Communicating with the Dead in America – with Dr. Brett Hendrickson

Event: fb://event/1299998587680615
Cultures around the world feature techniques for staying in touch with loved ones beyond the grave. In the United States, widespread belief in ghosts and the many examples of spirit communication through mediums have been common throughout our history. In this presentation, we will explore an American history of communicating with the dead including antebellum seances, the twentieth-century Ouija board craze, a fascination with zombies, and contemporary attempts to contact the dead through social media. We will ponder what motivates us to talk to the deceased and the surprising role science plays in these efforts.
About Brett Hendrickson:
Brett Hendrickson is a professor and head of the Department of Religious Studies at Lafayette College where he teaches a popular First-Year Seminar entitled “Communicating with the Dead.” He also teaches and publishes on Latino religious history and the study of religion and healthcare. Hendrickson received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University and his B.A. from Columbia University in New York. He grew up in rural Arkansas but has been an Easton resident since 2011 where he and his family live on College Hill.
This program is free for NCHGS members and $10.00 for non-members.
This program is being funded in whole or in part with funding from the Hotel Tax Grant Program through the County of Northampton Department of Community & Economic Development.