Abstract This paper looks at the ways in which religions approach the disposal of human bodies after death with a particular focus on cremation. The paper examines religious issues associated with the disposal of the body after death as well as funeral rituals and includes interviews with contemporary religious leaders from different faiths.
From the Paper "The ways in which various religions approach the disposal of the human body after death vary quite significantly. Dimond explored this issue and commented that the two primary practices of the disposal and preparation of the body are burial and cremation. It is the purpose of this research study to first review the literature on the topic of cremation -- a form of body disposal within funeral rituals of many different religious groups that has gained wider acceptance worldwide except among members of the Jewish faith.
Abstract This paper first the discusses the cremation scandal in Georgia that sparked proposals in many states to tighten the regulation of funeral markets. The paper then looks at different state laws, or lack of state laws, regarding cremation and some of the state laws that have been proposed as a way of safeguarding against more cremation scandals.
From the Paper "Although it has been over a year since the 2002 cremation scandal in Georgia when hundreds of decaying corpses were found on the grounds of Tri-State Crematory, many people throughout the country still have concerns about how a crematory would treat their own bodies and those of loved ones. An event this gruesome is not forgotten easily. The situation sparked proposals in many states to tighten the regulation of funeral markets. It comes as no surprise that Georgia was the first state to do so (Wyatt). Whether such laws will calm fears as well as help rectify the situation is still debatable."
Abstract This paper traces the history of funerals and burials in the Catholic Church. There has not been many changes in the standard practices but the Church allowed cremation of the body in 1963 which was one practice strictly forbidden in early times.
From the Paper "The practice of burying the body among Catholics is as old as the faith itself. Catholic church did not permit cremation and burial of the body was the only practiced ritual in funerals, it was believed that cremation of the body was against the catholic beliefs. Since Catholics firmly believe in the Resurrection of the body, they did not allow the body to be burnt and then its ashes later buried or dispersed in the air. The Church strictly forbade this practice and even after the ban was lifted in 1963, most Catholics do not believe in cremation."
Tags: Resurrection, cremating, Christ, Jews, Greeks, Romans, body, death, life
From the Paper "Cremation is simply the practice of burning human corpses ? except for the fact that nothing about a culture's last rites is ever really simple. Last rites are among the most important to any group in how it defines itself. Cultural identity consists of a series of actions and beliefs that one does and has ? and that one's neighbor does not do and does not have. Some of these actions and beliefs are relatively inconsequential and can be (and are) changed frequently and without much thought or significance given to such changes. Other customs, such as funerary rites, tend to change slowly and to reflect large overall changes in the society. How we say goodbye for the last time is one of the ways in which we learn to define who exactly it is that we are.
"This paper looks at the ritual of cremation in two different cultures ..."
Abstract This paper examines how burial rituals or funerary customs in other cultures are as unique and different as the cultures themselves and how, in every culture, when death occurs, the body is usually buried or cremated respectfully to honor the person that passed on. It looks at how different cultures have different beliefs regarding what happens to a person after they die and how, in general, most cultures believe that one's soul leaves the body and goes on to another world or to become another creature. In particular, it shows how a culture's belief of what happens to the soul affects the manner in which the dead are prepared or disposed through analysis of the burial rituals of several different cultures and religions.
Outline
Introduction
Egyptians
Hinduism
Judaism
Islam
Tibetan Buddhists
From the Paper "An Egyptian funeral began at the house of the deceased early in the morning. By the time that the funeral began the person had already been mummified (Taylor 114). The mummification process itself was a very long process that lasted on an average of seventy days or more (Mims 197). The mummification was completed in order to preserve the body so that when it's soul came looking for the body it would be recognizable (Arriaza 123). They would be carried from their house by servants through town and across the Nile in a procession that would end at their tomb (Taylor 115). During the procession food would be handed out and professional mourners were hired to mourn the dead (Taylor 114)."
A study using a research design to identify differences in the perceptions and experiences of survivors who make final arrangements at the death of a friend or relative.
Abstract The purpose of this study is to obtain insight into the attitudes of individuals who have had to make final arrangements for a deceased friend or relative and to compare their experiences and perceptions to those identified in the literature. The paper employs a quasi-experimental research design using a sample of 50 survivors identified via newspaper obituaries published 6 to 24 months prior to the study to test two research hypotheses. A full literature review of the subject is also included.
From the Paper "Many individuals attempt to avoid both the high costs of funerals and the emotional trauma of providing for final arrangements by participating in any one of a number of "pre-payment" or "pre-planning" programs offered by funeral directors and cemeterians. Pre-payment plans vary, but most include full payment for selected services and amenities (How to cut..., 1995). Payments can be made in installments, with the details of the final arrangements spelled out in contractual form. While pre-paying can eliminate some of the trauma associated with making final arrangements, there is growing evidence that pre-payment plans are not the ultimate safeguard against funeral home gouging that they were designed to be."
Abstract Death is a topic that affects all of us. The Roman Catholic Church has many rituals concerning death, funerals, rosaries and family. The decision to have a burial or cremation is often an expensive as well as difficult decision to make.
Abstract The idea of life after death has intrigued every culture, religion, and generation since the earliest days of recorded history. Although there is no one specific answer as to what happens to a person once they die, many people have speculated different conclusions. This paper shows how Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus have some similar views and some opposing views on the topic of an afterlife. Not only does the idea of an afterlife puzzle people, but the way a person is laid to rest also differs across cultures. The paper shows that, while Christians, Muslims, and Jews bury their dead, Hindus cremate them. The paper also covers rituals, beliefs, and concepts of Heaven and Hell.
From the Paper "What happens when we die? That's a question that has intrigued the hearts and minds of men and women since the earliest days of recorded history. In fact, anthropologists have concluded that it is virtually impossible to find any major world culture, past or present, which has not developed some form of belief in life after death. If you were to go back four thousand years and study Egyptian culture, you would see a society that was so concerned about the afterlife that they started worrying about it before they hit mid-life. The pyramids and the astonishing numbers of people who worked on them year after year provide ample evidence."
Abstract This paper examines how Tony Harrison extensively features his parents and their death throughout his poetry. It analyzes four of his poems: "Cremation", "Book Ends I & II", "A Good Read", and "Bringing Up". It looks at how he stems from a working class background, and though he moved up the social ladder, his parents remain of the lower class. It discusses how Harrison conveys this social gap superbly with his use of language, dialect, and anecdotal snapshots of his past. Likewise, it discusses how he shows respect for his father's legacy, despite the fact his parents were of working class status.
From the Paper "For example, in "Cremation" he demonstrates respect for his parents in how he shows them both to be hard working. He describes his fathers, "one huge nightshift". It is almost as though in Harrison's eyes, his father worked all hours to enable them to survive. However, Harrison's presentation here can seem negative as it is almost as though his father's huge workload takes over his life and takes up the time when family bonding traditionally occurs. Similarly he also describes how his mother's hard work led to her demise, "the mangle brought it on". Using plosives, Harrison here shows the sheer physicality that his mother had to cope with."
Abstract This paper discusses different cultural and traditional aspects of four periods of the Hohokam history known as the pioneer, colonial, sedentary, and classic periods. The paper explores the architecture of these cultures, their art, the agricultural, hunting and gathering aspects, their clothing and pottery aspects, as well as their ceremonial and religious practices.
From the Paper "The name Hohokam is synonymous with "the ancients" (Kroeber, 1962). The tribe were neighbors to the Anasazi, somewhat similar to Pueblo cultures (Kroeber, 1962), and though to have migrated from various regions in Mexico to Arizona and the surrounding area (Gregoris, 1997). Many often compare the Hohokam with the Anasazi, who built very similar dwellings and lived similar lifestyles. The Hohokam distinguish themselves somewhat however by building largely segregated dwellings on posts and reeds, with habitats typically more arid in nature requiring the digging of irrigated canals and ditches (Kroeber, 1962)."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the dominant white American Christians to the Hindus in relation to beliefs of death and death rituals. The paper begins by examining what each faith believes about death and the afterlife in order to give an understanding of why certain death rituals are performed. It then expands on the process of death related rituals of each culture that take place before death, at the moment of death and after death.
From the Paper "The modern Christian funeral, which has changed dramatically from the funerals of the past, do not necessarily follow any type of order. Again, the funeral is a personal choice of the deceased and the family. These funerals are usually a time to remember the deceased and to comfort and assure the family that the dead has passed into a better place. Prayer and hymns contribute to the benefits of a funeral as well as remembering the dead through the speeches of those close to the person. The one Christian faith that does follow a specific order is the Catholic faith. The order follows three specific rites, two of which are practiced in the church."
Abstract Doris Duke was christened the "richest woman in the world" at the age of twelve when her father, James B. Duke, founder of the American Tobacco Company, passed away. On October 28, 1993, Doris Duke was murdered in her Beverly Hills estate. This paper examines the mystery surrounding the strange death of Duke and role that her butler, Bernard Lafferty played (or did not play) in her murder.
From the Paper "In addition to Tammy Payette's affidavit causing a stir throughout world, it also caused a stir at the Los Angeles Police Department. They launched an investigation into Miss Duke's death. Unsettled about the murder investigation, Lafferty "relinquished control of the Duke estate" (CBS 2 News 3). With the battle over the will concluded a large percentage of the money went to charities for such things as abused animals and children."
Abstract This paper proposes a analysis for looking at how different cultures and religions view funeral rituals and body disposal and why they are viewed differently. The paper also looks at the different elements that influence an individual's views on death and dying.
From the Paper "Disposal of the dead often varies from one culture to the next and one religion to the next. The practice of cremation represents a modern alternative to long drawn-out burial services that take a heavy emotional toll on survivors and the rising cost of traditional funeral rituals."
Abstract The paper provides a comparison and contrast of Hildeburh in "The Wife's Lament." The paper focuses on the Finnsburg fragment of Beowulf with the female narrator, demonstrating their roles as peace-pledges or peace-weavers.
From the Paper "Hildeburh: The Wife's Lament Introduction: In the Finnsburg fragment of Beowulf we are presented with the lament of a Danish princess who is married to a Finn. Her son is a Frisian warrior and but her brother is the leader of the opposing Danes. Both are killed in battle and Hildeburh orders them cremated together. Her husband, Finn leader of the Frisians, is later slain in battler before Hildeburh is returned to Denmark."
Abstract This paper offers a mission statement for the Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, a family-owned business established in 1870. It explains that the company is dedicated to providing the highest quality in pre-need services, traditional funerals, cremations, burials and embalming and to doing so in a sensitive and caring manner. The paper mentions that the company serves the local area around Chagrin Falls, which is approximately 20 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio. This is the area's oldest funeral home and expresses its pride in carrying on the founder's commitment to serve families with compassionate, quality service in a sensitive human caring profession.
From the Paper "The Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home was established in 1870 and remains a family-owned business. The company is dedicated to providing the highest quality in pre-need services, traditional funerals, cremations, burials, and embalming and to doing so in a sensitive and caring manner. The company serves the local area around Chagrin Falls, which is approximately 20 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio. This is the area's oldest funeral home and expresses its pride in carrying on the founder's commitment to serve families with compassionate, quality service in a sensitive human caring profession. The mission of the company is to provide this service to people in a time of need and to help alleviate the grief of the families. The company provides a wide variety of services aside from funerals, including insurance portfolios, caskets, rentals, monuments, removal services, notary services, trusts, vaults, limousine services, out of state services ..."
