Death in Cross Cultural Perspectives Essay

thither be distinct wail ceremonies, traditions, and behaviors to express grief, but the concept of durable spillage rest unchanged in cross ethnic setting. With this paper I will identify cross-cultural hinge onuations on dying(p) and dying, and will analyse multiple beliefs relating to death phenomenon. Furthermore I will identify different cultural mourning ceremonies and will analyze their impact on grieve process and coping mechanisms. finis is a prevalent phenomenon, but mortal responses to death set forth widely from kitchen-gardening to coating.In effort to beg off the concept of death, many a(prenominal) different cultures bring a signifi cigargontt exemplary meaning to the dying process in terms of rituals, ceremonies, and bereavement practices. grieve and funeral rituals vary greatly across cultures and, in most cases, be associated with mettleual practices and beliefs. People tend to look at the death phenomena through the mount of their religious beliefs and often mention their soulfulnessal experiences with death to cultural norms and traditions.Our culture affects the length of grieving process, mourning ceremonies, and even influence the way we countersign during funerals. The mystery of death is often associated with fear and anxiety, thus it is easier for mickle to relate indefinite death concept to something that makes sense and brings comfort. death in Latino culture According to Lobar, Youngblut and Brooten (2006), Latino death rituals argon heavily influenced by religion, especially Catholicism, which underlines an importance of connection between the living and a dead person person, through prayer.Death is not something the legal age of Latinos fear, beca map many of them perceive death as a journey. The dying process is closely related to religious practices, such as prayers, hearing the confession of the dying, communion, and a blessing. Ongoing permit is essential element of dying and grieving process , and in this particular culture it is unacceptable to let people die alone. The loyalty to a dying person and maintenance that ill person receives during the prevail journey is very(prenominal) prominent in Latino culture.Death concept in Hispanic culture is closely related to family obligations, which is evident by the care that Hispanic family renders to a dying person during last moments. After death occurs, the family restrained prefers to stay with the ashes during burial preparation to pray and to watch all over the ashes. Prior funeral a wake is held, which is a very kindly matter where an blanket(a) family has a relegate to get together, serve food and drinks, and ravish each others company. Candles and flowers are essential decorating attributes of wakes and funerals.A funeral follows a wake, and during funeral family has a chance to say last goodbyes to their loved one. Emotional expression of grief is central attribute of Latino cultures which is often evid ent during funeral ceremonies where women cry loudly and use their proboscis language openly. It is not unusual to put personal items into the coffin with the person who has passed away for their journey in the afterlife, which also serves as an subject of a finial gift from a family (Lobar, Youngblut & Brooten, 2006).Burial follow a funeral, because majority of Hispanics oppose cremation, which is also related to their religious beliefs and importance of placing a tree trunk in the ground. Most Hispanics debate that someday the dead will recrudesce and return to life, which significantly influences their burial preferences. It is crucial for Hispanics to be bury beside to other family members to keep them company and to arise together someday (Lobar, Youngblut & Brooten, 2006). apparitional connection with the dead is also one of the important elements of Latino culture, which is exhibit by frequent gravesite visits and praying to life historys.Death is always associated with separation, which leads to sorrow, and grief however cultural perceptions and beliefs aid to look at death from a different perspective and perceive death as a natural state that can be approached with love, respect, dignity, and tremendous family put up. Latino culture supports their dying people during the last journey, and swears in afterlife, which gives them hope and helps to over acquire unbearable grief of permanent loss. Death rituals in Africa African culture demonstrates a strong connection with decedent person, and believes that only a correct burial will bring a dead person peace. People n Africa strongly believe in spiritual life, thus their main goal during burial ceremonies is to address a spirit of a deceased person. An African funeral begins with removal of the body from home, which is through with(p) through a previously made hole in the debate of the home. Africans remove a dead body through the hole, instead of a door, to confuse a spirit and make sur e that a spirit of a deceased person will not return prat home, as a hole in the wall is immediately closed after removal of the body. In effort to confuse a spirit even more, they place thorns and sticks in a zigzag pattern on the way as body being taken to the place of burial. Blackely et al, 1994). In the religions of Africa, life does not end with death and people tend to believe in power of the dead, thus many families often pray to spirits and ask them not to come back and cause any trouble. Death is perceived as the beginning of connection with visible and invisible worlds. single of the funeral rituals include special preparation of a home, such as smearing windows with ashes and round pictures and other reflective objects face down to ensure that deceased person is detached from a living, and to promote smooth transition into different world.The beds are usually removed from deceaseds bedroom and mourning women sit on a floor or a mattress. According to African cultur e, if correct funeral is not observed, a dead person may come back and bother the living. The funeral preparation takes approximately from seven to thirteen days, which gives the community members a chance to visit and give the last respect to a deceased (Mbiti, 1969). The funeral ceremony usually begins before the sunrise, because people believe that terrible spirits usually sleep early in the morning.The pastoral care during funeral preparation is very important for comfort and encouragement. According to Blackely et al (1994), African funerals simultaneously mourn for the dead and celebrate life. An animal is usually killed during funerals to neutralise bad luck, but it also has a practical purpose, such as providing food for family and neighbors. In many communities women and unmarried adults are not allowed to take in funerals, as well as close family members are not allowed to declare or take any vocal part in the funeral ceremony.The community involvement during African funerals is a great instance of psychosocial and emotional support during mourning process, which draws people together and promotes healthy grief. Judaic rituals in that location are many different beliefs in Judaism, thus funeral rituals and ceremonies vary greatly. According to Judaic laws, practices, and beliefs, a soul returns to heaven immediately after death, thus the body has to be buried as soon as possible, usually inwardly 24 to 48 hours (Lobar, Youngblut & Brooten, 2006). Mourners show their grief by wearing a black ribbon and by performing only minimal fertilization and bathing.Mirrors or other reflective objects may be covered and family remains with a deceased and talks about a deceased. Prayers, citations of Psalms and acquire passages from the Talmud are essential elements of the Jewish funerals (Ribner, 1998). According to Clements et al (2003), a body should be treated with respect due to belief that it is a synagogue of a soul. There is a special ritual of body preparation, where women form a female body and men are responsible for preparing a male body. All jewelry must be removed from the body, and the body is washed twice, and is treated almost if it was still alive.The prepared body is set on the floor with candles around it, and the body is never left alone. There is no embalming and the body is clothed or wrapped and put into woody coffin, so the body and the box can return entirely to earth. traditionalistic Jewish funerals are symbolic representations of spiritual connection with God. The funeral ceremonies are ground on purity, simplicity and dignity. According to Jewish tradition, wealthy and poor are equal before God, thus the body must be buried in the same type of garment regardless of financial and social status.According to Jewish religion, death is only a part of a process, and after death a soul continues on. Jewish people believe in afterlife, which gives them hope and helps to deal with grief. The importance of family is recognized throughout Jewish mourning ceremonies, which value family privacy during first seven days of mourning process, where close family gets together and have a meal of condolence that include eggs and bread. According to the belief, eggs symbolize life, which is a great example of attitude towards death and strong belief in afterlife (Madsen, 1999). foil cultural perspective Death is a universal phenomenon, but funerals ceremonies and rituals vary greatly across cultures and religions. Many cultural groups carry their own beliefs and perceptions, which help them with the grieving process and variants strategies. Death carries a feeling of a permanent loss, which is very difficult for people to accept. According to Kastenbaum (2007), bereavement is a universal experience, which carries many painful responses, including depression, distress, fear, and misery.Our inner state feelings are universal, however or external expressions are different. Our culture and reli gious beliefs are essential elements of adaptation strategies and coping techniques. Believing in afterlife in Christianity, Judaism, and many other religious groups gives people hope, helps to alleviate grief, and promotes healthy adaptation process. Strong extended family support during mourning process helps to share unbearable grief among family members and serves as an excellent source of encouragement.Strong community involvement is extremely effective during bereavement, which helps to take care of financial struggles and provides psychosocial support. Cross cultural rituals help people express their grief according to their beliefs. Almost every funeral ceremony is family oriented, which is designed to bring extended family together, to celebrate life, and to set the background for healthy grief. There are many similarities and differences in beliefs and practices on death and dying. But for many cultures and religious groups a funeral is a final act of love, respect, devot ion, and family gathering.