Religion Impacts on Death and Funeral Practices

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Religion Impacts on Death and Funeral Practices Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Religion Impacts on Death and Funeral Practices Various religions and cultures immensely affect the perception and views concerning the death and funerals. Consequently, funeral and bereavement practices vary from one religion to the other. Death might be a universal experience, but it is quite interpreted differently in all cultures and religions. This implies there exists various ways for disposing of the body of the deceased (Gwynne, 2011). For the Christians, funeral procedures are done after the death. According to Christian’s doctrines, the body is a gift from God and they have to celebrate and honor it. As such, Christians either bury or cremate the dead body. However, the Catholics prefer burial other than cremation. For the case of Islam, when death nears to someone, family and friend provide comfort and recite Quran. There is calm upon death as they consider the loss as the will of God. After death, the body is washed and then wrapped in some shroud and buried within 24 hours to prevent embalming. Islam prohibits cremation (Gwynne, 2011). For the case of Hinduism, death is just but a natural process in the existence of a soul, which takes many births and reincarnation on the foundations of Karma. The soul changes bodies. Hindus prefers dying at home, as family members sing, pray and read the scriptures such that the one dying focuses on Brahman. Hindus dispose dead body by cremation and disperse the remains in holy waters, except spiritual leaders who get buried. They wear white or dress during funeral. Buddhism’s funeral practices vary, but believe in rebirth. While dying, the Buddhist gets surrounded by friend family members and monks who they chant and recite Buddhist scriptures. They burry or cremate

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