Courtney Campbell is the Hundere chair in religion and culture and a professor in the School of History, Philosophy and Religion at Oregon State University.

Astoria — The Lower Columbia Diversity Project presents “Grave Matters: Reflections on Life and Death across Cultures and Traditions” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at the Astoria Public Library, 450 10th St. This presentation is a free conversation with professor Courtney Campbell and is part of Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project.

Traditional American culture is often portrayed as either death-denying (death is a taboo not to be discussed) or death-defying (life should be prolonged at any cost). Yet diverse religious, philosophical and cultural traditions present mortality not as something to be feared or defied, but as a means of learning how to live a full life. Can acknowledging mortality bring greater meaning to life? This is the focus of “Grave Matters: Reflections on Life and Death across Cultures and Traditions.”

Campbell is the Hundere chair in religion and culture and a professor in the School of History, Philosophy and Religion at Oregon State University. He has been a OSU faculty member since 1990 and has received numerous awards for teaching and scholarship. Campbell serves on the board of directors for Benton Hospice, the ethics committee for Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and coordinates the program in medical humanities at OSU.

Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful conversations about ideas critical to daily life and the state’s future. More information about Oregon Humanities can be found at www.oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.

The program is hosted by the Lower Columbia Diversity Project and the Astor Library Friends Association. For more information, email lcdiversityproject@gmail.com