What is the significance of the World Religions class and instructor that Miles meets in "one hundred twenty-six days before"?

This chapter includes the introduction of Dr. Hyde and his course in World Religions, both of which play important roles in the narrative's thematic consideration of the nature of both life and death. Also in this section, there is a reiteration of the labyrinth motif, or repeated image, which recurs throughout the narrative and which can be seen as evoking the essential nature of Miles' inner journey.