In my last presentations I would like to share with you with habits and customs about the behavior after human death in different religions.
directly. The face of the dead person should be turned towards Mecca. Arms and legs should be straightened, the mouth and eyes should be closed. After death the body is washed by the family member of the same sex. Then it is wrapped in the white linen clothes. According to the Islamic tradition, a dead person should be buried as soon as possible (within 24 hours). A Muslim is always buried, never cremated. Post-mortem examinations are discouraged unless they are required by law.
Next religions is Buddhism – according to its beliefs, in death the consciousness departs from one’s life and begins the journey into another new life. For Buddhists, death is a process in which the consciousness gradually separates from the body. This can take up to three days, which is when death occurs. It is very important to provide as much peace and quiet for the dying person as possible. The
Next religions is Buddhism – according to its beliefs, in death the consciousness departs from one’s life and begins the journey into another new life. For Buddhists, death is a process in which the consciousness gradually separates from the body. This can take up to three days, which is when death occurs. It is very important to provide as much peace and quiet for the dying person as possible. The more composed and calm mind is at death, the greater the opportunity for a rebirth. Immediately following signs of physical death, Buddhists believe that it is best to keep the body in a peaceful state. Traditionally, the body is taken home, and for a period of three days the body is not touched. The deceased may be cremated or buried depending on the wishes of the family.
Last religion is Judaism. According to this religious law, someone should stay with the dying person so that the soul does not feel alone. The body should also not be left alone after death. It is important to leave in place any drains and tubes, as fluid in them is considered to be part of the body and must be buried with it. They should be covered with some bandages. Any incisions or cuts must be covered. The body is prepared for burial as soon as possible after death. The body is prepared by members of the chevra kaddisha(see on Wikipedia what it is) or burial society, and the body is covered with a sheet. Like in Muslim, post-mortem examinations are discoursed.
What do you think about those customs?
Would you prefer to have your body buried or cremated after death?
What do you think about providing bodies for science universities after death?
As an addition, two photographs from funeral in Bali, provided by Mrs Świerk
Pictures sources:
Mecca - http://www.deskpicture.com/DPs/Places/mecca_2.jpg
Buddha- http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/44477/green-buddha-statue-worship.jpg
Judaism - http://kirbyscoffee.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/judaism2.jpg
Generally I'm rather for cremation for hygienic purpose . I think , that my organs might be used for transplantation to save others live , and I have nothing against using my dead body for scientific experiments .
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you know that Jews are buried in sitting position , it is in purpose to stand up first on Last Judgement .
Each culture has own tradition.I think I am able to share with universities my body after death. I also respect those people who do not want to do this, especially the older. I think I just want to be buried in a tradition way. In Poland being creamted is not very popular and we do not have a specialy cementary also. If we have wish after death we can leave our will for our family.
ReplyDeleteI decided long ago that my body will be cremated after death, and scattered at sea. That is my dream and wish. I don't want to be buried, because I've rich imagination and I saw the imagination body decomposes.. It wasn't a nice view, so I want to cremated. I know that in Poland it's hard to make, but it's my will. My family and friend know about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm oposite to idea sharing my body with universites for scientific study. If I'm thinking about opeing my body and putting the hand inside.. I feel really uncomfortable. I know that my dead body didn't feel anything, but.. it's so unpleasant.
About the part from buddhism about reincarnation and "death the consciousness departs from one’s life and begins the journey into another new life" I believe so hard about it.
Funeral is generally sad moment. In my opinion all habits were made for living ones, not for dead. Of course it has hygienic aspect and moral to not leave body, but other things like burning, cremation, praying, singing sad songs and many many other are for living one who experience pain, and show their mouring. They demonstrate their sorrow (wearing black or avoiding fun f.e.) and it makes them to feel better. They feel filfilled that they properly prepared loved one or family member for farewell. Praying each time or ordering mass for dead, and ALL religion stuff. It's all for living people to let them feel better and safer (after death aspect). The dead person doesn't really care already what happens.
ReplyDeleteAs for using organs, I declared that if something will happen to me, then I'm leaving heart ect. for others. Maybe I don't like the vision of my dead body as a model for young medicine students, but as I said before, will I really care about it?
@estudiante - I didn't know about that sitting position but it sounds reasonable ;)
ReplyDelete@grafikkarolina - why is it unpleasant ;> you are dead as you said so you should not care about it ;P And thanks to giving your body for scientists, for example to medical university students can learn on it (it is better than on some phantom - I think you will agree) and then someday maybe safe someones life thanks to such opportunity.
@villemo - in our country funeral is very sad moment. But there are religions where people celebrate such event because the dead goes to God and has better 'life' after life on Earth. As to giving body to medicine students look at my resposne to grafikkarolina - exactly as you said you probably will not care so why not - maybe when you are alive this idea does not sounds good - but I think it is worth to do it, it is better than if your body is eaten by some bugs under the ground ;)
Actually I find the jewish funeral habits somehow similar to ours. We also have the tradition of staying with the body to be buried over the night. I might be wrong (so please correct me if I am :) but we have in Poland the tradition called "czuwanie".
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking recently about cremation. And my personal opinion is that the cremation would be an interesting idea. I even thought about using my ashes to fertilize maybe a tree. I know that it may sound weird ;) But as I don't believe in reeincarnation I think this could be a way to come to life one more time.
What do I think about providing bodies for science universities after death? Well, I don't feel much comfortable while thinking about. I don't say I wouldn't do that, but now the only thing I can say is that I am not ready to think about it.
What I find interesting is that some people when thinking about donating their bodies for scientific purposes consider this decision as a way to avoid conventional funeral, a way to avoid burying their body. Do they think their bodies will vanish? But what actually happens to the donated bodies is that they are eventually going to be buried anyway. All the donors are comemorated in a very strict and formalized way, every body has it's funeral after university stops using it for educational purposes. The donors even have their monuments in Poland! People that decide to help the science are treated with dignity.
In my opinion each of this custom is interesting and exotic for people from Europe, but every funeral helps for the family of dead person to deal with the grief. The all have been developing with the religion.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about donating my body for transplantations (I always have my 'Declaration of intent' with me. You can find one here: http://www.poltransplant.pl/Download/ow_form_2010.pdf or http://www.oswiadczeniewoli.com.pl/index2.php?plik=jak.inc&kat=1) or scientific purposes. I think won't need my body after my death - why someone else could not have something needed from it?
If I have to choose between being bury or cremated after my death, I will choose cremation. I just can't imagine decomposition process of my body.
I believe that every religion can bury a man in a different way. However, the way in which this takes place in Buddhism does not agree. I think that taking the body home for a period of 3 days is not good. The body soon begins to rot, creating a dangerous bacteria. For this reason, it would be contrary to the principles of hygiene.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that the best solution is to burn the body. Looking at the Polish cemeteries, how much space you occupy, it makes you more space for those who live. An additional advantage, the body is not destroyed when the procurement of organs. If anyone has to live thanks to this that will receive my organs, I think it is good. And it makes one's organs could one day save my life.
What do you think about those customs?
ReplyDeleteWell none of the above rituals disturbs me or my morality so I think they can be conducted in Poland/area near me. Shame you only wrote why they do specific things when it comes to Buddhism and didn't write what history lies behind the linen cloth or such.
Would you prefer to have your body buried or cremated after death?
I'd like to quote Ahmed, the Dead Terrorist - 'I'm already dead. What do i care?'. The only vision that makes me not want to be inhumated is the vision of being gradually devoured by maggots.
What do you think about providing bodies for science universities after death?
It's OK. They have to learn to be able to cure the living people. I also find it quite a good idea (controversial though) to enable such bodies to public view (like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodies:_The_Exhibition). The Warsaw's exhibition was the first and only time I have seen what I've been taught in biology classes. But that's just my curiosity bigger than my morality.
What do you think of such exhibitions as 'Bodies'?
I would like, after dead, that my body parts will be used for saving other person.But about providing bodies for science universities after death? I will not be happy of that.
ReplyDeleteAbout cremation, creamted body takes less place, it is cheaper to burry, and you will not be eaten by worms :D
Would you prefer to have your body or Buried cremated after death?
ReplyDeleteProbably I would prefer to be buried (but not alive:)) for religious and cultural reasons:)
What do you think about is providing Bodies universities for science after death?
Never! Who would want to get his piece of the body for 40 years and someone took out and pack back into the jar?
Any culture has their own customs and I don't judge that it is good or not. I am a catolic and I think that my religion is correct. If someone think else, no problem. We live in free world. I am not a racialist and I respects other people faith and their customs.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to be buried after my death. I don't believe in any kind of cremation.
It is hard to say. On the one hand I think that after death we shoul be buried and our body should rest in peace. But on the other hand I know that young people who studying medicine should have any bodies to get know how people's body is built. I am sure that I don't want that after my death other people studying on my body.