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Back to Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences - Unit 1: Historical Foundations

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences - Unit 1: Historical Foundations by Rutgers the State University of New Jersey

4.5
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403 ratings

About the Course

Throughout history, the vast majority of people around the globe have believed they have, however defined, a “soul.” While the question of whether the soul exists cannot be answered by science, what we can study are the causes and consequences of various beliefs about the soul and its prospects of surviving the death of the body. Why are soul and afterlife beliefs so common in human history? Are there adaptive advantages to assuming souls exist? Are there brain structures that have been shaped by environmental pressures that provide the foundation of body/mind dualism that is such a prominent feature of many religions? How do these beliefs shape the worldviews of different cultures and our collective lives? What is the role of competing afterlife beliefs in religion, science, politics, and war? This course explores several facets of this relatively unexplored but profoundly important aspect of human thought and behavior. The course consists mainly of 70 to 80 minute lectures, typically broken up into 3 segments, recorded from a course offered by Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences. These videos include slides and some embedded video clips. Most lectures are accompanied by slides used during the lecture, also including recommended reading assignment which may provide additional opportunities to reflect on your studies. Due to the lengthiness of this class and natural progression, the online course has been separated into 3 units, this is Unit 1....

Top reviews

MS

Sep 21, 2017

Brilliant course, brilliant lecturers, brilliant topic, extremely well thought-out approach to such a mind-blowing topic. I highly recommend it to anyone with even the vaguest interest in the topic.

DA

Aug 21, 2015

I just started with this course and I am loving it! This not only offers a very fresh perspective on beliefs about souls and an afterlife but is also extremely relatable on a personal level.

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101 - 111 of 111 Reviews for Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences - Unit 1: Historical Foundations

By Albin E M J

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Oct 4, 2019

I finished this class a month ago and still haven't gotten a final grade.

By Tina D

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Sep 23, 2017

A complete waste of time especially for those of us with a lot more personal research experience and wise years behind us. If zero had been a choice, that's what I would have given this course. Don't even bother to take the course if you're interested in getting true knowledge especially about the soul.

By Tom W

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Oct 10, 2015

The false comparison between religion and soul beliefs cloud the validity of the course. Maybe the intent was to only show the worst case "Soul Beliefs" then shoot them down. However, at least to me, the instructor seemed to extrapolate "some beliefs" to "all beliefs".

By susan

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Jul 14, 2017

Too slow and not what I thought it would be. I had looked at this before and thought that I would give it another chance.

By Ivette E D M

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Nov 14, 2015

It's format needs a good narrator not based on stupid commercials.

By Stevin M

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Sep 29, 2019

trash, its not letting go forward to the next assignment.

By Elaine G

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Sep 8, 2015

well taught but not what I thought it would be.

By Michael W

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Oct 15, 2015

High on opinion and low on scholarship.

By caetana v

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Oct 19, 2015

Extremely boring teacher

By Ronald H

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Jan 13, 2016

The course was choppy

By Lorraine D

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Dec 1, 2015

not impresseed