Cultural Attitudes Toward

Death & Dying

By: Tiffany Miller
 Judaism: After-Life Beliefs
 Some Jews only believe in and after-death, which is
when the dead go to a place called Sheol where “the
soul eventually slides into oblivion” (Leming &
Dickinson, 2016, p.129).

 Other Jews believe in resurrection and a final judgment

(Leming & Dickinson, 2016, p.129).

 Judaism believes that God saves all of Israel for

history, opposed to saving them as individuals (Leming
& Dickinson, 2016, p.129).
 Judaism: Funeral Customs
 Jews have funeral services and rituals (Leming &
Dickinson, 2016, p.129).

Photo Credit: (Jewish Funeral, n.d.)

 Judaism: End of Life
Decisions
 According to Husseini (2011,p.23), if a Jew is on his/her
deathbed, it is forbidden to do something to quicken
his/her death.

 “When a patient is gosses there is no obligation to

prolong his/her life through medical devices” (Husseini,
2011, p.23)

 Heavy doses of medication to make him/her

comfortable is accepted (Husseini, 2011, p.24)
 Christianity: After-Life Beliefs
 Christians believe in the resurrection of the body and
going to Heaven after death, to live with the Heavenly
Father (Leming & Dickinson, 2016, p.129-130).

 Christians also believe in being condemned to hell after

death for punishment (Leming & Dickinson, 2016,
p.130).
Christianity: Funeral Customs
 Memorial/funeral services are held.
 Services are designed to be comforting to the family
members, which help them start the grieving process.

 A viewing of the body can be held if the body is not

cremated.
 Services can include scripture readings by the pastor,
and remembrance hymns chosen by the family can be
played.
 Flowers can be placed in the church where the service
is held.
 Christianity: End of Life
Decisions
 End of life
decisions, such as
blood transfusions
and life support,
are normally
decided by the
individual or the
family ahead of
time.

Photo Credit: (Miller, 2015)

 Hinduism: After-Life Beliefs
 Hindu’s believe in reincarnation of the soul from one
body to another (Leming & Dickinson, 2016, p.134).
 “For the Hindu, the goal is not to experience life after
death, but rather to have one’s soul united with the
Oversoul” (Leming & Dickinson, 2016, p.134).
 During the grieving process, Hindu tradition restricts
the loved ones of the deceased from attending any
events for one year (Hindu Periods of Mourning, 2015).
Hinduism: After-Life Beliefs
Continued

Photo Credit: (Hinduism and Buddhism, 2015)

 Hinduism: Funeral Customs
 Hinduism prefers to have the body cremated within 24
hours after death (Hindu Funeral Customs, n.d.)

 Cremains are usually scattered over a sacred body of

water (Hindu Funeral Customs, n.d.)

 White clothing is preferred for funerals, wearing black is

frowned upon (Hindu Funeral Customs, n.d.)

 Offerings of flowers is allowed, but offering of food is

not custom (Hindu Funeral Customs, n.d.)
 Hinduism: End of Life
Decisions
 In Hinduism, the most senior member of the family
makes the end of life decisions for the individual….

 Prolonging life with medical care is believed to interfere

with karma, and is against Hindu thinking…
 Medical care: Intubation, tube feeding, or any intensive
care.
 Buddhism: After-Life Beliefs
 Buddhism is similar to
Hinduism in the way that
the goal is not to
experience life after death
(Leming & Dickinson,
2016, p.137).
 “The ultimate goal of
Buddhism is a state of
consciousness and not a
symbolic location for the
disembodied soul”
(Leming & Dickinson,
2016, p.137). Photo Credit: (Bennett, n.d.)
 Buddhism: Funeral Customs
 The deceased must be dressed in everyday clothing,
he/she should not be dressed in fancy clothes
(Buddhist Funeral Traditions, n.d.)

 Cremation and burials are both accepted in Buddhism

(Buddhist Funeral Traditions, n.d.)

 Chanting at funeral services are preformed by monks

(Buddhist Funeral Traditions, n.d.)

 White is to be worn to the service opposed to black

(Buddhist Funeral Traditions, n.d.)
 Buddhism: End of Life
Decisions
 Family members make end of life decisions
(McCormick, 2013)

 Hastening death is accepted (McCormick, 2013)

 Life support is against tradition (McCormick, 2013)
 Islam: After-Life Beliefs
 Islam believes that
after death, all
people will face
divine judgment,
where they are
assigned their
eternal dwelling
places (Leming &
Dickinson, 2016,
p.132).
Photo Credit: (Miller, 2015)
 Islam: Funeral Customs
 Autopsies are not allowed, they ruin the body (Muslim
Funeral Traditions, n.d.).
 Bodies must be buried, cremation is forbidden (Muslim
Funeral Traditions, n.d.).
 Embalming and cosmetology of the body is not allowed
(Muslim Funeral Traditions, n.d.).
 Funeral services are performed by all members of the
community (Muslim Funeral Traditions, n.d.).
 Food is made for the family during the mourning period of 40
days (Muslim Funeral Traditions, n.d.).
 Islam: End of Life Decisions

 Euthanasia is forbidden in all cases (Husseini, 2011).

 Medical treatment decisions are to be made by
physicians (Husseini, 2011).
 References
 Bennett, B. (n.d.). BASIC BELIEFSBASIC BELIEFS THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS SIDDHARTHA

GAUTAMA KARMA DHARMA REINCARNATION THE BUDDHA THE EIGHT FOLD PATH

1. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://slideplayer.com/slide/6590625/.

 Buddhist Funeral Traditions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2017, from

https://www.everplans.com/articles/buddhist-funeral-traditions.

 Hindu Funeral Customs, Rituals, and Services: What to know. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26,

2017, from https://www.funeralwise.com/customs/hindu/.

 References Continued
 Hindu Periods of Mourning. (2015, January 06). Retrieved February 26, 2017, from

http://www.econdolence.com/learn/articles/hindu-periods-of-mourning/.

 Hinduism and buddhism. (2015, October 26).. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from https://

www.slideshare.net/Mrleeclass/hinduism-and-buddhism-54389090.

 Husseini, D. A. (2011, November 14). The Implications of Religious Beliefs on Medical and Patient

Care [Scholarly project]. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from

http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1047&context=od_theses_msod.
 References Continued
 Jewish Funeral (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://www.nanozine.org/jewish-funeral.html.

 Leming, M.R. & Dickinson, G.E. (2016). Understanding Dying, Death, and Bereavement (8th ed.). Stamford, CT:

Cengage Learning.

 McCormick, A. J. (2013, June 18). Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care. Retrieved February 26,

2017, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15524256.2013.794060

 Miller, G. (2015, May 14). Edexcel Religious Studies Unit 8. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from https://

www.slideshare.net/Gmiller123/edexcel-religious-studies-unit-8.

 Muslim Funeral Traditions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2017, from https://www.everplans.com/articles/muslim- funeral-

traditions.