How do different religions view death and dying?
Religion and spirituality are something many people will think about when faced with mortality, whether a person has been given a terminal diagnosis, is approaching the end of their life, or has experienced a bereavement.
In her latest blog for Part of Life, guest blogger Amy Jackson delves in to religious beliefs around death and dying.
Previously, Part of Life has explored burial customs across different cultures, from hanging coffins in the Philippines to Tibetan Sky Burials, but what are the wider beliefs around death and dying across religions? Ahead of World Religion Day on 19 January, I’m looking into that very topic.
How do different religions view death and dying?
Some people may find comfort and solace in embracing a new religion, while others may feel as though a particular religion has let them down, causing them to turn away from it, or others may even return to one they stopped practicing. Whether it’s the promise of an afterlife or the belief that their death is part of a ‘bigger plan,’ adopting a religion or belief system can also be comforting to those experiencing death anxiety.
One of the key differences in cultural beliefs around death and dying is that while most Western cultures shy away from the topic, many Eastern cultures embrace it and see it as a part of life.
Buddhism
One of the key Buddhist beliefs is that of reincarnation. After death, the spirit leaves the body, which becomes an empty vessel, and that spirit is reborn in another body. Before rebirth, the person is said to pass through a state known as Bardo, a time of insight and liberation. The ultimate goal of the Buddhist path, however, is to reach Nirvana, a state of enlightenment and release from suffering.
As a result, many Buddhists choose to meditate as a way of purifying the mind. When it comes to those nearing the end of life, these rituals can also play an important role. A patient may refuse medication for pain as a way of staying mindful as they approach death, or their loved ones may chant to calm them and send them off into the next realm.
After death, the body can be disposed by any of the four elements (air, earth, water, or fire). The ‘air’ element is where the practice of sky burials come in. With a mainly Buddhist population, in Tibet, the body is left to be consumed by vultures, as a means of separating the soul from the body, offering it back to nature.
Hinduism
Like Buddhists, Hindus also believe in reincarnation. However, while Buddhists believe that we are reborn into another human body, Hindus believe that we can also be reborn into animals or plants, and that our next incarnation depends on how we lived our previous life. Similar to the Buddhist belief, the ultimate goal is for the soul to be released from the cycle of life and death, however in Hinduism, this is known as Moksha.
After death, the person’s body is kept covered, and sacred objects are placed with them by loved ones. The family will then wash and dress the body, a process that tends to be led by the eldest son of the deceased.
Usually, cremation will happen within 24 hours of death, and in some cases the ashes will be scattered into the sea as a means of transporting the person into their next life. In others, they may be scattered in a sentimental place. Ten days later, a ceremony will be held as a way of freeing the person’s soul into heaven.
Sikhism
As with Hindus, Sikhs also believe that the soul is reborn into the life and death cycle, or that it reaches Moksha. When a person is approaching death, they will receive their final rites in the form of hymns recited from holy scriptures, either by a priest or Giani from their local Gurdwara (the Sikh place of worship).
After death, friends and family prepare the body. Sikhs wear five physical items that signify their faith to the practice, known as the ‘five Ks’ or ‘five articles of faith,’ and these items are kept with the body:
Kesh (uncut hair)
Kara (a steel bracelet)
Kanga (a wooden comb)
Kaccha - also spelt, Kachh, Kachera (cotton underwear)
Kirpan (steel sword)
Most Sikhs are cremated as soon as possible after death.
Islam
The Muslim belief around death and dying is that after our physical death on Earth, our soul lives on, awaiting Judgement Day. The teachings of the Qur’an state that those who are deemed as righteous will go to paradise (known as ‘Jannat’), while those who have sinned will go to hell (known as ‘Jahannam’).
The Islamic practice has several rituals for preparing the dying and the deceased. A prayer known as Talqueen is recited as a way of preparing the person spiritually. It is an important religious duty within the Muslim community to visit the sick and dying, so someone approaching the end of life may receive lots of visitors.
The Islamic mourning period lasts for 40 days. After death, the body is prepared for burial and will be washed by a family member of the same gender. The body is then wrapped in sheets and taken to the mosque for the funeral. Following the funeral, the family will usually be brought food from members of their local community for three days.
Judaism
In contrast, Judaism is a faith that remains ambiguous around what happens when we die, with the focus more on our lives on Earth. Many Jews believe in an afterlife and that it can come in different forms, such as reincarnation or the ‘World to Come’ (similar to Heaven).
The Jewish faith encourages burial over cremation, and traditionally, cremation wasn’t allowed at all. This is due to the view that the soul leaves the body step-by-step, with the body requiring a ‘proper’ Jewish ceremony. Funerals should be held as soon as possible after death; however, the body cannot be touched for at least 20 minutes.
An important post-death custom in Judaism is the recognition of democracy in the afterlife. The deceased should be dressed in simple, handmade clothing, as a way of signifying equality among the rich and the poor in death. Another important custom involves the washing of the body after death, a practice known as Taharah. The Torah states that at birth, we are washed and cleaned immediately after we enter the world, so the same should happen as we leave it.
Following burial, family members may choose to observe a period of mourning known as Shiva, in the deceased’s home.
Christianity
With many different branches of Christianity, there are a number of different death customs that reflect this. The concept of the afterlife is a belief adopted by Christians, and it is believed that our actions and moral decisions determine whether we go to heaven or hell. For those who are Catholic, there is also the concept of purgatory, where a person must purify their sins before moving on to heaven.
A Christian approaching the end of their life may have a minister visit them to help prepare them for death through reciting prayers, and (if the person is Catholic), a final confession.
Typically, Christian funerals will be held around a week to two weeks after death, either at a church or crematorium with services consisting of sermons, prayers, hymns and reflection. If the person has chosen to be buried, mourners will often toss a handful of dirt or dust onto the coffin, while an extra prayer is recited by the minister.
Non-Religious Beliefs Around Death
For those who don’t adopt a particular religion or belief system, everyone will have their own views on what happens after death. This could be the belief that life and death are connected through nature, or it could simply be the view that when we die, that’s it. Some may have conflicting views around the topic.
Regardless of our views around death, whether religious or not, having open and honest conversations is one of the best ways in which we work to change our attitudes around our own mortality.
If you enjoyed reading this blog, you might like Burial customs from around the world.
