With Father David Peck
and Professor Randall Zachman

Peace at the Last: The meaning of life in the light of death

Term 1, February 19 – March 26, 2026
Entirely on Zoom

In its seventh year, the 2026 Mercy Seminar will explore what different faith traditions can teach us about living our best life and dying our best death. How can the certainty of death help create focus and deepen gratitude rather than increase depression and anxiety? Is death really “nothing at all” or “a simple turning out of the lights”, or “the gate to eternal life”?

Exploring short selected readings of sacred Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptures as well as recent secular spiritual writing, we will find in contemplative practices in our well-established Zoom format a remarkably intimate coast-to-coast community.

In the first term, we will focus on Hindu and Buddhist conceptions of birth and death and how one can escape the inherent suffering in the cycle of birth and death.

In term two, we will focus on the emergence of Jewish and Muslim theologies of resurrection and the world to come.

In term three, we will focus on Christian understandings of resurrection and eternal life.

Using contemplative practices, we will seek to come to an empathetic understanding of the hopes and visions of Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the land of Israel/Palestine. Our goal is to develop in a contemplative way, a deeper understanding of and sensitivity towards these contested perspectives so that we all might pray for the peace of Jerusalem with greater spiritual understanding and compassion.

Classes meet on six consecutive Thursday evenings via Zoom from 7:00 to 8:30 PM EST. Each term stands alone but, when taken together, offers a layered understanding as our knowledge of the issues increases. All sessions are recorded and available to participants for asynchronous viewing.

Each session will be recorded in Zoom and available for viewing for those who have completed their registration.

Cost: $75/term, includes access to course readings, recorded sessions for
asynchronous viewing, instructor office hours and podcasts.

Scholarships are available; please email Nancy LeVasseur for more information.