Question

0 Death and Dying Week 12 Discussion No matter where we are in the lifespan, loss, death and dying are difficult experiences. Cultures vary as to how they process and experience these events. Share an Internet resource that describes another culture's approach to death, dying, mourning, grief or bereavement. Please share how they may experience this with respect to one of the following: death of a child (natural causes or accident), death of a spouse, terminal illness in a child or adult, or the elderly. Please cite your resource(s). Response Posts: In your responses to your classmates, contribute to the discussion with your own original opinions or interpretation of the course materials.

Answer 1

According to the many philosophers there are only two things, we cannot understand properly in our whole life that is death and God. Everyone can experience the death. Death refers to the end of the life of a human being or an organism. It varies from culture to culture in terms of customs associated with death as well as how the body is cremated. Some cultures bury the body in graves, while some burn them, mummify them etc. Culture and views can shape a person's view and their reaction towards death. Death is the one great certainty in life and every culture has different perception of death. In modern days it becomes imperative to have knowledge about death across culture as it gives the proper ways to blend with different cultures. But the concept of death cannot be discussed without the knowledge of religion as death is strongly associated with religion.

Death of a child (natural causes or accident): Death of a child is one of the more painful of the life phenomena. In some cultures like Hinduism male children are considered more important than females. There used to be a tradition of FEMA e genocide earlier where superstitions persisted. And some seeds of those still survive. Hence, a female child's death is slightly more acceptable in such families. Where as in cultures where such distinctions did not have such strong roots, death of a child is highly grieved. Some may except is as the will of God and that it was the fate of the child.

Death of a spouse: For cultures where Husbands are considered next to god, such as Islam and Hinduism, the women succumb themselves to a living that is devoid of all luxuries and keep them in places closed within the bounds of their houses. In these cultures women are considered bad omen who have brought upon death on their husbands. In cultures where such prejudices do not exist, women move forward with their life.

Terminal illness in a child or adult or the elderly:

Jewish perspective: Autopsies are not allowed. Even looking at a corpse is considered inappropriate. Funerals are not allowed on any religious days or on the Sabbath day. Newborns may be allotted names after the deceased and mourning lasts for a year. In Islam, death is an action of god and has been already decided by god itself. A special ceremony is held and the relatives are buried in a cemetery. Funeral is only led by a Muslim practitioner.

References:

van der Kloot Meijburg, H. H. (2005). The significance of dying well. Illness, Crisis & Loss, 13(1), 49-62.

Kramer, K. (2005). You cannot die alone: Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (July 8, 1926–August 24, 2004). OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 50(2), 83-101.