book review should be 7-pages in length and will make up 25% of the final grade. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3] [20 hours].
4. A site visit to a cemetery or other burial ground. During your visit, note: (1) what feelings, thoughts, and questions arise as you reflect on death generally and theologically; (2) what imagery, rituals, and practices are evident; (3) how you sense culture shapes the grieving process; and (4) how this experience impacts your developing sense of pastoral care with those who grieve. The paper should be 7-pages and will make up 25% of the final grade. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [15 hours].
5. An integrative, critically-reflective paper or practical ministry project on an area of within the topics of grief, loss, death, and dying of particular interest to the student. The paper or project should be 10-pages in length and may include the following options: a research paper, a sermon manuscript and accompanying theological reflection, a funeral service and accompanying theological reflection, a curriculum for a grief group (or other similar group) in a local church. The paper will make up 30% of the final grade. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-5] [35 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Counseling (MIN 5).

FINAL EXAMINATION: The final paper or project will serve as the final exam.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.